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

[jughed440]

recently purchased my first N frame...a 4" 28-2 HP from an estate sale. box and papers included. looks to be fired very little. the bluing is mint, with a very faint turn line. P&R, has target hammer & trigger but is not marked so on the label. it's the first box i have ever seen with the labels upside down...is that common, or just a fluke?


Ser# N5773**

 

[AirCommando]

That's how the blue 2 piece boxes are. S&W stocks them in the shelf upside down so when they draw one out, they don't drop the gun out.

AC

 

[jughed440]

That's how the blue 2 piece boxes are. S&W stocks them in the shelf upside down so when they draw one out, they don't drop the gun out.

AC

thanks for the explanation....learned something new today

 

[Enframe]

I'll add this one.

M28, S1943xx, 4" 4 screw from 1958-59. No box, no paper, non-matching magna's. But it is a real 99% gun, and shoots to POA with 158grn magnum loads and no sight adjustment.

It's a keeper.

Enframe

 

[NBink]

"pre-28" 4-screw

Thanks to forum members for info and interest.
I've recieved a couple of questions since my first post so I'm going to provide some additional info and pics.
It's a 6" with serial number S1755xx.
There is also the number(s) 880 29 stamped on the left side of the grip frame and on the yoke.
Mod. 28 does not appear anywhere on it.
The backstrap has 10 grooves.
There is no number on the ejector rod shroud or the rear of the cylinder.
It is equipped with target hammer, trigger and sights.
The S&W grips are checkered with the center diamond.
+ 2 quick notes:
Forgive the disguised digits in the serial numberand I just discovered I maxed out the upload file size capacity without the yoke number pic but the number is there and it's the same as the LS of the frame (not the serial number on bottom of frame)

I'd very much appreciate any information anyone can provide and I'll do my best to answer all questions. Thanks again.

 

[Reddog]

I just purchased a 6" Highway Patrolman, serial #13338X. Pictures here http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/166194-hiway-patrolman-find.html
Dick

 

[Big'un]

My first blued revolver

Until recently most of my pistols were Third Generation semis and my revolvers were all stainless steel Smiths.Because I live in Canada I had never seen a Highway Patrolman much less heard of one until I started visiting this site.Something about it's raw ruggedness and a look that meant all business made me want to get one.On the second day that I started to look for one, I found this 28-2 at a great price for North of the Border at $450. It was as if it was meant to be.It came with the standard black service grips,great trigger and tighter than some of the new guns sold today. I managed to purchase the set of Magna grips thanks to SAFireman a member of this forum.Serial #N557XXX.

 

[Bill Bates]

You can add one more 6" five screw Highway Patrolman serial number S1291xx. It is in 98% plus condition with all matching serial numbers including the magna stocks.

 

[big50_1]

Wonder what the pistol count here is compared to the total?

 

[imashooter2]

Wonder what the pistol count here is compared to the total?

Oh this thread/site is just a small fraction of the total production. That said Allen-frame hasn't updated his first post since July and we were on page 54 then.

 

[big50_1]

Thanks for reminding me about the first page and the gun count. I'd forgotten about that.

 

[WhistlerSWE]

Awesome thread!

I've got the 4" 28-2, with serial number 26760X.
Beautiful gun, it looked brand new when I bought it half a year ago. I've shot a couple of PPC matches with it and it does OK.

 

[PALADIN85020]

A tale of two 28s...

These are two of the last guns I'll ever part with. The top one I purchased new in 1967. This Model 28-2 6" was made in January of 1967. It was the first S&W magnum I ever owned. I replaced the original grips with a set of modified rosewood smooth "cokes" I bought at a gun show soon after. It was a great gun then and it still is today.

The bottom one I selected with my dad in 1968. He sought my advice on a house gun, and I thought a 4" Model 28 would be ideal. I picked a very tight new one with a great trigger pull for him. It's a Model 28-2 made in January, 1968. We purchased the target grips at the same time, and they've been on the gun ever since.

I equipped both guns with trigger shoes to give a nicer single action letoff. They've remained on both of them.

My dad and I used to go shooting on the desert north of Phoenix with these two guns, and we had a lot of fun. His gun has not been fired since his death in 1987; he was the last person to fire it. I have a lot of fond memories wrapped up in these two old Model 28s.

 

[msinc]

I just acquired a 28-2 serial number N5211XX. It has a 6" barrel and {says the previous owner} it had the target grips. But, he sold them and installed a rubber one. Based on the shadow in the bluing grip area that sounds about right. It has the regular hammer and trigger.

 

[Maximumbob54]

This is my 28 no dash S/N: S1955XX. It has the screw in front of the trigger guard. Wish I had the original grips.

 

[Maximumbob54]

While I was taking that picture I was thinking of a Model 27 Classic that I was holding recently. It was a plenty fine gun. Decent polishing, pinned in front sight so you have the added option to change it out, spotless milling with no machine marks, and as an added bonus it came with a T-grip at no extra cost. Not sure who put it on as it isn't a factory option, at least not that I know of. BUT... The cylinder to barrel gap could hold two playing cards in the gap, the lock ruins the clean side plate, the new magna grips are made of that laminate or whatever wood that are nothing like the original magna's, and I would swear it was lighter weight than it should be. I may just be making that last part up as I didn't put it on a scale. I don't doubt it will last just as long as the original, but it just gets to me that they are calling these things "Classics". It would make so much more sense just adding another dash to the number and leaving it at that. I buy a classic version of something then it should be made the same way it was as close as we can get. It's still a beautiful handgun but here is to hoping they don't make a "Classic 28"... (IMHO)

 

[S&W_aussie]

Hi,

Finally got my HP. 28-2 with a 4" barrel, serial N211XXX. She is not as pretty as some of them on this thread but I think she is beautiful

Also makes a nice partner for my 27-2 also shown below.

M28-2


M27-2


Cheers

Mike

 

[delta-419]

What a neet thread. I just won a bid on GB for my first M28. It will fit nicely with my M27 6.5" shooter. My Christmas present to myself. Will post photos when it gets here. And its an "S" serial number, to boot.

 

[stevieboy]

I guess I need to throw my hat into the ring. Since October I've been the proud owner of a 6" 28-2. It is the most amazingly accurate revolver I've ever fired, easily outshooting everything else in my comparatively small collection of handguns. It simply loves 158gr. Magnums.

 

[Maximumbob54]

OK, I admit that I like the Presentation grips but Altamont makes some good looking plywood. I like them and I'm thinking of trying a Tyler T grip addition with them.