Originally posted by BillCa:
Do a search on this forum for "Jovino" or "Effector" model. The John Jovino gun shop in NYC specialized in chopping down S&W revolvers - mostly .45 caliber revolvers - into snubbies for police officers in the 70's. They trademarked the name "Effector" for some of these guns.
Thanks for the info and the picture of yours. Thats a really good looking gun too.
You're right about the trigger it is smooth. Hadn't occurred to me that it wasn't supposed to be. I will do the search on Jovino .. this is the first I've heard of it. I live in western NY, so it wouldn't have had to travel too far from NYC.
Here's my "non-existent" Model 25-2 .45ACP Snubby, courtesy of John Jovino and subsequent owners.
A close look should show the hammer has more of a "teardrop" shape (Jovino) and the trigger has been ground smooth (serations removed). The cylinder yoke has had a spring-loaded ball added with a detent in the frame to replace the missing front locking lug. The grip frame was reshaped to a RB K-frame size (or Ruger Security Six size, depending on year).
Yours is the first Model 28 I've seen done in this manner. It may not have been done by Jovino, but it sure looks like it. Value? Don't ask. What someone is willing to pay for it I suppose, which could be considerable to someone looking for unusual M28's or collecting Jovino custom guns.