New to me Highway Patrolman...Next to the Last, Almost Final Update, Sept. 10th, 2016

les.b

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This afternoon I got a call from a LGS friend of mine. He had just taken in a "well used" Smith and Wesson 28-2. He generally knows that I am interested in older Smiths and sometimes Colts, and asked if I would like to see it. Well, I drove over and it was by no means pristine, but not abused in anyway. It came with an older tan Smith and Wesson holster, marked 21 and 34, and a cartridge belt made by the "Idaho Leather Co.", of Boise Idaho, item #162, and a box of 38 spls, a brand new Safariland cleaning kit, and a bottle of Hoppes No 9.

Here it is as I first saw it:



Anyway, he was asking $525 (plus we have a 6% tax here), for the whole deal, and I frankly told him that I thought that was a little high, and that I wasn't really in the market for another N frame anyway. But I had just read a couple of threads on the forum about Highway Patrolmen that folks either wanted, or had just bought, and I was interested.

After we dickered a little, I told him I would give him $475.00 for the whole package, if he would pay the tax. He agreed, and it followed me home. Everything is tight on this revolver. No push-off, no end shake, all 6 chambers are timed perfectly, and the stocks number to the gun. Trigger pull in both single and double action are great, and it looks like one of those revolvers that have been carried a lot, and shot not so much. Bore and chambers are pristine.

Here is another shot of it. At this point, I have not even wiped the gun down, let alone cleaned it:



After I clean it up, and shoot it a little, I'll post some more pictures.

Anyway, here is my question: did I pay too much? I figure that the tax, holster, belt, ammo, cleaning kit, and Hoppes are probably about $75.00, so I have around $400. In the gun itself.

Let me know what you think, and I'll get back with some more photos after I give it a gentle cleaning with a little extra fine bronze wool and oil.

By the way, all of my reference material is at the office. The serial number is N7954. Can anyone give me a rough ship date on this?

Thanks for looking....

Best Regards, Les
 
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You did very well. I'd have dropped $500 on that combination in a heartbeat. Of course, I am very partial to the 4" HP. One of them was the first S&W I ever owned and I've lost track of how many I've actually had over the years since then. Exceptionally fine guns to carry and shoot.

Yours looks great in that rig!
 
N7954 (only four digits) would very likely be 1970, the first year of the N prefix.

Sorry I didn't notice your question the first time I posted. :o
 
Jack:

Thanks, for the date!!! That fits with the story that my friend at the LGS told me. Of course, I know to buy the gun, not the story, but this seemed straight forward enough. The guy who sold this rig said that he had bought the gun new over 40 years ago, and he really didn't want to sell, but had to to raise funds. Even though it is a little dirty, it is actually cleaning up better than I thought it would.

Since I'm picking everyone's brains tonight, the walnut stocks number to the gun, and are in pretty good shape, but they appear exceptionally oil darkened. (And I mean gun oil, not the kind that is sometimes used to finish wood, like ting oil). Does anyone know of a way to leach some of the gun oil out of the wood without damaging the wood, to keep it looking a little lighter? I don't want to do anything to damage the wood.

Best Regards, Les
 
Les

I think you did good, A nice shooter N frame for roughly 400.00. I think you will be very happy with the HP. I have 1 in 6". Been sniffing around lately, trying to get a 4". You'll take her to the range and have a blast !! Great shooting revolver.

Nice Pick Up !!

Brian
 
Nice gun, and a bargain to boot. Good score!

Tinker:

I had read your thread on the 28-2 and one other one (the guy trying to buy his BIL's 28), recently, which had me thinking about this model. I'm mostly an "I" and "J" frame guy, with only one "L" frame, and until today, only 3 or 4 "N" frames. But the coincidence of reading about, and thinking of this model, and then someone calling me from out of the blue, and offering me one, made me think that I was supposed to buy this gun. On top of that, if my Mom were still alive, today would be her birthday. Well, that probably didn't factor into my buy, but I was thinking of it off and on all day.

Best Regards, Les
 
Since I'm picking everyone's brains tonight, the walnut stocks number to the gun, and are in pretty good shape, but they appear exceptionally oil darkened. (And I mean gun oil, not the kind that is sometimes used to finish wood, like ting oil). Does anyone know of a way to leach some of the gun oil out of the wood without damaging the wood, to keep it looking a little lighter? I don't want to do anything to damage the wood.
Best Regards, Les

Les,
You might try some Murphy's Oil Soap on the stocks.
Monte
 
$400 and you're wondering if you got a deal... You must be kidding

Acetone will removing the oil on the stocks along with out harming the wood. Unforntunately it will remove any finish it touches also. I'm guessing anything that would remove oil will also remove the finish on the stocks. If you don't mind refinishing the stocks it's not a big deal and rather easy to do if you've ever stained or finished wood before. I've done it before and have no formal training what so ever.
 
I would have paid that. I like the rig that came with it. The two obviously spent a lot of time together on someone's hip and that appeals to me.

Clean and lube the gun. Clean and oil the leather. Shoot it, and hang it on the hat rack.
 

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