old Model 28 6" - Info please

[Lawyerguy1]

Take a look, any info is appreciated. It comes with the box and warranty card, both have dates April 15, 1955 on them but I don't know if that corresponds to this particular gun or the general date the Model 28 went into production. I assume it is for this gun since it is also on the warranty card.

To my untrained eye the gun appears in VERY good condition, there is barely wear mark at all on the cylinder so I assume this gun was fired very little (if at all?) but in the same respect I don't have the background to have an intelligent opinion on this. There is some roughness in the interior but I don't know if that is due to use or simply from normal production.

I know the pix aren't great, but what do you feel the general condition of this gun is? And do you have a potential value range? I acquired it sight unseen (other than a couple poor pix) for the great sum of "free". I intended on maybe using the gun as a range/hiking gun, but if it is more of a "safe queen" gun maybe I sell/trade it or just keep in tucked away in a safe, I wouldn't want to destroy any value in a true collector piece. If it's a "nice" gun but more along the lines of "use the damn thing!" then that's what I'll do.

Thanks for any help.

 

[gmborkovic]

The model Highway Patrolman (mod-28) was designed and marketed as a no frill service revolver. Just like an M&P (mod-10). If you have to shoot it, do.

 

[Narragansett]

Very nice M28 No Dash form late 60-early 1961 I would say. It looks to have been fired, but not much. I would say 900- 1000 dollars. HP's were started in 1954.

I do not know that I would make a safe queen out of it, but it is worth taking good care of it.

Take the grips off and see that they number match, they should. They are nice diamond magnas.

 

[minconrevo]

It's a nice one. The 2 exposed side plate, as well as the rear sight windage screws are all burred a bit. Can be replaced with new factory screws, using a properly sized screw driver, if you wish. The cylinder turn ring is faint. The marks on the recoil shield are more pronounced, indicating a good bit of "open-close" cycling. From all this, I am surmising a fair amount of handling, but very little shooting or carry in a holster.

Not a safe queen candidate in my book, but it's pretty close. Definitely not a truck gun; take good care of it. I'd shoot it, if it were mine.

 

[Alk8944]

Lawyerguy1

"It comes with the box and warranty card, both have dates April 15, 1955 on them but I don't know if that corresponds to this particular gun or the general date the Model 28 went into production."

Neither one. The date is the copyright date for the document.

 

[Lawyerguy1]

Lawyerguy1

"It comes with the box and warranty card, both have dates April 15, 1955 on them but I don't know if that corresponds to this particular gun or the general date the Model 28 went into production."

Neither one. The date is the copyright date for the document.

Gotcha, thanks. Sounds like I’ll have to contact S&W on the serial number then.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Gotcha, thanks. Sounds like I’ll have to contact S&W on the serial number then.

Well, if you are looking for a ship date, S&W Customer Service won't give you better info than here. It's all a guess, anyway, without an Historian's letter. We might be able to bracket your serial to give you an approximation of the real ship date. As examples,



Model 28 serial S212870 shipped in January 1962.
Model 28 serial S214002 shipped in February 1962.


So, I'd say your gun likely shipped in that time period.

 

[Retired W4]

That April 15, 1955 date printed on the inside of the box top gets a lot of people.

Nice looking Highway Patrolman.

 

[boykinlp]

Take a look, any info is appreciated. It comes with the box and warranty card, both have dates April 15, 1955 on them but I don't know if that corresponds to this particular gun or the general date the Model 28 went into production. I assume it is for this gun since it is also on the warranty card.

To my untrained eye the gun appears in VERY good condition, there is barely wear mark at all on the cylinder so I assume this gun was fired very little (if at all?) but in the same respect I don't have the background to have an intelligent opinion on this. There is some roughness in the interior but I don't know if that is due to use or simply from normal production.

I know the pix aren't great, but what do you feel the general condition of this gun is? And do you have a potential value range? I acquired it sight unseen (other than a couple poor pix) for the great sum of "free". I intended on maybe using the gun as a range/hiking gun, but if it is more of a "safe queen" gun maybe I sell/trade it or just keep in tucked away in a safe, I wouldn't want to destroy any value in a true collector piece. If it's a "nice" gun but more along the lines of "use the damn thing!" then that's what I'll do.

Thanks for any help.

Lawyerguy1, you have a really nice N Frame S&W Model 28 No Dash there, and also having the box and warranty card are icing on the cake. The April 15, 1955 date doesn’t correspond to your gun. I have one too, but mine is serial numbered over ten thousand earlier than yours. Mine was shipped in July of 1960, and it is my “Birth Year” gun, since I arrived in November 1960. I was gifted a correct box and a Tyler T-grip by two very generous forum members! I agree with Narragansett that yours is either late 1960 or early 1961.

The condition of your gun looks very good to me on my iPhone. I can’t see the screws well enough, but like mentioned earlier, replacing them is easy enough. Since you have the box and warranty card, I would value your gun at $1000-1100, maybe more. Here are pictures of mine:
Larry

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

If it's a "nice" gun but more along the lines of "use the damn thing!" then that's what I'll do.

Thanks for any help.

It is late 1960, early 1961 production. For 60+ years old its in great shape and it is in mint condition. The grips look great too.

I think it would be a great range gun and lots of us old timers it would be a conversation started.

For a trail gun I use a well worn S&W revolver

 

[series guy]

I’m thinking that the screw issue is just reflections and not damage.

 

[Jack Flash]

The guys who have given you estimates know more than I do about current market prices, but I'm surprised it isn't valued higher, say $1,200 to $1,500. It looks like it has been well cared for.

Given its condition, I would not carry it afield. I would never put it in a holster. But transporting properly to the range and shooting it will not hurt it unless you're really careless.

 

[Lawyerguy1]

I’m thinking that the screw issue is just reflections and not damage.

I went and looked and, and this is correct, the screws all look pretty good.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Wow! A free 6" early Highway Patrolman with the box and goodies...you can't beat that! Your revolver is in very nice condition, and could be considered a safe queen candidate. However, these workhorse revolvers were meant to be shot so I would recommend that you take it to the range and enjoy it. I think it's too nice to use it as a woods/hiking gun, but it's a perfect range gun. I doubt that you'll be shooting it enough to drastically decrease its condition, so as long as you take care of it it will hold or increase its value over time. I believe that right now you have a $1200+ package. Enjoy!