bullseye shooter
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MODEL 28-2 S prefix
- Thread starter bullseye shooter
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greenmachine
Member
Beautiful gun. Also awaiting responses.
daddio202
Member
Very nice gun with period correct target grips on it!! The serial you gave is in the 1964-1965 time range. I do believe I have seen other 28's with bright finish. But I would give pause if I were looking to buy such a gun because there are some really good refinish companies that can do an excellent refinish like that. A close inspection would be required to confirm or deny such treatment. I am sure more will be along with views on subject and more experience with older model 28's. I have 2 4 inch 28's with an S serial but both mine have the dull duty finish. Enjoy
Beautiful gun with superb stocks. My records show a S2365XX shipped Sept 1963. Remember, S&W did not ship in serial number order. Original finish may have been enhanced with Flitz or Mother"s Mag polish.
Jack Flash
Member
I believe the quality of the finish varied a lot on HPs / M28s, depending on who was working that day and how busy they were, whether it was part of a discounted LEO order, etc. But that's just what I think, I don't have any documentation.
Having said all that, I have never seen an M28 with such a beautiful finish as yours has. If you had said it was an M27, I would never have doubted you. I sure would like to see the other side before offering a "Refinish - Yay or Nay" opinion.
Having said all that, I have never seen an M28 with such a beautiful finish as yours has. If you had said it was an M27, I would never have doubted you. I sure would like to see the other side before offering a "Refinish - Yay or Nay" opinion.
OP
bullseye shooter
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S&W m 28
I thought it was refinished, but all of the stampings are deep and clear. The cyl has an H on the back. If it is refinished, it is a great job.
I thought it was refinished, but all of the stampings are deep and clear. The cyl has an H on the back. If it is refinished, it is a great job.
It's a refinish, IMO.
OH, for goodness sake, You got a really nice B&D shop drill.
Shoot it and enjoy it. Have had and sold lots of them.
Shoot it and enjoy it. Have had and sold lots of them.
Fishinfool
Member
My model 28 pictured is very close to yours in serial number, and exhibits the standard factory finish of the time.
That said, I have seen some variance in finish in model 28's, and like Jack said above, probably dependent on who was running the polishing wheel that day.
Still, one as shiny as yours is almost certainly a quality refinish. check under the grips, there may be a re-finish stamp if it was sent back to S&W for a high polish blue job.
Its darn pretty, and id be happy to own it.
Larry
That said, I have seen some variance in finish in model 28's, and like Jack said above, probably dependent on who was running the polishing wheel that day.
Still, one as shiny as yours is almost certainly a quality refinish. check under the grips, there may be a re-finish stamp if it was sent back to S&W for a high polish blue job.
Its darn pretty, and id be happy to own it.
Larry
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Back then, the 28s were not that bright blue finish and the factory would not change the finish to a bright blue. Thus, I would consider it a refinish until proved otherwise.
But, I don't think that's the question here. Thats a dandy gun and if cared for can shoot thousands of rounds and still look good.
But, I don't think that's the question here. Thats a dandy gun and if cared for can shoot thousands of rounds and still look good.
Plus one on that.
I have a 6" 28-2 #S289xxx that I bought new in late 1966 and it has
a nicer finish than my two 4" 28s from 78-80 but nothing like the finish
on your gun. It just has to be a nice refinish.
a nicer finish than my two 4" 28s from 78-80 but nothing like the finish
on your gun. It just has to be a nice refinish.
I have 2 S prefix HPs one a pre the other a -2. Neither have that great of finish. But, never say never with S&W.
But, I am sure its a great gun and will get the job done.
Model 28s are like real 3/4 ton pickups. They will get the job done and be none the worse for wear for a long time.
But, I am sure its a great gun and will get the job done.
Model 28s are like real 3/4 ton pickups. They will get the job done and be none the worse for wear for a long time.
As far as I know only the factory or Fords can do the re stamping which would be required after getting mirror polished like yours was. If it was done by the factory it would have been Carbona blued ( polishing level of that era ) If so the Carbona finish has a slight silver look to them in bright sunlight. Where hot blue which Fords uses always look deep and dark. Regardless your gun looks great all polished up.
OFT II
US Veteran
I think it is a refinish also but if it were mine I really wouldn't care. Shoot it and enjoy it.
Who cares if it was refinished? It's a beautiful revolver and they're meant to be shooters. Enjoy that one, I know I do mine!
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Bayou52
Member
Original or not, very nice finish.
A lot of collectors/purists will dismiss refinished pieces but IMHO, it's your gun, and if you're satisfied with it, that's really the final and last word.
If it's a refinish and you plan to resell the piece, market value could be affected. If you don't plan to resell, market value is a moot point...
Just enjoy your new acquisition.
Bayou52
A lot of collectors/purists will dismiss refinished pieces but IMHO, it's your gun, and if you're satisfied with it, that's really the final and last word.
If it's a refinish and you plan to resell the piece, market value could be affected. If you don't plan to resell, market value is a moot point...
Just enjoy your new acquisition.
Bayou52
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bananaman
Member
Super nice 28! Wish I had a 4 incher! I have a 6" from 1960. It does not get out much, but I don't ever plan on letting it go! Bob
Had a 6" 28-2 a while back on my gun show table that everyone swore was a 27 until they picked it up and checked the model #. Got it from the original owner who purchased it new in 1972 and swore it was originalnever refinished. It had normal handling wear for a gun of that age that was taken care of, so I had no reason to doubt him. I chalked it up to the "Any given Monday" theory where X=workload and Y= employee on duty, times Z= weekend hangover factor. All combine to either make something hideous( we've seen those too) or beautiful, depending on how the equation falls in to place. On a 28 that grades less than 98% it doesn't make a knat's *** worth of difference on the value anyway so blast away and look good doing it.
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I have a 4" 28 which I think is from 1966. S2772xx. It felt right in hand from the day I bought it. There was some speckling in the blue, on the side plate so the seller let it go for less. That was a good 30 years ago and it still feels good.
There were NO factory nickel 4" model 28's but that is a nice refinished gun.
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The OP said there is an H on the rear face of the cylinder. It strikes me that this is a good time to remember the reason that H was put there in the first place. It definitely was NOT so that collectors many years later can say - "Oh, that's a Highway Patrolman!"
When the parts for the revolver were sent over to the finish shop, the fitter would stamp the H there so the finish shop knew what level of polishing and the grade of finish the cylinder was supposed to receive. A cylinder for a Model 27 and one for a Model 28 were otherwise identical. So, the guy in the finish shop would look at the cylinder. If there was no H, he gave it the bright blue for a Model 27. If he saw an H, he'd finish it in satin blue.
Now, were mistakes ever made? Of course. But the frame and the cylinder were separated at that point. I find it hard to believe that a cylinder would get the bright finish, despite the H, while the frame also got that finish. No, they would both be finished in satin blue.
Also, it was standard practice to refuse to change the finish on a Model 28. And, as has been noted by ken158, the Model 28 was not cataloged with the nickel finish (yes, a few special units were in nickel, but they are in known serial ranges). Is it possible that a Highway Patrolman was finished in bright blue? Sure. Possible, but not likely.
The OP has a very nice looking HP, but I seriously doubt the finish is original.
And, by the way, no one suggested otherwise, but if it were a Model 27, the top strap would be finely checked. You don't have to rely on the model stamp to know it isn't a Model 27, regardless of the bright blue finish.
When the parts for the revolver were sent over to the finish shop, the fitter would stamp the H there so the finish shop knew what level of polishing and the grade of finish the cylinder was supposed to receive. A cylinder for a Model 27 and one for a Model 28 were otherwise identical. So, the guy in the finish shop would look at the cylinder. If there was no H, he gave it the bright blue for a Model 27. If he saw an H, he'd finish it in satin blue.
Now, were mistakes ever made? Of course. But the frame and the cylinder were separated at that point. I find it hard to believe that a cylinder would get the bright finish, despite the H, while the frame also got that finish. No, they would both be finished in satin blue.
Also, it was standard practice to refuse to change the finish on a Model 28. And, as has been noted by ken158, the Model 28 was not cataloged with the nickel finish (yes, a few special units were in nickel, but they are in known serial ranges). Is it possible that a Highway Patrolman was finished in bright blue? Sure. Possible, but not likely.
The OP has a very nice looking HP, but I seriously doubt the finish is original.
And, by the way, no one suggested otherwise, but if it were a Model 27, the top strap would be finely checked. You don't have to rely on the model stamp to know it isn't a Model 27, regardless of the bright blue finish.
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