What’s up with the cost of 28’s lately

Historically important.
For me as a new accumulator, I knew about the 27 first, but when I found out about the 28 and what it was, it was as important for me to have in my collection as anything else.
 
Prices that I see from cabelas, GI and GB are 1000-1500. I’m here in CT, which shouldn’t matter on those sites.
 
How does your side plate seam look? They did my 14-1 for me and did a beautiful job on the finish, but when they buffed out the side plate, I wasn’t too happy with the gap that was left.

Your post got me curious so I pulled out the 28-2 and looked it over. They did a great job on my gun I had them recolor case harden the hammer and trigger and was hoping for a bit more color but it works
 
The days of picking up used Model 28's for $400 are in the rear view mirror.


Or an anomaly. Picked up this 99% 6" last year for $450 OTD. Flipped that sucker the following weekend for double; if it were a 4", I'd have kept it. :)

That said, I haven't seen a nice 28 for under a grand for some time.
 
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Prices that I see from cabelas, GI and GB are 1000-1500. I’m here in CT, which shouldn’t matter on those sites.

That's why I purchased one for $850 lest summer. They just keep going up in price every year. At the time I thought I paid too much but turns out it was probably a good deal once I got it cleaned up. No turn line on the cylinder. VG+ condition.
 
Or an anomaly. Picked up this 99% 6" last year for $450 OTD. Flipped that sucker the following weekend for double; if it were a 4", I'd have kept it. :)

That said, I haven't seen a nice 28 for under a grand for some time.
:eek: :eek: $450? Dang! Sounds like the shop did not know what they had. I picked up an almost perfect condition Model 645 for $400 during the panicdemic period for the same reason, whoever priced it did not know what it was worth.
 
I may be one of those contributing to the price increases. Stumbled upon my first Highway Patrolman this weekend on a gunshow table. 5 screw, serial suggests 1954-55. I'm not a collector but really like the guns of this era. I traded for it and value it at around $900.


PXL-20250324-151528851.jpg
 
In 1983 a good friend asked me to help him buy his first handgun. He chose a 4” 28-2 with the NYPD stamp sold by J&G in my Shotgun News. they must have had a ton of them since they were selling them a long time. They were $189 and it was like new. I was too busy buying my new 4” 24-3 that year but should have gotten a 28, too. my buddy still has that gun and a couple more 28s.
 
Some of these things are getting pretty close to the cost of a 27.

I just went online and found 61 Model 28 S&W revolvers for sale. Looks to me that you can buy a good Model 28 for around $850 if you want one. About half the price of a good Model 27.

Everything is up a lot due to inflation but I don't see what you do.
 
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I'd rather have a 28 over a 27 all the time. The 28s' are still available at nice price, just gotta watch for them. Passing up on a nice 28 will cause regret later. I like both the 4" and 6".

Older Smith revolvers always sell for a mint here in Texas. I paid around 900 bucks for mine a couple of years ago. It's in great shape, though.
 
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Saw a 4 inch Very Clean Great Grain Football targets No Box
At Last Weekends Gun Show 1200
That is high for no box and possibly replacement stocks. That also seems to be the way gun shows have gone. I used to go to gun shows for the great deals that could be had on reloading components, ammo, targets, guns, and accessories. I'd say that over the last 20 years, those good deals have largely been replaced with retail or higher than retail prices.
 
Values are strong in Missouri. My old 28 is fondly referred to as my "Killing Gun" as a nod to General Patton. It has a six inch BBL and shoots like a laser beam. With .38 Specials that heavy cylinder inertia makes it sound like burp gun fire. But the reason it has that nickname was this was the revolver out of the safe, stored instead in my kitchen. Coons, possums, coyotes...they all fell to this as they attempted to invade my Country Estate. It is too big for me to carry, but it would be one of the last of my collection to go. Great revolver!
 
Glad I got mine when I did! She’s a keeper!
 

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