Rough value of 28-2 Highway Patrolman

[reubjames]

I found a rough-around-the-edges 4" 28-2 in .357 at a local dealer marked at $299. Lots of wear in the matte blue finish but mechanically it seemed very tight. Very minimal play in the cylinder (way less than on my new 686), smooth trigger. Chamfered cylinders (I think this was a factory feature). It looks like it spent a lot of time in a holster. It has a well worn set of either bone or antler stocks and an old shiny Tyler T grip. I didn't get the serial number but I will if I go back and check it out again (if it's still on the shelf).

It seems to me that this would be a good price for a good shooter or truck gun.

Would this seem like a good price to you guys or am I way off here?

Any comments?

 

[Glock 'em down]

I'd be all over it. You ain't gonna find one much cheaper.

 

[s&wchad]

Good price for a shooter.

 

[diamonback68]

Excellent price for a shooter. Shoot it and enjoy!

 

[Jack Flash]

I doubt you will find one in that condition for less. Most of them are missing their original stocks, so that is not too much of a drawback in this case. The Tyler T-Grip is a plus; if you don't want it you can easily sell it in the Classifieds.

Yes, an M28-2 should have recessed chambers ( and a pinned barrel to boot ).

 

[reubjames]

Thanks for the info fellas.

I'm gonna swing back by the store on my way home after work or on my lunch break if I can squeeze it in.

I'll buy her if she's still on the shelf.

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the forum

Be sure to post pics when you get her

 

[reubjames]

Will do

 

[fyimo]

Like the others said I'd jump all over it as a shooter

 

[reubjames]

I went and picked it up during my lunch break.

Some minor rust along on the grip and along the bottom of the trigger guard and frame. Some oil and a little elbow grease should clean that right up.

Serial no. is S3053xx, made in the late 60's I'd guess.

The bone or antler stocks are terrible so I'll probably be looking around for some more appropriate replacements.

It's definitely been dragged around a lot. Probably spent a lot of time in a holster. Maybe a ranch gun, who knows but it shows the signs of being carried a lot. There is nothing cosmetically pretty about it. Even though it's not that old of a revolver, I like to think of all the stories it could tell that the safe queens would never know.

Rifling is nice and crisp though so it doesn't look like it was shot a bunch.

The guy who checked my paperwork said he was surprised it actually stayed on their shelf as long as it did. He said they put it out last week.

I'll shoot some pics when I get home and can use a better camera than the one on my phone.

She'll make a fine addition to my growing collection.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Good find! Sometimes they clean up a whole lot better than you think they will. Post pic's when ya got her done!

 

[N_itis]

Great find. Great "field," or "ranch" as you described it, gun. Possibly a police gun...the police used to carry them a lot more than they shot them; still true in a lot of cases, especially with tightening budgets and ammunition supplies.

Anyway, M28s have always been popular in Texas, as they were DPS issue guns during the time frame when yours was made. My Texas DPS gun (S315XXX) is crudely stamped with an issue number (DPS XXXXX) just below the cylinder window on the left side of the frame.

Congratulations on finding an outstanding gun at a reasonable price. Quite a feat these days.

 

[sw282]

Stag grips go for pretty penny. You migt be able to put them on one of the auction sites. Check Ebay or GB. You might be able to compare

 

[reubjames]

I'm pretty sure they are bone and not stag. I may keep them, they are starting to grow on me. I'm not sure about the Tyler T though. I'll have to shoot it to see how I like that on there.

What would the "correct" grips be for this model and vintage?

Here are some "before" pics of the condition it was in when I bought it.

And after I invested 30 mins and some elbow grease along with some Break Free.

I'll give it a more detailed cleaning when I can put a little more time into the process this weekend. I just wanted to get the previous owners buggers off of it.

There was more rust than I thought. No serious pitting but just light rust on most of the surfaces. I swear the store I bought it from doesn't oil most of their used guns. All the ones on the normal racks look bone dry and many have rust on them just sitting on the racks. The only guns that seem to get oil are in the gun library. Surpising for such a major chain. If they'd spend 5 mins wiping down a gun before they put them on the shelf the gun would show better. Even if it's a $300 beater.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to sneak off to the range this weekend to fire it.

 

[j38]

Nice find! I like it very much.

As to the rust; a fellow Forum member (I can't remember who) suggested a solution that has worked well for me on several guns - brush that gun down with a heavy coat of a product called "CorrosionX" - and let it sit AT LEAST overnight in a plastic bag. Two or three days wouldn't hurt. Then wipe it down with bronze wool (available from Home Depot or Lowe's) and you will have a removed most, if not all of the rust you describe. Ity will look like a different gun when you're finished.

Then, enjoy shooting that old N frame,

Jerry

 

[4864]

Glad you picked it up. Mine is in about the same shape but no rust when I got it. I would have had a hard time passing up that deal.

 

[N_itis]

There was more rust than I thought. No serious pitting but just light rust on most of the surfaces. I swear the store I bought it from doesn't oil most of their used guns. All the ones on the normal racks look bone dry and many have rust on them just sitting on the racks. The only guns that seem to get oil are in the gun library. Surpising for such a major chain. If they'd spend 5 mins wiping down a gun before they put them on the shelf the gun would show better. Even if it's a $300 beater.

Gun Library? Major Chain? Cabela's in Buda?

If so, definately suprising that it would sit for long at that price.

Not surprising that they do not take the time to do anything to the "non collectible" used guns they take in trade/buy outright. I am sure most of the employees have no interest in scrubbing down old guns whereas a smaller dealer knows the $100.00 or so it could add to the asking price of such a gun.

My guess is that a chain like Cabela's is more interested in passing such guns along quickly. Small, if any, gain on the trade/resale to generate traffic and move the new stuff and accessories. Clothing, accessories, and the like with large markups are where they really make their money. The short time that I worked in a chain sporting goods store while in college I learned that new guns with their 5% or less profit margin were just tools to get people in the door and buying the clothing, shoes/boots, tents, and other stuff that was marked up as much as 80%.

 

[reubjames]

Yeah, it was Cabela's in Buda. I'm forturnate enough to live less than 2 miles from them and they are on the same exit I take to go home each day. I was surprised to actually see it on their shelf. It just jumped out at me when I walked by the counter. Usually their used handgun selection is dominated by Glocks and XDs.

I guess I could see why a big chain like that wouldn't bother scrubbing the old used guns. They move a lot more brand new tactical tupperware to the masses (and a lot of BS if you ever stand around listening to the salesmen talk up the latest gadgets).

I'll try the "CorrosionX" and bronze wool trick. Just the little time I spent with the Break Free and a rag made a huge difference but it's hard to see that in the photos.

 

[minuteman]

Model 28-2

Great looking 28, it has character. Enjoy it , I've got a 4 in. model 28, S242xxx, about early to mid sixties. Came with diamond magnas.
Good shooting
Minuteman

 

[bgrafsr]

My 28-2 has a 6 inch barrel and Pachmayr grips. Serial number is N212685. It is in about 90% condition, mainly from some minor pitting, as the bluing looks good.