S&W 28-2 Value 1978 Vintage Value******UPDATE W/ PICS

[buffalo4star]

Need direction in value of a 1978 28-2 6" in 99% condition. Has red ramp front sight. Grips are Pachmayr. Appreciate your opinions……Lou

 

[luvsmiths]

800- 1000 these days easily- with no box or factory grips- more to the top end in my opinion.

 

[gmborkovic]

Check under the rubbers. They collect moisture. $700+ is fair.

 

[stansdds]

I'd say around $800, given that it does not have its original stocks. Less if there is corrosion beneath the rubber stocks.

 

[Model19man]

I would say if you get it ditch the Goodyears and search for a set of original grips. I think the value is lessened by the cost of a set of OEM grips and be sure to check for corrosion which might lower it further. The gun is worth maybe $800 with factory grips - go from there.

 

[Rpg]

Not long ago I figured that used 28-2’s with 6” barrels were $500 guns and they were plentiful.

Nowadays, I see them offered for $300+ more and they’re not as frequently encountered as they used to be.

I’m still stuck on M28’s being $500 guns so your example would have to be pretty spectacular for me to think about it as an $800 gun.

 

[Doug M.]

The rubber grips are exponentially more practical for shooting; the hotter the loads you want to shoot, the more true this is. When I first got into shooting in the late 70s, it was the norm to pitch the wood grips and go with rubber for any serious use. That paradigm is still valid.

The moisture/corrosion issue is not trivial, but is easily checked and corrected.

 

[moralem]

S&W 28-2 Value 1978 Vintage Value

No way I am letting mine go for 800 bucks…..

 

[buffalo4star]

The feedback is much appreciated and many thanks to everyone….Lou

 

[robvious]

mine was just at $500 back in 2011... box matching grips.. a today price around here is probably $700-$800 they will ask $950... I will take $850 blurts out quickly.. then the dance begins

 

[DEF3]

Just paid a grand for a 28 no dash with Diamond targets at a lgs. Couldn’t pass it up. I see -2 going for a grand at Cabelas pretty consistently also.

 

[Jack Flash]

Just paid a grand for a 28 no dash with Diamond targets at a lgs. Couldn’t pass it up. I see -2 going for a grand at Cabelas pretty consistently also.

Sounds like a good deal on the no dash. Cabella's is always high. They must sell them to someone.

I was buying N-Frames at Cabella's all day long for $400 a decade or so ago, but those days are gone.

 

[DEF3]

Agree about cabelas, but if you check Guns International there pricing is about the same. Yes those days are long gone, seems like anything in real good shape is over a grand. My thought is if you like it, buy it. Somebody walking in store after you leave might just take it. You might feel it should be priced $150 cheaper, but what’s a $150 these days. I mean a big Mack meal is 14-15 bucks now. Is it worth it..no, but ya still buy it. Bright side is you won’t feel sick after buying a gun.

 

[Hawg Rider]

For some reason, Model 28-2s with 6" bbl. are not as popular as those with the 4" bbl. and tend to be valued slightly lower. However, times are changing and the values of all S&W N-frame revolvers are climbing...it's hard to find an all matching original N-frame for under $1K. What is interesting to me is that you say the HP has a red ramp front sight, which would be extremely unusual. HPs all had Baughman Quick Draw front sights (without an insert). The SCSW 4th Ed. says that only a couple of special orders for State Police units had red ramp front sights. Is the barrel of that 28-2 stamped "Highway Patrolman"? Does it have any "WSP" or "NYSP" stamps? If so, may be a rare and collectable revolver. If not, the bbl. may have been swapped with a Model 27 barrel. If it is just a standard 28-2 with the Pachmayrs, I think that revolver is worth about $850. If it's State Police stamped, it could greatly increase the value.

 

[alwslate]

Wow I really got a deal on my 6" 28-2. $75 new in the box. Been a few years ago though. Oct of 1966

 

[buffalo4star]

Hawg Rider…..appreciate the head’s up and will check when it lands at my dealer.

alwslate………you beat me. Mine was a 4" NIB not long after your purchase
and if memory serves me it was $98.50. Best to forget those numbers.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Consider what a new Smith goes for these days, upward of $1,000 and there have a hillery hole and are full of MIM parts. Just look at how beautifully finished the 28’s are and how the new smiths aren’t finished nearly as nicely. What can you buy new for $800-1,000? I’d seriously consider it at $800 but I wouldn’t take a grand for mine.

Edit: I noticed you’re looking at a 78. The one I have is a 78 as well although a 4”. I bought it new and found the receipt not long ago and found that I paid $177 in 78.

 

[larryofcc]

Maybe I paid too much, as after tax and shipping the pre M28 4" I bought was near $1,200. The gun is as new, unfired, and all numbers match including the stocks. Big Larry

 

[MelvinWalker]

M28-2

I recently bought a pretty nice M28-2....About 6 months ago, it came from a private seller here in Florida who we have had deals in the past.

Mine has very light turn ring with little to no holster wear....1978 vintage. No box, but he threw in a box of Hornady .357 magnum. I like the M28 and I have grown fond of the more satin finish than that of an M27.

Price was $550. I think I did fine.

 

[Jack Flash]

Maybe I paid too much, as after tax and shipping the pre M28 4" I bought was near $1,200. The gun is as new, unfired, and all numbers match including the stocks. Big Larry

I would have made that deal. That's just what prices are now. Especially when it includes tax and shipping (and possibly FFL fees.)

Sometimes you just have to pay the piper (or in this case, the whole orchestra!)

I recently bought a pretty nice M28-2....About 6 months ago, it came from a private seller here in Florida who we have had deals in the past.

Mine has very light turn ring with little to no holster wear....1978 vintage. No box, but he threw in a box of Hornady .357 magnum. I like the M28 and I have grown fond of the more satin finish than that of an M27.

Price was $550. I think I did fine.

More than just fine.
Pictures are pretty dark so hard to tell, but I'm thinking it's been reblued? (Trigger and possibly hammer look blued). If so, still a great deal. Also looks like someone overdid the varnish on the Target Stocks.

If not a reblue, you paid the 2010 price.