Pre-Model 28 Highway Patrolman 4 Screw- Please Help

[texasplinker]

Hello and thank you in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide me. I recently purchased a 4 screw Pre-Model 28 Highway Patrolman. I researched the serial number and it appears that it was manufactured in early 1957. There is some finish wear on the side plate. It appears that there may have been a little bit of surface rust on it at one time. Maybe I'm too obsessed with appearances, but it is driving me up the wall. Would I be making a mistake if I had the gun reblued? Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and opinions with me. Happy Shooting!

 

[murphydog]

It's a personal decision, but if it just the sideplate that was affected by the finish damage you would have to have the whole gun re-blued so it would match. The factory offers this service but technically only on model-marked guns - however, they might do yours.

If you want it either as a shooter or a collector, personally I would leave it alone. Its collector value would be gone with a refinish. If you want an unblemished gun, perhaps sell this one and buy a nicer example?

 

[snw19_357]

It is a 4-screw non-model marked Highway Patrolman? Is there a screw on the top of the sideplate, by the rear sight?

Highway Patrolman were made to be shot. It doesn't surprise me that it has some wear. I would not refinish it.

 

[Jack Flash]

Usually re-bluing eliminates any collector interest, so in that sense it could be a mistake. There may be very little collector value to it as it is now, so that may not matter much.

The cost of re-bluing, and possibly shipping it both ways, would mean you have more invested in the gun than you would be able to sell it for, so in that sense it could be a mistake. The usual advice is to sell the one that has finish issues and buy one that doesn't. That way, you don't have $700 tied up in a $400 gun.

 

[Art Doc]

The others echo my sentiments. If you really can't stand an imperfect gun then sell the one you have and buy a pristine example. It is not cost effective to refinish as you will have more invested than you would spend to buy the one you really want and in the end the gun is worth less than you have in it.

But if this particular gun is important to you and you want it looking like new and don't mind the expense then that's up to you.

 

[texasplinker]

Thanks to all of you for your input. I have weighed your advice and I will leave it the way it is. It is a good shooter, as is. snw19_357, yes it is a 4 screw non-model marked Highway Patrolman. There is no screw at the top of the side plate by the rear sight. There are three screws in the side plate, one of which is under the stocks. The fourth screw is located on the front of the trigger guard. Thanks again, to all who took the time to share their thoughts with me.

 

[snw19_357]

Congratulations on your recent purchase!!! You don't see too many 4-screw "pre-28" out there.

 

[32sgteot]

I would re-blue in a second. You have a great gun, get it finished to look the way you would love it.