Model 28, what do I know, what do you know, how am I wrong?

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A few days ago I posted an intro with a story about my uncle and a collection of firearms I inherited. I would so much love to keep them all, but I just can't. From calibers I'll never shoot to guns that are really to nice for me, it's just too much. Yes, I said that :eek:.

There was a time when I thought I'd be a collector. At one point I could have outfitted the crew of 3ish Skipjack submarines with a sidearm each, but that time passed about the moment I fell in love with long range shooting and loading my own. I realized that you can appreciate rare guns, not my style guns, and all guns that don't appeal to my shooting preference without owning them. So if I'm going to make the most of the thing I really enjoy in shooting sports I have to fine tune what and where I spend my funds.

Then........Then you run into THAT gun. A gun that really is what I would call a "core" gun. S&W Model 28 no dash 4". This gun, this frame size, this barrel length, the feel, It just speaks to me. There are self loaders that I have that I consider "core" guns for the same feel, Sig 226, G17, Beretta M9, etcetera. There are some nice S&W revolvers recently come to me. Some more valuable, desirable and maybe collectable. As I have been going through them and handling them to research and learn, I keep coming back to this one. I guess it just feels like a working mans gun is what I'm getting at.

Anyhow, this is one I will keep. I am in love......

Based on my research here and my digital copy of the 3rd Edition SCSW, here is what I think I know and don't know.

S/N S2138XX, 1960(?) Currently wearing a set of Herrett grips (says so on the inside). 4 Screw, pinned & recessed. There is no wear or discoloration that I can find beside the bottom edge of the crane where is contacts the frame on opening, the turn mark on the cylinder, and the back face of the frame. Please correct me on the names of the areas I am talking about if you can decipher me.

Is there any way beyond swapping it out to fix the marks where a trigger shoe was installed?

What is the "H" on the cylinder face?

Is there a way to estimate wear (lots, some, little) based on the turn ring or the other pics?













 
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Not used much. Firing pin hole area is clean and has slight halo,minor lead inside forcing cone,faint shell marks on recoil plate. Overall it's a good 95% imo. Go ahead and shoot it! Don't sweat the trigger marks. Invest in a target hammer and you will feel an improvement!
Very nice sample!
 
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I doubt it has been fired outside of the factory or if it has, certainly not much. The wear marks you see are normal and occur from handling, opening and closing the cylinder and cycling the action.

It appears you have a Target Hammer on that revolver.

The Model 28 was the workhorse of the N frame 357s. The other 357 N frames were the show ponies and got all the looks and ohs and ahs but the Model 28 was what was carried and shot the most. Of course it helped that it was the least expensive version. Kind of the “Everyman’s 357”!

I had one but found it too heavy for my tastes. So, I converted it to a round butt 45 ACP. Lighter and easier to carry, that revolver is still with me.

Kevin
 

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It was intended as a working mans gun. Very nice!

The “H” on the back of the cylinder is typical for the Highway Patrolman. These had a different finish than the model 27 and the “H” was S&W’s method of communicating that to the finishing/polishing department.
 
That Model 28 appears to be in great condition. I'd say this is one of those that had a box or two of ammo put through it, then cleaned and put away. The stocks are Herrett's Shooting Star stocks and they fit my medium sized hands like a glove. More specifically, they appear to be the earlier style with checkering that wraps around the front. Later Shooting Star stocks have checkering on the sides and grooves on the front. The Jordan Trooper stocks are better for those with really big hands.
 
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I agree with all above. I too have a 4 screw model 28. I wish it didn’t but it has target hammer and trigger. I’m a double action shooter so I don’t mind the hammer but I like narrow triggers even more so if they are smooth faced. If you have any cold blue maybe a light application on the side of the trigger with a little heat might make them less noticeable. Get that lead cleaned out of the forcing cone - strands of bronze wool wrapped around a clean brush works great. Then shoot it to your hearts content !!!
 

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Mark1Mod0Squid

That's a very nice Highway Patrolman you have. Congrats.

I've been shooting S&W revolvers for about 60 years. I enjoy shooting all of mine, but the 4" HP is still my favorite to work with at the range. Mine have taken several rattlesnakes and other critters over the years also.

When I came back from my second year in 'Nam, the first handgun I bought was a 4" HP.

Here's a picture of one that I shoot the most these days. It's a Model 28-2.
jp-ak-albums-miscellaneous-photos-picture11715-477-out-480-mod-28-2-800x651.jpg

25 yards, Weaver stance, rapid fire.
 
Very nice HP, but the collectability and value of such a gun goes beyond its age. Value is lost when original parts are lost (the stocks, for instance), and of course its overall condition. Condition looks really good for a revolver made in the early 1960's, no damage marks but a few normal wear marks. You might find a set of magna or Target stocks correct to the period of the gun, but they won't be original TO the gun. I wouldn't change the trigger, either, unless you just decide to keep the gun as a shooter. Given the absence of original stocks and the normal wear of use, I'd call this a VGC or low Excellent condition. It's not ANIB, since it has been fired and there is no box, paperwork, or accessories. 4th Ed SCSW does say the M28 (no dash) carries a 30% value premium over later series, excepting the dash-1, of which only one is known.
 
That gun is in great shape. Very little use and you can find triggers fairly cheap if the trigger shoe marks bother you. Another option that many HP owners have adopted in the grip department is a set of custom elk antler grips like these...





For some reason, many of us think the elk goes quite well with the matte blue of the HPs. Also, there are several members of the forum who craft some very nice elk grips ("bigmtnman" and "executioner" come to mind).

Congrats and thanks for sharing!
 
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I would not put a target hammer on it. That looks like the original hammer, what S&W called a "semi-target hammer", and the spur should be plenty wide enough.

As for the trigger, maybe it's just the lighting, but those marks are barely noticeable so I would enjoy it as is. Ditto on the stocks.

That's a real nice one. Thanks for posting those excellent pictures.
 
Very nice 4 screw 28! To my mind it’s hard to improve on a 4” N frame for general use; not too long, not too short. I also love the Herrett Shooting Star grips, especially the fully checkered version; they’ve been around for decades. I put a set I’ve had laying around on my 2021 Python. I need to find a set for my 28, the pachs just don’t do it for me.
 

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Thanks for the replies, answers, and advice.

This is one of two S&Ws I received that there is no box for. I like the Herrett stocks, but I will definitely try out a set of Pachmayr and Hogue as there are a couple dozen in a box.......now. My uncle had swapped out all of the original stocks for Pachmayr/Hogue and I spent a couple days researching stock sets to the gun they went with. I think I got them all correct, but there are details I am sure I missed. Since this gun didn't have box or papers and I am intending to keep, I wasn't pressed to ensure the grips were correct.

It's bigger 6" baby brother 28-2 from 1977 is waiting in the wings, but I'll save pics and a post about that for another round.
 
Thanks for the replies, answers, and advice.

This is one of two S&Ws I received that there is no box for. I like the Herrett stocks, but I will definitely try out a set of Pachmayr and Hogue as there are a couple dozen in a box.......now. My uncle had swapped out all of the original stocks for Pachmayr/Hogue and I spent a couple days researching stock sets to the gun they went with. I think I got them all correct, but there are details I am sure I missed. Since this gun didn't have box or papers and I am intending to keep, I wasn't pressed to ensure the grips were correct.

It's bigger 6" baby brother 28-2 from 1977 is waiting in the wings, but I'll save pics and a post about that for another round.
A few thoughts:

In the past it was very common to "improve" a handgun with Pachs or Hogues, and just toss the original stocks! Since you have done some research you may not need this, but there is a great thread done by a Forum Member on N-Frame Stocks that may interest you:
Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide
For your revolver, "1946 to 1967 Checkered Diamond Magnas" will be of particular interest. Be advised that one of the few options on an M28/Highway Patrolman was Magnas or Target Stocks. So the right target stocks would be appropriate as well, if that's your thing.

I'm glad you got a 6" version as well. My guess is that you will find it more pleasant to shoot with full power magnums.
 
......I will definitely try out a set of Pachmayr and Hogue as there are a couple dozen in a box.......now. My uncle had swapped out all of the original stocks for Pachmayr/Hogue and I spent a couple days researching stock sets to the gun they went with. I think I got them all correct, but there are details I am sure I missed....

Conversely, you wouldn't be the first here to open an old Pachmayr grip box and find the set of brandy new grips that originally came on one of your guns. Joe
 
For your revolver, "1946 to 1967 Checkered Diamond Magnas" will be of particular interest.
Well, not exactly. From 1946 until c. 1953, the diamond Magna stocks had a sharp shoulder. The tapered shoulder came along in 1953, so by the time the OP's revolver was built, Magna stocks would have the tapered shoulder.

Be advised that one of the few options on an M28/Highway Patrolman was Magnas or Target Stocks. So the right target stocks would be appropriate as well, if that's your thing.
This is a small point, but some clarification is due here. For the HP, Magna stocks came standard. Targets were an extra cost option. The catalogs and AMC always showed it this way.
 
Thanks for the replies, answers, and advice.

This is one of two S&Ws I received that there is no box for. I like the Herrett stocks, but I will definitely try out a set of Pachmayr and Hogue as there are a couple dozen in a box.......now. My uncle had swapped out all of the original stocks for Pachmayr/Hogue and I spent a couple days researching stock sets to the gun they went with. I think I got them all correct, but there are details I am sure I missed. Since this gun didn't have box or papers and I am intending to keep, I wasn't pressed to ensure the grips were correct.

It's bigger 6" baby brother 28-2 from 1977 is waiting in the wings, but I'll save pics and a post about that for another round.


Personally, I'd stick with the Herrett's, they are far classier than anything of the rubber stocks. Try them for shooting, you may find them to very comfortable when shooting.
 
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