Won 28-2 / 44 special conversion today

[daddio202]

I been searching and bidding on 44 special revolvers all month to only end up in last day of auction loosing auctions to people just bidding outrageously high on the guns. I dont mind paying a little high but it has been crazy on GB. Last week I came upon a 4 inch 28-2 with box, all original paperwork, a 1977 reciept for the conversion done at Warrens custom gunshop in Illinois and a post conversion target and recipe of cartridges shot at target. Starting bid was $600 and I was only bidder until today and I ended up winning it at $655. I think this is reasonable after searching here finding threads in which the conclusion is that this is no longer an econically viable project nowadays. Back in the 70's model 28's were dime a dozen and this is when the practice of making a pinned and recessed 44 special began. The gun looks well cared for and looks to be a well done conversion. The only lacking part is the caliber on barrel does not look to be changed. Otherwise the recipe of 7 grains of Unique under a 255 grain swc as I found out this week is accurate and was very fun to shoot out of my 29-3. So I will update here when gun comes next week and get some real pictures as these are just taken of the screen from the auction to show here. Anybody else have a conversion and if so what are your thoughts?

 

[Muley Gil]

Back in 1976, I bought a M27-2 to convert to .44 Special. I bought a 6 1/2" 1950 target barrel from J&G Rifle Ranch and took everything to Walker Arms in Selma, Alabama. They installed the barrel and reamed the cylinder to .44 Special. I had asked that the barrel be cut to 5" and have a ramp front sight installed. However, the barrel cut didn't get done.

I was a po' deputy sheriff at the time and I really wanted my new revolver, so I took it with the long barrel. It was a very accurate shooter.

In 2006, I carried my conversion to David Clements in Woodlawn, Virginia and had the barrel cut to 5", a ramp front sight added and re-blued. It is still very accurate and it would be one of the last guns I ever sold.

I also had a M28 converted by Alan Harton in Houston. Same procedure; fit a S&W .44 target barrel and re-chamber the cylinder. It also shot very well, but I sold it a number of years back. In addition, I had two Old Model Ruger .357 Blackhawks converted to .44 Special. Alan Harton did these Rugers as well.

Hope you enjoy your new .44 when it gets here.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I had David Clements convert a M28-2 to 38-40. Took over 18 months to get it back. Bet I havn't shot a 100 rounds with it....

 

[S&WsRsweet]

From the pics it looks like you have yourself a nice one coming ,the 44 special is an excellent round hope you enjoy.

 

[Capt. F.]

I had Dave Clements do the .44 Special conversion on this pre-27. He sent the barrel out to Clearwater to have it bored out to .44, but did the re-chambering in house.
With the new front sight/ramp and rebluing it has a certain cool factor doncha think?
With the price of the gun and conversion work I have almost 3 times what you paid for yours, invested in mine.
You done good!

 

[steelslaver]

The model 28 is a perfect model for the 44 special conversion. Done with a 28 or 27 cylinder you get recessed rims to. I did 2 28 cylinders to 44 special a while back, one of them is waiting for its chance. I have a shortened 44 triple lock barrel, need a couple small parts.

 

[Mrnurse]

I almost bought that 28...was posted fs on CMP and GB... the Cylinder and barrel were NOS... you did well.

 

[WC145]

That's a great catch, had I been paying attention I'd have been bidding against you. I have two 28-2 conversions, one is a ported 4" .45ACP that was done around 1987 by Marc Krebs using a 25-2 barrel and cyl. The other is a 3" RB . 41mag I had done last year by Mark Hartshorne using an M58 barrel and a titanium 357PD cyl. They're both great shooting guns.

 

[SLT223]

I was going to bid on it. It was in my watch list. Just too many other expenses right now. Good win!

 

[22hipower]

The few well done conversions I've seen have been priced far too high in my opinion. However, I'd buy every one I see for $655. Nice gun, great buy, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[daddio202]

Thanks guys, I been wanting so bad to bring it up on here but I knew if I had the vultures would swoop in on my auction and no way I would have won it. I had a back up auction just in case and somebody got a great deal on a transitional Heavy duty with beautiful coke grips all numbered to gun for $795. I was so torn when seller answered back that the cokes were numbered to gun it had some high edge holster wear but the cokes looked brand new!! Anyhow I sent money order out today so it should be about 7 days I will get gun and update.

 

[keith44spl]

To the OP,
That's a great deal....for the cost of a conversion, you got the revolver for free!

I've done a bunch of N frame 44 Special conversions in the past.


My elk killin' revolver. 27-2 to 44 Spl.

An RM converted to 44 Special

A pre-War 38/44 now a 5" 44 Spl.

And the list goes on and on.

 

[daddio202]

WOW!!! A Registered Magnum converted to 44 special, that certainly is not a dime a dozen gun!! The only reason I felt really good about getting the 28 is because I already have one in the S serial range in 4 inch so the 2 will make good companions to one another. Only having a dozen or so S&W revolvers each new purchase for me has to fit in my group or fill a hole in the collection. I would definately require to have an original configuration Registered Magnum before contemplating one converted to another caliber.

 

[Russell Cottle]

You got a real gem, daddio202. Congratulations!!

Dad burn ya, Dave, You did hafta go and show all them purties!

 

[keith44spl]

WOW!!! A Registered Magnum converted to 44 special, that certainly is not a dime a dozen gun!!
The only reason I felt really good about getting the 28 is because I already have one in the S serial range in 4 inch
so the 2 will make good companions to one another. Only having a dozen or so S&W revolvers each new purchase for me
has to fit in my group or fill a hole in the collection.
I would definitely require to have an original configuration Registered Magnum before contemplating one converted to another caliber.

A M28 converted to 44 Spl is an all time classic from days gone by.
In the 70's we sure did like em too. You got a great revolver from the better days
and in an all time great chambering. Sure made me smile.



Oh, I kinda kept the original 357 barrel & cylinder with the outfit.
Just added a slave cylinder and barrel in 44 Spl.

This RM was the perfect candidate for that conversion, it had a so-so factory re-blue and had been cut off since leaving the factory in'35.

Just one more.........A 38/44 Outdoorsman converted to 44 Special with a Triple Lock added.

.

 

[22hipower]

Thanks guys, I been wanting so bad to bring it up on here but I knew if I had the vultures would swoop in on my auction and no way I would have won it. I had a back up auction just in case and somebody got a great deal on a transitional Heavy duty with beautiful coke grips all numbered to gun for $795. I was so torn when seller answered back that the cokes were numbered to gun it had some high edge holster wear but the cokes looked brand new!! Anyhow I sent money order out today so it should be about 7 days I will get gun and update.

I watched that auction that went for $795 with cokes (an Outdoorsman though, not Heavy Duty). It had been up a time or two before expiring with no bids. The cokes looked good but I didn't think they would have been original to the gun and the gun showed quite a bit of wear. Now that you say the seller said the cokes were numbered to the gun I'm curious to know more. I think cokes were standard on pre-29s/29s and early 57s. Some may have been numbered to the guns but none that I've seen. Does anyone know if any Outdoorsman, or Heavy Duty for that matter, would have been shipped with cokes?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[daddio202]

My bad it was a pre model 23 Outdoorsman with 6.5 inch barrel. I was surprised as well at sellers answer. Maybe a special order and whoever owned it took off the cokes to put away while using gun on duty. That was my first thought because of the difference btween gun wear and grip wear. ?? Maybe if we are lucky somebody on here bought the gun so we can find out.

 

[Chukar60]

I was watching that one with interest. I had intentions of bidding on it, but work got in the way and then decided I was in need of a 22 revolver to burn the mountain of ammo I have and no longer have any gun to shoot it.
Dern 17 HMR took the place of both my 22 rifles and I haven’t found a suitable J frame 22 yet.
Congratulations on a nice grab

 

[Dr Charlie]

I too took a five screw Model 28 bought a barrel from J & G had the cylinder reamed to 44 special. My only regret is I rined a Five screw 28. It shoots like a house afire.

 

[usmc2427765]

There was a company here in Houston that did that conversion in the early '70s. Many of my fellow LEO's purchased one and I gave it some serious thought, however the price was $350.00 on your 28 and at that time I was bringing home about $500.00 a month and did not have a 28 ! As I recall, the work was excellent and it shot very well.

 

[Muley Gil]

I too took a five screw Model 28 bought a barrel from J & G had the cylinder reamed to 44 special. My only regret is I rined a Five screw 28. It shoots like a house afire.

No, you made that M28 BETTER!!!

 

[STCM(SW)]

No, you made that M28 BETTER!!!

I'll drink to that!

 

[Tom K]

Here's a Model 28-2 converted to .44 Special, with an 8-3/8" Model 27 barrel on it. I probably would have been better off finding a well-used M27 with that length barrel in the first place, then it would have had checkering on the topstrap to match the barrel.
The seldom-seen 8-3/8" .44 Special

Here is a "before" picture.

I also have a Model 28 that had been converted to .45 Colt that I sent to S&W for refinishing. (This was back in 2008 before they changed their finishing process.) It also had a stainless .45ACP cylinder when I acquired it but after S&W worked on the gun the ACP cylinder wouldn't fit anymore.

 

[Muley Gil]

Tom K, was the barrel set back so much that the ACP cylinder was now too long?

 

[beagleye]

I had that on my watch list. What a deal. It's a ready made shooter!

 

[TAROMAN]

Here's another 44 Special 28-2 conversion.
By Dan Dwyer of San Diego
Must have been common back in the day..
He used a custom barrel with really deep 8-groove rifling.
No idea where he got that.

 

[cmj8591]

That's a neat gun. The only thing that would make it better is a high polished re blue, re stamp the barrel and some highly figured wood grips. Of course it would then need a nice El Passo floral Threepersons holster and belt.

 

[daddio202]

That's a neat gun. The only thing that would make it better is a high polished re blue, re stamp the barrel and some highly figured wood grips. Of course it would then need a nice El Passo floral Threepersons holster and belt.

Sure would be nice to have it bright blue but that is alright suits me just fine. The grips I plan to keep as is due to the other 28 I have already has target grips. Leaving the grips will make it easier to tell which is which at a glance. Nice also to have it stamped with 44 spcl. but not entirely necessary. Now a nice holster would be nice and I will have to keep my out for one. I been to range a couple times recently bringing my other 28-2 that besides the conversion is identical. In anticipation of it getting to me I been practicing with it. Also bringing my Dan Wesson with 4 inch barrel shooting the 44 special loads I have made up from the recipe. Going to be fun to shoot the 28 with 44 special loads, cant wait till she gets here.