Value of 2, "NIB" 28-2 Highway Patrolman's with 4" Barrels

[ArmedRealtor]

Greetings and salutations,

I know a little bit about a lot of topics. I am afraid that Smith & Wesson revolvers is not one of those topics. In the words of the great American poet Brian Wilson, "Help me Rhonda, help, help me Rhonda".

I have 2 (no, thats not a typo) NIB, supposedly never fired 28-2 Highway Patrolman with 4" barrels. I have boxes, manuals, cleaning kits and yes, even the blank warranty cards. I verified with Smith on Friday they are in fact 1972 N Models.

One has a ring around the cylinder like it has been dry fired, the other is flawless with the exception of some bluing missing where they cylinder closes. Pay no attend to the funny looking "green stuff" you see, it is Frog Lube. Well taken care of, no rust or blemises to the finish that I can see.

If these are collector pieces I don't want to shoot them, but if it doesn't matter on the value I will take them to the range tomorrow.

Do I have something rare and unique or these a dime a dozen? Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

 

[VM]

Welcome to the Forum!
They are $1000-1200 guns as described (each!)

 

[ArmedRealtor]

Welcome to the Forum!
They are $1000-1200 guns as described (each!)

Thanks for the welcome Sir...

Does the fact they are 48 years old and never shot add to the value or just because of the condition?

Bottom line, should I shoot them or keep them unfired?

 

[KalamazooKid]

You have the opportunity to shoot the heck out of one of them and keep the pristine one in the safe!

 

[Peak53]

Not totally unusual to find one in that condition, but two! The prices have skyrocketed in the last ten years on Mod 28s. IMHO really only semi-collectible, if not very fine guns, just not old enough - yet. The 28 was the working man's/cop's version of the highly polished, checkered barrel ramp, ship o' the line Mod 27. Same gun, just cosmetic money saving things. I'm with the shoot one, save one crowd. You'll love it.

 

[Seamus O'Caiside]

You have the opportunity to shoot the heck out of one of them and keep the pristine one in the safe!

That's exactly what I was fixing to say!

I have a 6" Highway Patrolman that I bought new at about the same time yours was made. I have other guns but I love that one best, and I will keep it until I die. The HP is a working man's gun more than a collector. If I understand correctly, it is the same thing as a M27, but with a less-shiny finish to hold the price down. There are a lot of people, including me, who admire working guns.

Carefully preserve the best one, and shoot the bejesus out of the other one!

 

[Protocall_Design]

They're a dime a dozen, but since you're such a nice guy, I'll give you a dollar for both of them!

I would shoot the one and keep the other one as new. Keep the boxes, tools and all papers for both.

 

[ArmedRealtor]

So I didn't do too shabby paying $400 each for them is the gist of what I am hearing

The mint stainless Coonan in .357 Magnum with 3 mags for $1,000 wasn't a bad purchase either.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will follow the advice and shoot one, store one.

 

[6518John]

^^^Stop what you are doing now and go buy some lottery tickets!

 

[BSA1]

Why do you want to shoot it or them?

I vote against the group and would not shoot either one. Unfired guns in the original box and all the papers definitely attracts collectors attention. Everyday their are fewer to chose from. When and if you decided to sell them the buyers will nick pick everything little detail to try to drive the price down.

I asked the same question once about shooting a NiB 25-5 and was told it would not hurt it’s value while receiving low ball pm’s offers to buy it.

 

[ameridaddy]

Perchance are they consecutively numbered? If so ask the experts here again. If not, like they said, shoot one, put the other in the safe.
BTW, given that steal, do you also rob banks or often find bags of money lying on a sidewalk?
Nice find!

 

[AlHunt]

So I didn't do too shabby paying $400 each for them is the gist of what I am hearing

The mint stainless Coonan in .357 Magnum with 3 mags for $1,000 wasn't a bad purchase either.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will follow the advice and shoot one, store one.

The instant you shoot them, all the other NIB examples out there become more valuable. I'd sit on them for a decade or two, but that's just me. Plenty of shooter grade firearms out there.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

 

[ArmedRealtor]

Why do you want to shoot it or them?

I vote against the group and would not shoot either one. Unfired guns in the original box and all the papers definitely attracts collectors attention. Everyday their are fewer to chose from.

Good point... and well taken. My thoughts are...

I am a lifelong firearms enthusiast... who has NEVER shot a S&W revolver, and I am a .357 kind of guy. I own several Ruger's in .357 including my daily carry and now a Coonan.

I am dying to shoot the lesser of the two in condition, they feel so "refined" over the Ruger. The trigger in single action is very light, I'm salivating as I think about it...lol Once I shoot it, it will never be sold as long as I am above ground. Nobody is promised tomorrow..

My initial thought was to sell one of them to a collector and use the proceeds to buy a good condition 28-2 or the famous Model 19 I hear so much about. I would have the benefit of having the #2 still unfired to have and to hold from this day forward. Then it's a win-win for everyone and neither gets shot.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[Protocall_Design]

Any of them can have a nice single action trigger pull. But a tuned Smith has a way better double action than a tuned Ruger. Neither have a good DA out of the box.

 

[AlHunt]

My initial thought was to sell one of them to a collector and use the proceeds to buy a good condition 28-2 or the famous Model 19 I hear so much about. I would have the benefit of having the #2 still unfired to have and to hold from this day forward. Then it's a win-win for everyone and neither gets shot.

That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

There's really no wrong decision here. But the above is a plan I could endorse.

I have a couple of unfired guns and just can't ... quite ... pull ... the ... trigger. I really don't know why, neither one is anything special.

 

[StrawHat]

Consider the Model 28 is no longer being made. Now, how many unfired ones are being produced? Firing either or both will affect the value of the revolver. How much?, who knows. I fall behind the keep itthem unfired group.

But, then again, I took a Model 28-2 and converted it to 45 ACP.

Kevin

 

[Golphin]

The one has a turn line so shooting it would make no difference to me if I was buying it. Also how can you prove neither has been shot? I would shoot the one with the turn line and sell the other to someone who would pay a lot because I told them it had never been fired even if I had just bought it.

 

[moosedog]

In the real world they are worth about $800 a piece.

 

[.357magger]

In the real world they are worth about $800 a piece.

Dead on analysis.

2 similar condition guns on Gunbroker now at $749 and $800. And they've sat for several 6 day cycles. More worn used examples go for $500-600 routinely. NIB certainly adds a premium, but asking $1000 or more imo guarantees they'll sit for awhile.

Just my observed $.02. Great P&R N frames, but at this time they're not uncommon with sellers parting with them to buy 9mm plastic fantastics. What I'm saying is it's a great time to buy Smith's, but not necessarily to sell.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! Congratulations, you were are the right place at the right time! I still want for a 28, 4". Do have a 6" no dash from 1960. Bob