My first large frame. Old Highway Patrolman gifted to me by my FIL.

I always carry around a little S&W Airweight and it serves its purpose for concealed carry.
I was talking to my father in law about maybe selling my glock that i rarely shoot to get a new .357 like the Ruger GP-100. He asked if maybe I wanted save my money and hang on to his old Highway Patrolman. I jumped at it of course. It used to belong to a family friend of theirs who worked for Texas DPS for a long long time. The side of the gun is marked with DPS and some numbers. The serial number is N14704 which i think makes it 1970-1972 ish? Is that right?

Just wanted to share this "little" guy. He's maybe not as pretty as a brand new stainless Ruger. But this is a working gun that's been used in the field and will continue to be used. I'm super stoked.
Also, check out that grip! The wood is no nice looking. There are no markings on the grip so I don't know who made it or if it was custom or what.

badkarmamib said:

I really like the look of the grips. How do they fit your hand?

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I don't have small hands by any means but the grips feel big to me. Although, I am used to shooting an airweight or glock 26. So my experience is skewed small. I'm going to take it to the range a few times before I would consider any changes.

Slamfire said:

I can't see a Texas Department of Public Service marking, but do not remove it. People romanticize Police work, and this was probably owned by the Texas State Trooper, so I predict, that makes it desirable to someone.

Those N frame 357's are great pistols. The weight really tames the 357, but you can still impress your friends with the fireballs that come out of the muzzle. I recommend 125 grain full power loads on a dark day, or at dark. Huge fireballs!

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Its right above the trigger on the left side of the gun (barrel facing left). You can only really see the numbers and the S in the photo but its pretty clear in person.

texagun said:

S&W Model 28's are great guns. I have a Texas DPS Model 28 I bought from an old friend who bought it directly from the DPS Armory. I have no documentation on the gun other than what it came with in the box but it appears to be unfired.
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Wow! Unfired? Thats really nice! Hey, what did you do on the front ramp there? I did you add the color? I have a heck of a time picking up the blued front ramp and was thinking of doing the orange on top of white nail polish trick to get it to stick out.

texagun said:

There were some variations of the 28 that came with red ramp front sights. I think they are pretty rare. My other 2 28's have the more common black/blued front sights.

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Even better. I'll probably look around and see what anyone else has done before i try the nail polish.

AK103K said:

Personally, I think youre better off just trying the nail polish. It works just as well and in some cases better, and it doesnt do anything that might damage the value of the gun.

Anymore, Iif they arent three dot night sights, or just plain three dots on them, I use the nail polish. Its cheap and easy, and easily removed if you dont like it. I put a coat of gloss white on first, then fluorescent orange on after.

I have a couple of Smiths with factory orange inserts, and the nail polish is brighter and easier to see, even when they get fouled.

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I stopped at the drug store at lunch and got some gloss white and some bright orange. I'm going to try it out on my airweight first and see how i like the results.