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

N221380 28-2. Original box ($148 new!), originally 4" bbl (incl). Current guise is a 6" bbl and an Aristocrat sight rib set for PPC (orig rear sight incl). Grip should be original (although panels are oddly marked with black ink block lettering not matching gun serial, and consecutive - just odd). I LOVE the sight set! And it shoots like a laser (sights help!). Has wide, but not .500 target hammer. Thinner trigger, which I would like to replace with a .400 serrated Target Trigger (hint hint - LOOKING!)
 
Hello all, looking to see if anyone can help me find some information on a revolver I inherited from my grandfather. It is a model 28-2, and the serial number behind the yoke is N80322. It is chambered in .45 ACP. I believe its a 4" barrel but haven't had a chance to measure it.
 
Hello all, looking to see if anyone can help me find some information on a revolver I inherited from my grandfather. It is a model 28-2, and the serial number behind the yoke is N80322. It is chambered in .45 ACP. I believe its a 4" barrel but haven't had a chance to measure it.

Welcome to the forum.

To measure the barrel you put the end of your tape measure against the front face of the cylinder and measure to the end of the barrel.

If it is marked 28-2 it should have left the factory chambered for 357 magnums. Unless it is a mis-marked 25-2, which is the model that was chambered for 45 ACP.

If it has the Highway Patrolman and 357 markings on the barrel, and chambers 45 ACP then it was bored out. If it doesn't have those barrel markings then it most likely was modified by replacing the cylinder and barrel. This was a fairly common customization back in the day when model 28 revolvers were plentiful but 45 ACP revolvers were in short supply.

Some good photos would help the forum provide you more and better info.
 
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Here is my 4 inch Highway Patrolman.

HP Small 01.jpg

Serial # S120356
Shipped July 6, 1955
Cost in 1955 just over $55

This one has had many changes from when it left the factory. Grips, hammer and trigger were all changed.

I was 1 year old when this shipped.

Here is the info from the S&W Historical Foundation letter about it:

SWHF Highway Patrolman Letter_1.jpg

Here is an article about Fishman's Sporting goods in Springfield, IL where the gun was originally shipped:


and here is a famous Highway Patrolman that was also shipped to Fishman's:

 
Here's a pic of the H stamp on my 28-2 4"...N4xxx. None of my other 28's have it. Anyone else have one?
View attachment 773171
Mine is SN: N58XX, and it has the same "H" on the rear of the cylinder. It's the only 28 I have, though I do have a 4" 27-3.

Maybe the factory did a big batch of cylinders, and designated some for 28s and others for 27s?
 
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The two bottom ones are both refinish.
Polish re-blue and a re finish nickel of a former blued HP.
They did a fabulous job.
I was told it was by the factory, but I am not sure.
The top two have discreet import marks. I think the top 4" was probably never fired. I soon took care of that.
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