Value of 28-2 with options

[Gun Relics]

How would a person value a model 28-2 that was presumably dolled up by a prior owner? Target trigger, target hammer, target grips, and red ramp front sight. It's my understanding that only the NYSP models would have had the red ramp front sight. I believe it dates to around 1979 to 1980. I have the box, but it doesn't reflect the target options on the box label.

It's a really cool gun. Do owner added options devalue the gun or add value?

About $900 - $1000 would be my guess. Because it's so beautuful, auction rate on a used excellent 28-2 4" of $800 - $900 plus $100 because it's so pretty.

 

[Gun Relics]

How would a person value a model 28-2 that was presumably dolled up by a prior owner? Target trigger, target hammer, target grips, and red ramp front sight. It's my understanding that only the NYSP models would have had the red ramp front sight. I believe it dates to around 1979 to 1980. I have the box, but it doesn't reflect the target options on the box label.

It's a really cool gun. Do owner added options devalue the gun or add value?

Is that the standard finish? It looks really nice. My 28-2 has the satin finish.

 

[Muley Gil]

Over the years, I have seen M28s with factory finishes that ranged between almost a near Parkerized to a polished look almost like a M27.

 

[blackdeuce]

Is that the standard finish? It looks really nice. My 28-2 has the satin finish.

Yes, I believe it is the standard bluing.

 

[DEF3]

Agree Muley, my ND and S prefix seem like a true blue satin but with some shine. Honestly, I dig it. What other smiths were offered that way during that time.

 

[A10]

Not a lot of answers for you yet. Price depends alot on location and availability. I haven't seen a 28 in an LGS on the wet side of Washington in several years. It's not that they're rare, its just that those that have them keep them. Including me.

All that being said, a 95% plain jane 28 with no box would go for between 8 and 900 in my area. Yours would readily add between 2 and 300 to that amount. Is it the original box showing how it was shipped? If so, vapor paper and cleaning kits with SATs show up once in a while. That adds to the value.

 

[DR505]

Since I like 28s and 27s, I decided there are not enough photos in this thread. The OP's 28 is quite nice.

Here is a Model 28-2 from 1969 and below it is a Model 27-2 from 1967. The finishes are certainly different. I like them both. I just need to photograph them together in the same light source for the difference to be more apparent.

 

[blackdeuce]

Not a lot of answers for you yet. Price depends alot on location and availability. I haven't seen a 28 in an LGS on the wet side of Washington in several years. It's not that they're rare, its just that those that have them keep them. Including me.

All that being said, a 95% plain jane 28 with no box would go for between 8 and 900 in my area. Yours would readily add between 2 and 300 to that amount. Is it the original box showing how it was shipped? If so, vapor paper and cleaning kits with SATs show up once in a while. That adds to the value.

The boxes for TH and TT are not checked. The box for stock is marked as S. I do have the vapor paper and tool kit.

 

[xray 99]

The NYSP 28, with the .312 trigger, is the “perfect” fighting revolver.

 

[DR505]

The NYSP 28, with the .312 trigger, is the “perfect” fighting revolver.

Actually, it comes in 3rd place to a model 58 and a Model 13-3. Sorry.

 

[Muley Gil]

Actually, it comes in 3rd place to a model 58 and a Model 13-3. Sorry.

Naw, the "perfect fighting revolver" is a M625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP, backed with at least four full moon clips of hollow point ammo.

 

[DR505]

Naw, the "perfect fighting revolver" is a M625 Mountain Gun in .45 ACP, backed with at least four full moon clips of hollow point ammo.

I beg to differ. How about this Model 625-3 in .45 ACP?

 

[Muley Gil]

I beg to differ. How about this Model 625-3 in .45 ACP?

I'll rate that one up there, especially since I carried an identical one for two years as a LEO. I had a 5" M625 but it was too heavy for holster carry. S&W didn't have any 4" Mountain Gun barrels in stock, but Brownells did have the 3" barrel. I bought one and swapped it on.

During my department qualifications, I could reload as fast or FASTER than most of my fellow officers armed with semi-autos,

 

[Bill Bates]

I beg to differ. How about this Model 625-3 in .45 ACP?

Nope the perfect fighting revolver doesn't have an adjustable rear sight and is special, .44 Special.

But we're wandering a bit off course. The workhorse Highway Patrol is pretty hard to beat and still one of the best buys in N Frame Smith & Wessons.

 

[A10]

The boxes for TH and TT are not checked. The box for stock is marked as S. I do have the vapor paper and tool kit.

Given that I don't think 1400 is out of the question. If it were on Gun Broker the sky would pretty much be the limit. Just saw a plain jane 6 inch go for 1200ish.

 

[fouraceswes]

The Shop I work at in Spokane gets a lot of local vintage Smiths in on trade and we buy a bunch outright. We had a fantastic 28-2 that looked unfired with no turn line at all in the shop. It sold to another local with no box or any fun stuff really quickly for $900. Your 28 would have gone directly to Gunbroker because of its particulars and I would have started it at $1199. I see and sell at lot of Smiths and would expect it to go to $1400. I would also expect about 5 at least offers for way lower by bottom feeders who like to think noone but them knows what you have. Your pistol would be seriously in demand.

 

[Capt. F.]

NYSP did indeed issue M28s. They were stamped NYSP on the left side of the frame and came with the red ramp front, white outline rear sight blade and the .312" smooth combat trigger. They are in the N546xxx serial number range, per the SCSW 4th edition.

Yessah Gil, I agree. Pic of mine.

 

[Sebago Son]

28's were in production and service for a long time and as such were ordered in many configurations. I have 28's here built during the first year all the way through to the last of the -3s. I bought my first in the early 70s. If the sight work was done at the factory, it was generally done after shipment. My oldest 28s and favorite HPs is an early S-serialized gun and it was returned to S&W in the late 60s by a Vermont State Police Sargent for a Red Ramp, White Outline, Target Trigger, Target Hammer upgrade. He must have preferred the Magna stocks as the originals are still on the gun. With regard to "value" I would say that whether the gun originally shipped with these upgrades or was returned to the shop to have it done later makes very little difference on the 28 as long as the work was done by S&W. Now if your gun can be tied to a specific contract or personage of import, then my assessment may change..