I looked at a few M28-2 over the weekend. While they looked nice both had bent cranes and were slightly out of time. Seems they had problems. A big heavy wheel gun like that seems to beat itself to death with that heavy cly. turning around. I give up on them like SW did.
The ultimate Highway Patrolman thread.including N frame ser# ranges
- Thread starter Allen-frame
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Sure, if they're shot a bunch of times as fast as possible double action.
Bent cranes are usually caused by slapping the revolver open and closed, Hollywood style. That is not how you treat a revolver. It can be fixed as the crane/yoke, are not hardened.
okto
Member
Hate to dredge up a seven-year-old (seven! time flies!) post, but I haven't seen these stocks before and they're almost exactly what I'd like to put on my HP. Who makes/made them, and what are they called?Here is my 6" Model 28-3. I'll post the serial number later:
GunarSailors
US Veteran
Herretts makes them I think. Shooting Stars?
Harkrader
Member
I need a lot more money.
Harkrader
Member
S&W 28-2 N504312. Dates to '78 - '80.
The serial number is stamped inside the ejector rod housing, but has "F" instead of "N". Narrow hammer and trigger, counterbored chambers, 10-groove front- and backstrap.
Grips are what came with it, and I LOVE the wingblat on the barrel.
I bought it from a hunter. It had a Redfield 4X scope on top that I really didn't want to use, so I removed it.
Amazing condition for a field piece, with a very tight action.
Harkrader
Member
28-2 N593591, dates to 1979.
The serial number under the crane was buggered, possibly a double stamp. It has a smooth trigger and narrow hammer, chambers are not counterbored.
Wear and minor corrosion indicate it was carried some. There are rust dots on the right side of the frame about where the trigger finger would rest when not on the trigger. Like my other one, it has an intriguing wingbat on the barrel.
It has a very tight action.
Inside the left grip: "NT-430," and below it: "LH5913."
Inside the right grip: "NT-430" and numbers under that, obscured by the screw hole and age.
I inherited a 28-2 from my stepfather who was a Deputy in Stark County, Ohio back in the '70s. It sat around for several years before I took it up and actually used it. I was quite impressed with the trigger in single action and the revolver's accuracy. Now, a few years later, I have added a 29-2 to complete my wheel gun inventory. They are my home defense and range fun guns. The wife hates them, so I love them even more.
Been handling and shooting 28s and their forebearers for close to 50 years and not experienced the problems you describe. Nframe guns are tough but as with any mechanical device they can be damaged. You found a couple bad ones, don't judge them all by your experience.
On second thought, don't buy any. Leave them for me!
I also believe a 28 with a bent crane is from abuse. These guns are the heavy duty of S&WS 357. S&W may have stopped making N them, but no true revolver guy gave up on them
As I said, Hollywood has been the ruin of many fine revolvers! I still laugh when they rotate an open cylinder in the movies, and it clicks! I've watched people at the range, slap their cylinders shut all the time. Then there is the movies with the semi-auto's that are empty and they click three or four times 
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greenmachine
Member
I don't think I've posted pictures of my 28-2's before. The six inch is from 1979, the four inch has an 'S' serial number dating to 1970, and has a much brighter finish. It almost makes me wonder if it's been re-blued, but in the right light it does have that 'purplish' color on the barrel and cylinder.
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okto
Member
Just finally got my hands on my first HP.
28-2 N97892, 4" 3-screw. Ex-Texas DPS duty gun, so it served with an honest-to-God highway patrolman (we call 'em State Troopers here).
Stamped 02382, a weird angular shape, and G2 on the yoke and the grip frame. Serial number stamped on frame under yoke and on butt of grip frame. L stamped into rear of cylinder.
DPS 20378 stamped above trigger on left side of frame.
First impressions:
The plastic faux-aged-ivory stocks are about halfway between hideous and handsome. I thought I'd ditch them right away, but they're sort of growing on me.
I like the weight and balance a lot. Having the center of mass above and forward of my trigger finger instead of in my palm is one of the major reasons I generally prefer revolvers to autos, and this gun does not disappoint.
Just the little bit extra in the N grip frame vs. the K frame makes a noticeable difference with my big mitts, although I'd still like a little more distance between the web of my thumb and the trigger, and a little bit of downward displacement for my ring finger. What I really want is something about halfway between magnas and targets: just a little behind the trigger guard, just a little over the backstrap, and maybe a little below the butt for my pinkie.
Sorry for the cellphone pic, I picked it up on my lunch break and the real camera is at home.
28-2 N97892, 4" 3-screw. Ex-Texas DPS duty gun, so it served with an honest-to-God highway patrolman (we call 'em State Troopers here).
Stamped 02382, a weird angular shape, and G2 on the yoke and the grip frame. Serial number stamped on frame under yoke and on butt of grip frame. L stamped into rear of cylinder.
DPS 20378 stamped above trigger on left side of frame.
First impressions:
The plastic faux-aged-ivory stocks are about halfway between hideous and handsome. I thought I'd ditch them right away, but they're sort of growing on me.
I like the weight and balance a lot. Having the center of mass above and forward of my trigger finger instead of in my palm is one of the major reasons I generally prefer revolvers to autos, and this gun does not disappoint.
Just the little bit extra in the N grip frame vs. the K frame makes a noticeable difference with my big mitts, although I'd still like a little more distance between the web of my thumb and the trigger, and a little bit of downward displacement for my ring finger. What I really want is something about halfway between magnas and targets: just a little behind the trigger guard, just a little over the backstrap, and maybe a little below the butt for my pinkie.
Sorry for the cellphone pic, I picked it up on my lunch break and the real camera is at home.
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here is another one for your list. No dash 28 4 screw # S1952xx 6 inch. Have had it for several years.
collectorden
Member
I just picked up an early model 28-2 in a trade.
It's shooter grade with lots of carry time but apparently little use.
SerNo S22211X originally issued in Conn.
It's shooter grade with lots of carry time but apparently little use.
SerNo S22211X originally issued in Conn.
Here are a few more of my 28 s.28-2#N568283. Cannot remember barrel length as all these are converted. This one 45 colt. #N649408 28-2 now 44-40. #N42782 28-2 now44 spl. #N952669 28-2 now 44 spl. #N11699 28-2 now 357x44 Bains&Davis with 2 cylinders one shouldered and one straight for a plastic collar.
I just picked up this 28-2 s/n N2098XX, my first P&R Smith. It came with an unmarked blue box with no end label with paperwork for a Model 29 but a tool kit with a 38-cal bore brush. Not sure if any of this is original to the gun, as it came into the LGS with a collection of other Smiths, including a couple of 29s, so maybe the seller got some of the boxes mixed. At any rate, this 28 appears to have been unfired, although it has at least 50 rounds through it now!
Daniel 1969
Member
Its been a while since I have been back on this thread, I kinda had forgotten all about this S&W and put it up in my Gun Case, I was talking with my mom the other day and the subject came up about it, I asked her does she remember when her dad bought it and she said yes, and I quote "He had invited another federal game warden over for dinner and he brought a friend with him that was a rep for S&W, he showed my dad the gun and he bought it right there at the dinner table" this was in 1954. I asked her was it always this color? or was it blue before? she said it has always been that color. I still have not contacted S&W yet for any kind of verification. I guess I need to do this now. Id really love to know the history of this beautiful weapon. Just thought I'd share this story with you guys. keep in mind this was my grandfathers service revolver while he was a federal game warden, I'm sure it has seen its years of use so it does not surprise me to have a replacement set of grips on it.
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