Need fast help making decision on Highway Patrolman...any comments welcome.

[Arkhog]

I just spotted a Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman in the back of a gun case at a pawn shop. It is marked $549.00, but they will sell it for $450 out the door.

I will tell you what I gathered from a fast check out and you give me any comments that you may have, please. If it is a good buy I don't want it to get away.


Good:

Pinned and Recessed

Bore looked good, but was dirty. I was trying to check the rifling through the crud.

Thick forcing cone with little or no sign of erosion.

Tight cylinder gap. (No guage, just eyeball)

Rock solid lock-up. It didn't have the play that most Smiths have.


Bad:

Light surface rust all over with darker orange in some crevices around the sight rib and other places.

The front edges of the cylinder look as if someone did a home de-horning job. The sharp corners of each flute had been rounded, in some cases squared, off.

The cylinder notches for each chamber were dinged up and didn't have clean edges.

The side plate had been removed and the front screw and side plate were gouged in that area.

Finally, a large chunk of the original wood grips was missing. I know those can be replaced.

Hit me fast with any random comment, please.

Thanks

 

[Arkhog]

I just spotted a Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman in the back of a gun case at a pawn shop. It is marked $549.00, but they will sell it for $450 out the door.

I will tell you what I gathered from a fast check out and you give me any comments that you may have, please. If it is a good buy I don't want it to get away.


Good:

Pinned and Recessed

Bore looked good, but was dirty. I was trying to check the rifling through the crud.

Thick forcing cone with little or no sign of erosion.

Tight cylinder gap. (No guage, just eyeball)

Rock solid lock-up. It didn't have the play that most Smiths have.


Bad:

Light surface rust all over with darker orange in some crevices around the sight rib and other places.

The front edges of the cylinder look as if someone did a home de-horning job. The sharp corners of each flute had been rounded, in some cases squared, off.

The cylinder notches for each chamber were dinged up and didn't have clean edges.

The side plate had been removed and the front screw and side plate were gouged in that area.

Finally, a large chunk of the original wood grips was missing. I know those can be replaced.

Hit me fast with any random comment, please.

Thanks

 

[Farmer17]

I just sold one for $350 that was well used but it just had a couple of tiny rust specs. You should be able to get a real nice one for $450.

 

[Michael Stern]

IMO, the bad outweighs the good and this is not a bargain. A 98-99% 28-2 just sold on Gunbroker for about the same price.

 

[Beans]

IMHO Based upon your discription it sounds like a $300-$350 gun depending on gun prices in your area.

Any collectors value is gone and it would be a shooter only.

 

[VM]

I don't like your "bad comments" about the gun. Those comments make it a 250-300 dollar gun for me personally.
HP's are constantly going up in price but I think you can still find a very nice one in box for $450-500.
Trick to this collecting game is to be patient and wait for a clean one.
Good luck!

 

[MARK S]

I saw one recently in the LGS with no noticable flaws for $375.

That one sounds like a <$300 gun to me.

 

[bamabiker]

Agree with all above.

 

[Bugs100]

I just sold one that was as close to perfect as you can get for $400..

 

[rayb]

Pass on it and find a better example. These are great guns, sounds like someone hated this one.

rayb

 

[Arkhog]

Wow! Y'all are really fast. Thank you. My first thoughts were leaning toward the negative also. However, I rarely have gun-money these days. I just happened to have some now. When I saw a classic Smith pinned and recessed it made my heart skip a beat. You know the feeling.

 

[Pilgrim]

Doesn't seem like much of a bargain since I recently got this one, in nearly new condition, for $350.

 

[Lenshappy]

I'm with most here...keep looking.

Got this in June, darn looks new, box, papers, tools, matching stock and extra stock, shipped at $500 - I'm happy.

 

[dsf]

Too much money. I just bought a 6" Model 28 without even a turn line, no muzzle wear, no little shell shadows on the recoil plate - not a mark on it, for $499.00. And I'm in California.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by Arkhog:
I just spotted a Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman in the back of a gun case at a pawn shop. It is marked $549.00, but they will sell it for $450 out the door.

I will tell you what I gathered from a fast check out and you give me any comments that you may have, please. If it is a good buy I don't want it to get away.


Good:

Pinned and Recessed

Bore looked good, but was dirty. I was trying to check the rifling through the crud.

Thick forcing cone with little or no sign of erosion.

Tight cylinder gap. (No guage, just eyeball)

Rock solid lock-up. It didn't have the play that most Smiths have.


Bad:

Light surface rust all over with darker orange in some crevices around the sight rib and other places.

The front edges of the cylinder look as if someone did a home de-horning job. The sharp corners of each flute had been rounded, in some cases squared, off.

The cylinder notches for each chamber were dinged up and didn't have clean edges.

The side plate had been removed and the front screw and side plate were gouged in that area.

Finally, a large chunk of the original wood grips was missing. I know those can be replaced.

Hit me fast with any random comment, please.

Thanks

No. No. No.

 

[NFrameFred]

Hide your money and wait - a nicer one can be found for that price.

 

[anguslincoln]

Last January, I found this one,lnib, for $475. I feel that it was practically unfired as there is no turn line present on the cylinder.

It was the listed retail value for the 28-2 in that condition.

 

[David LaPell]

Arkhog, if that 28 doesn't fit you bill, I know where there are three that are all near mint just a bit higher than that one. Two are 4 inch, one is a 6 inch. All three have the boxes. I am almost positive that they are $550. If you are interested, they are in a little shop where I buy my guns. The number is 518-766-5992. The owner's name is Eddie Weiss.

 

[riptrack44]

The negatives far outweigh the postitives. I'd certainly pass.

 

[Arkhog]

I have decided against the 28-2 in the pawn shop. Thanks to all for your input. Many of you have good-looking weapons that you found at great prices. I usually buy mine new and over pay.

Thanks again.