This makes no sense does it? Model 28 Frankengun

[Stopsign32v]

Well I really want to follow in the steps of Skeeter and build a 5 inch Model 28 in 44 Special. I have a spare 44 Special barrel and while it isn't a 5 inch it's a 4 inch.

I was looking at Model 28's and it seems they are right around $800-900!!!!! By the time I have the machine work done (another $250) and have it reblued ($510) I will be $1600 in this.

Does it make ANY sense to go down this road?

 

[444 Magnum]

It doesn't to me, but then I can't account for this either...



I perfectly good set of cokes that someone decided were too wide for their hand.

 

[Stickgunner]

It doesn't to me, but then I can't account for this either...

View attachment 767515

I perfectly good set of cokes that someone decided were too wide for their hand.

What am I missing here? Someone modified something to make it better for their own uses and needs. Why in the world would that bother you?

 

[Capt. F.]

Well I really want to follow in the steps of Skeeter and build a 5 inch Model 28 in 44 Special. I have a spare 44 Special barrel and while it isn't a 5 inch it's a 4 inch.

I was looking at Model 28's and it seems they are right around $800-900!!!!! By the time I have the machine work done (another $250) and have it reblued ($510) I will be $1600 in this.

Does it make ANY sense to go down this road?

I put $1700 in my 3 1/2” .44 Special about 7-8 years ago.
In 20 years you could look back at the $1600 and say “gee, didn’t I have a good time having that money in the bank OR you could look back and think of the enjoyment you got shooting your .44 for 20 years.

 

[444 Magnum]

What am I missing here? Someone modified something to make it better for their own uses and needs. Why in the world would that bother you?

It doesn't bother me at all...no more than chopping up a 29-1 to make a snubby out of it.

 

[stansdds]

40+ years ago it made sense to make such conversions. Given the scarcity of parts and the rising value of unmolested Model 28's, it no longer makes any financial sense.

 

[Lonegle57]

Stop, if it is something you want to do and have the funds to do it as in extra cash, why not. Have had a few guns customized and use them, like them and have never regretted doing it. Do I worry about what others might say......no. My gun, my choice.

 

[raljr1]

I say go ahead. I am pondering the same type of thing, modifying a 38 to something slightly different and unusual. I will likely end up with $1200 to $1400 in a gun that will never bring me a return on my investment, but I am not spending the rent money, and I want it. Aint it grand living in a free country?

 

[gwpercle]

Life is Short ... and it's Pleasures are few ...
If it will make you happy ...
Do It !
Gary

 

[THE PILGRIM]

You could just buy a 24.
But that’s not nearly as much fun as your plan!
Way back, I saw a number of the ‘customized’ 28s. These appeared to be fairly worn LE trade ins.
There have been some neat custom 28s posted here.
None of the ones I saw were anything close to those!

 

[Yendor357]

You want to save money?
Stay out of gun shops.
Stay away from Gunsmiths.
Stay off Gunbroker.
Stay off gun forums.

I’m awful at following my own advice! lol
But I have a lot of fun.
I’m not broke, and I’ll bet neither are you.

 

[Green Frog]

I refer back to Froggie Rule #23… the part that says “if the product is a gun so expensive in its factory version…” and say, I’d change 1 thing and go ahead. Buy a (relatively) cheap Mod 28 cylinder through GunChoker or fleaBay and save the original take off barrel and cylinder so the gun can be returned to original. Then send the orphan cylinder, the 44 barrel, and the “donor” Mod 28 to a good gunsmith like Andy Horvath or Frank Glenn, both of whom have done this same job many times. It will still be a “modified gun” but it wil be yours and if you decide later you don’t like it, you can reverse everything.
JMHO, FWIW!

 

[Stopsign32v]

I guess the thing that bothers me is this exact gun already exists. It's a Model 24 4".

So I will be making a gun that already exists but it won't be that gun...

 

[jcelect]

I have a couple custom guns, but they are in a configuration that is not, or was never, manufactured by S&W.

The 6" pre 17 is an original built by Jim Harvey. The 8 3/8" is a late model 17 built by Andy Horvath. The caliber is called the ".224 Harvey K-Chuk". I also have a 29-5 that is chambered in .22 Hornet.
This is a prime example of what happens to a custom gun when the owner loses interest in the gun!

A 629 converted to shoot 38 Super w/ an 8-hole cylinder! I purchased the gun over the internet for less than 1K! I believe the original owner had more money in this conversion!
IMHO, to convert a gun to a configuration that was a standard production model is not "well spent money"! If you are doing this conversion in your shop from accumulate parts, then have at it!
jcelect

 

[Green Frog]

jcelect hit another point I espouse. Will the final result be something you actually want when it’s done? I’ve seen several strange builds for sale that lead me to ask myself “Why?” And as jcelect suggested, they can’t even recover the money they dumped into labor much less total cost of the project.

 

[Buford57]

The Skeeter conversion was done because S&W wasn't making a .44 Special and 28s were cheap. Today 28s are treasured collectables and the 629 Mountain Gun fills the niche. It is neither practical nor economical, but if you want something that is uniquely yours, why not? You already know it's not an investment.

But then I modified the sights and replaced the grips on the 28 I carried 40 years ago. Somewhere a purist collector is cursing me and I don't care.

 

[Grayfox]

I doesn't make sense to me. .44 Specials are out there. You can buy one of them for less than you'd spend on a conversion. I also wonder if you or your heirs can get your money back out of it when the day eventually comes to sell it. A custom gun may be special to you, but not so much to anybody else.
Your money, your call.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Considering I've got $400 in my 24-3. I'd have to say NO.

 

[Doug M.]

It is not about fiscal prudence. It is about having what one desires. There are not a lot of 5" barrel models out here, but to me that is the sweet spot for all around use. I am not alone in that. If you want to, got for it.

 

[ARgon]

Chop it down to a 2 inch barrel and do a Fitz Special on it.