The ultimate Highway Patrolman thread.including N frame ser# ranges

[snw19_357]

...4 screw models are normally pre-28's...

While there are a couple non-model marked (pre) 4-screws, the vast majority of "pre's" are five screws. The deletion of the upper sideplate screw and marking them with model numbers seems to have happened almost together.

 

[snw19_357]

28-3, N9577xx. It's weird having an N-frame without recessed cylinders.

 

[Scary Gary]

This is my new Mod. 28 I just pick up at the gun show this last weekend . She ain't pretty but neither am I . she's parkerized and that does not bother me , I love parkerizing and I was just looking for a good shooter . the S/N puts her at 1968 to 1969 . I have not shot her yet but I can tell you all that I am in lust with her , ( but only in the most respectful way ) . I picked her up for $390.00 , good or bad that is what I payed for her and I'm happy with that . I'm glad that some one ell's parkerized her cuzz I'd hate to be that guy , but I like her .
I'm am now on a quest to pick up every Mod. 28 that I can fined and afford .
I love this thread .

 

[Dave T]

Gary,

The Highway Patrolman was always intended to be utilitarian. Your's may not be original but it sure looks business like. (smiley face goes here)

Dave

 

[ENGINE18]

28-2, 4-inch N5143XX; tack-driver w/anything! Fantasic shooting .357s!

 

[Scary Gary]

Dave T , I like it that way and I can honestly say that I'm not the one who parkerized it .

 

[51 Packard]

He fellas. Just joined up after finding this thread through a google search.

I inherited my Grandad's 6" .357 Highway Patrolman a few years back. The story I always heard was that he bought it new back in '65 during the Watts riots, but according to it's serial, it appears to be much older than that. It is # S12544*. The gun is in immaculate condition without a mark on it, and perfect bluing. Before I got my greedy paws on it, it had had maybe a dozen rounds through it. It is an absolute joy to shoot. I'll try and get pictures up later this weekend.

 

[Scary Gary]

Maybe he bought it used .
Nothing wrong with that .

 

[DCWilson]

He fellas. Just joined up after finding this thread through a google search.

I inherited my Grandad's 6" .357 Highway Patrolman a few years back. The story I always heard was the he bought it new back in '65 during the Watts riots, but according to it's serial, it appears to be much older than that. It is # S12544*. The gun is in immaculate condition without a mark on it, and perfect bluing. Before I got my greedy paws on it, it had had maybe a dozen rounds through it. It is an absolute joy to shoot. I'll try and get pictures up later this weekend.

Welcome to the forum. That serial number is almost low enough to be from the first year of manufacture. I have S127225, which I showed off in post no. 414 a page back in this thread. I hope you can post pics, because we'd love to see them.

S&W had no policy that enforced shipping in serial number order, but discounting the random belated shipments that are all too familiar to S&W historians and collectors, your gun probably left the factory in Spring of 1955. The gun I mentioned above was shipped in May of that year.

Glad you like it. They are cool guns, and it is extra special to have one that has family history behind it.

 

[tocohillsguy]

The best 28-2 ever made...because it belonged to my late father....

Serial Number N50XXXX; Brushed Hard Chromed, with Target Trigger and Hammer

 

[VonFatman]

I do not know if I've responded to this thread...so here are the serial numbers of my Highway Patrolmen:

pre-28 - 6" w/5screws: S 1298xx

M28-2 - 4": S3020xx

M28-2 - 4": S3076xx

M28-2 - 6": N1510xx

Hope this is helpful.

Bob

 

[akguy1985]

seen one in my local shop today 4 inch model 28-2 LNIB. Had the wax paper, tools and all. Had a tyler T grip on it and a trigger shoe and still had the factory magnas on it. The price $799
serial number S289574. 1967 vintage going off the first page of this thread. I wish old bill would want less for it. Strangely enough the 4 inch factory nickel 27-2 i've been talking about lately is still there $699

 

[Viking66]

And now for mine...

I inherited this one from my dad. Target trigger, hammer and grips. The grips do not have medallions and no other distinguishing marks. These Pachmayr grips are OK, but I'll probably look to Houge for this type.

 

[Buddy G]

My new 28-2.... 6" N259736 came with Herritt targets but I found these in the junk box. Two days old at my house. Paid $375. Cleaned up well, will shoot it Monday!

 

[Scary Gary]

Thats $15.00 less then I paid for mine . I still need to go shoot mine .
I like it . I don't think you could go wrong at $375.00 .

 

[GoHogs]

M28 Highway Patrolman was the first SW I ever bought, like many sold it, finaly replaced it today with 4" N248XXX, P&R, correct Magnas.
My question...it has RR and WO sights, did the factory ever ship M28s with those or were they added later (they appear to be factory)?

 

[BUFF]

I am down to two Highway Parolmen right now. I have owned well over a dozen. I used to buy reasonably priced used ones, clean them up, add r/r and w/o and sometimes target hammers and triggers and resell them for usually $75 to $100 over what I had in them.

The oldest is S 1139XX (July, 1954), a 4 incher that I traded a six incher for. The guy I got it from bought it new in Buffalo, NY, shot a box of .38's in it, cosmolined it, put it away and joined the army. He got it out of storage in 1984 and wanted something longer to hunt with. I traded him a 6 inch M-28-2 (N5465XX) that I had added the r/r and w/o to. Box and what came with it. Target hammer, Pachmayr grip adapter. Gotta letter it someday.

I have a six inch M-28-2 N 5297XX I bought in 1981. It was used but looked like new. I qualified with it but only carried it on duty a couple of times. It's been with my little brother for years until recently and probably has 10,000 miles of ATV riding on it. It needs a bath really badly! I hanged onto it because it shot so well.

The first one I owned, N 253837, I bought new in 1976 with the intention of making a .44 Special with it, which I did. I sold it when the Model 24-3's came out. I wish I hadnt and would buy it back if I found it.

 

[BUFF]

...it has RR and WO sights, did the factory ever ship M28s with those or were they added later (they appear to be factory)?

The only ones I have heard of with red ramp/white outline were the late Highway Patrolmen bought by the New York State Police. Before that, the only options were barrel length (4 and 6 inches) and walnut target stocks. Adding them post-factory is simple and very commonly done.

 

[Buddy G]

My 6" (N259736) has RR and WO sights, the 4" (N229003) Does not. I do not have a letter on either of them, but think somewhere around the mid 70s.
I just traded for the 4" yesterday. Seems OK but have not shot it yet. The new one's front sight has a bad...paint job on it.

 

[Garywapx]

Can't make this up, dropped out of Law Enforcement in 1985, sold my 28-2 in 1989 to a friend. he was transfered from MN. to NE. I moved from MN to KS. A month ago, I'm telling another friend that I'd like to find a 28-2 someday. He tells me he has a .357 but not sure of the model. that night he calls me, its s 28-2. the next day I look it over and it's my old gun. I can tell because we used to do night shoots and painted the front sights white to reflect the old red revolving lights from the squad cars. I ask him where he got it. from a guy in Omaha. so , 20 yeas later, I now own it. again, can still pound nails with it. will post a pic in the near future, SN makes it a 1973. nice and clean and mine again

 

[lonegunman762x51]

I have a 6" pre-28 s/n 1347xx. I'd be interested in finding one of it's close relatives. I took it to a bullseye revolver match and shot a smokin 100-8x timed fire. While this gun has a lot of holster wear, it does shoot wonderfully.

Sorry to have takin two years to finally post something, I've been busy.

 

[LOBO]

Can't make this up, dropped out of Law Enforcement in 1985, sold my 28-2 in 1989 to a friend. he was transfered from MN. to NE. I moved from MN to KS. A month ago, I'm telling another friend that I'd like to find a 28-2 someday. He tells me he has a .357 but not sure of the model. that night he calls me, its s 28-2. the next day I look it over and it's my old gun. I can tell because we used to do night shoots and painted the front sights white to reflect the old red revolving lights from the squad cars. I ask him where he got it. from a guy in Omaha. so , 20 yeas later, I now own it. again, can still pound nails with it. will post a pic in the near future, SN makes it a 1973. nice and clean and mine again

That's one for the books!! Glad you got her back

 

[Electraclyde]

Just picked this one up at an estate sale on Saturday. Don't care much for the grips. Would like to find some orginal grips but not sure what would have come on the gun in 1974 or 75.

 

[bwsmith2850]

That's a good looking HP, Electraclyde. Not much wear for its age.

Would like to find some orginal grips but not sure what would have come on the gun in 1974 or 75.

They sould have had non-diamond magnas or targets. I'm not sure if they would have had black or silver washers on the back of the medallion. I think silver by then but I don't know for certain. Someone will let us know soon, I'm sure.

There are usually some in the 'Accessories for sale' forum at good prices.

I can't tell from the pic, are those stag or imitation?

 

[Col Defender]

New to Me, Pre-28 with pictures. (I hope)

Got my first Highway Patrolman, a 5 screw, Pre-28, 4" barrel, sn S 1111xx. Arrived here two days ago but dates to 1954 making it the first year of production if I am not mistaken. Love it - looks good and shoots good, especially for more than 50 years old!

Steve

 

[Electraclyde]

That's a good looking HP, Electraclyde. Not much wear for its age.



They sould have had non-diamond magnas or targets. I'm not sure if they would have had black or silver washers on the back of the medallion. I think silver by then but I don't know for certain. Someone will let us know soon, I'm sure.

There are usually some in the 'Accessories for sale' forum at good prices.

I can't tell from the pic, are those stag or imitation?

How would I tell the difference between stag and imitation? They appear to be stag to me. The inside of the right grip has "Ajax # 19" on it.

 

[Viking66]

RR & W/O

Guys,
I see that later model options included Red Ramp fronts and White Outlined rear sights. Man, that would pull this baby together as it currently leaves me with a questionable sight picture. Forgive a novice question, but who in the world ( preferably on the east coast ) would do such a job as to make me want to marry off my daughter (if I had one ) to the smith who could do such an outstanding job that you'd think it was factory? The rear outline seems like a cakewalk, the front... Im fearing my muzzle in some vise and some nutjob ( like myself ) with a hack saw. Cutting some dovetail and slipping in a chip of Formica.
Are my concerns rational?

 

[karamojo]

This is mine. A very tidy one from 1977, which I bought two days ago. I would have never imagined to get a like-new M28 with a four inch barrel around here. It even came in the original box and papers. A childhood dream became true...

 

[tocohillsguy]

Guys,
I see that later model options included Red Ramp fronts and White Outlined rear sights. Man, that would pull this baby together as it currently leaves me with a questionable sight picture. Forgive a novice question, but who in the world ( preferably on the east coast ) would do such a job as to make me want to marry off my daughter (if I had one ) to the smith who could do such an outstanding job that you'd think it was factory? The rear outline seems like a cakewalk, the front... Im fearing my muzzle in some vise and some nutjob ( like myself ) with a hack saw. Cutting some dovetail and slipping in a chip of Formica.
Are my concerns rational?

Have you considered simply putting red nail polish on the front sight?

 

[Erik Pakieser]

Checking in...

Just picked up a Model 28-2, Ser#N91XXX

As far as I can tell, manufactured 1969-1972. Very nice gun, great price. This is my second Model 28, I sold my first in 1992 and I've always regretted it. It's good to have a Model 28 again!