Need some help 28-2 HP nickel

[runnin2live]

I am looking for some help and reaching out. I have a 28-2 HP with a 4" barrel. I have looked and looked and cannot find a dead giveaway if it is original nickel plated. I traded for the gun and really got a good deal and an even better one if this is original finish. The finish is in excellent condition, the hammer and trigger aren't plated. The serial # is N505*** which puts it in the late 78-80 range. Help if you can. I know the next step is to get a letter from smith. But until then, here it is



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[4011]

Always been told to look at the face of the cylinder for an N if their is not an N it's not factory. All my nickel SW s have that N.

 

[Nightowl]

The extractor should be blued. Smith did not nickel the extractor. Nickel guns are difficult to photo, but there are a couple of indications that would lead me to believe the gun has been refinished in nickel. Smith made very few model 28s with nickel finish.

 

[JP@AK]

99% chance this is a refinished gun. I don't have the list handy, but IIRC that serial number is not in the correct range for the very few Highway Patrolman revolvers that came from the factory with a nickel finish.
As others have said, check the extractor star for plating and the rear face of the cylinder for the N stamp. I'll be very surprised if you find it.

 

[murphydog]

A common question. See post 7 here by our own Doc44:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...8-2-highway-patrol-brushed-nickel-finish.html

Also, the FL Highway Patrol had factory nickel model 28s, but they were 5".

 

[Art Doc]

As I understand it, there were something like 54 original nickel 28s. Seriously, what are the odds you happened into one?

Now that I think about it, I have been offered 3 or 4 nickel 28s that the sellers swore were original. If I had only bought them all I could have controlled about 8% of the total production.

BWA HA HA! (Dr. Evil voice)

 

[runnin2live]

Thanks for all the replies. The star isn't nickel, it is blue. There isn't an N on the cylinder and I have read both ways, that the N should be there and that it is very inconsistent.
As for happening upon one, if there are 54 out there, that's a guarantee that 54 individuals HAVE happened upon them one way or another


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Retired W4]

That is a very nice looking Highway Patrolman, and for your sake I hope it is the real deal. However, with my limited knowledge of these things, I'm thinking not. For what it's worth, Cobbly Knob is our favorite vacation spot.

 

[chud333]

I don't believe it to be an original finish either but it should
still make you a fine and dandy shooter.
Don't waste the 50 bucks for the letter but do go out and shoot
and enjoy it at the range.

Chuck

 

[A10]

Were the originals all brushed nickel? Nice looking 28 any way it turns out! Do you have the original grips?

 

[g8rb8]

Based upon the "weakness" of the S&W logo on the right side of the frame I would be looking for other evidence of a refinish.

I think JP@AK and Mr./Dr. Pig (i.e. Saxonpig) makes a good points regarding the rarity of a nickel model 28 and suggesting it's unlikely it's an original nickel finish purely based on numbers.

Murphydog makes a good point inferring that lacking a 5" barrel reduces the likelihood that it's an original nickel finish.

Based on the entirety of the analysis of the members it seems unlikely it's an original nickel finish. A letter from Mr. Jinks would be the most certain way to unequivocally answer the question.

John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training.

 

[Doc44]

The 28-2 is not one of the fifty plus finished in brush nickel and shipped in 1972. I believe it has been refinished in nickel and was originally shipped in blue. It was probably done outside of S&W since the factory did not offer a change of finish on this model.

Bill