S&w 28-2

[jakk55]

Was at the gun range today and looked into their shop.
They had a 6in. S&W 28-2 supposedly new. I could only look at it from the case because they were closing in 5 minutes buy from what i could see it was indeed new.

This leads me to 3 questions:
1. I can find little or know information about this gun other than that it is an un-polished version of a 27. Could someone give me a little more background info, and some pros, cons, any issues with certain years.
2. I would like to check if it really is brand new, and not just re-blued, re-built, simply in very good condition etc. Is there any way to do this?
3.The shop is asking $429 for it. Is this a good price if it is indeed brand new? And if it is not new (re-blued etc.) what would be a fair price for it?

P.s. I am in Nevada.

 

[Ala Dan]

The S&W model 28-2 .357 Magnum

The only way for this fine handgun to be new would have been for
someone too have taken extremely (TLC) type care of it, and kept it in
its original box (with docs and tools) in an UNFIRED status. I've owned
many S&W models 28's over the years, and YES its a workhorse no frills
version of the more costly S&W model 27. Way back on 17 Sept of 1974,
I sold my last 6" version to a sheriffs deputy, and after using the gun as
a duty weapon, he had it reblued professionally. It just so happens that
I saw this weapon on Thursday (10 May '07) of this week; and it looked
marvelous, and has been treated with much TLC. As a matter of fact, I
offered to buy it back for my personal collection; but NO DICE, as the
deputy was not 'bout to get shed of it. I would have too say, that weapon
was one of the finest handguns that I have ever owned; and there has
been many.

Now, its sentimental too him; because he used this weapon on his first
tour of duty as a LEO. I doubt whether I can ever get this one back~!

 

[J2]

The 28-2 is the Highway Patrolman, and it is, indeed a working man's Mod. 27. It should be the non-polished finish, most likely with magna grips on it. As far as it being "new", I seriously doubt it. It would have to have the box, papers, and tools still in the bag. The 6" version is considered by most collectors less desireable than the 4". At $429, you are not stealing it, but you're are not getting screwed either. If Smith & Wesson did any kind of factory re-finish, there will be some kind of mark indicating this on the gun. However, re-finishes are hard to determine in many cases. Regardless, you can't go wrong these days buying N-frame Smith's.

 

[SaxonPig]

Made 1962-1981 the 28-2 (introduced as the Highway Patrolman in 1954, model numbers assigned in 1957) is a no-frills N frame .357 Magnum. Sturdy but largely unpretty. Came with 4" and 6" barrels the 4" is more popular and brings more money but the 6" shoots better. The only option on the 28 was the target stocks.

IMO $429 is decent retail for a nearly perfect 6" 28-2. I'd say $450 if a 4" gun. Much more than this and I'll look for a 6" M27 which can be found for $550 or so and is a much nicer gun.

 

[Starter52]

Buy it.

 

[Checkman]

I own two examples of the M28-2. A 4" and a 6". Great shooters. I also own a 27, but the 28's I can take to the range and not worry about damaging the finish etc. I don't abuse them, but they are working guns. The 27 is more of a safequeen.

I even had the 4" 28 re-finished three years ago with no feelings of guilt. I can't and won't do that to the 27.

I reccomend getting it. Prices have begun to climb on the 28 the past few years. In just the past four years I've seen prices go up between fifty to seventy-five dollars on nice 28's.

Seems like yesterday that you could pick up a used M28 for around $150.00But I was a college student (86-90). I was in love with semi-autos, viewed the N Frame .357 magnums as being obsolete and chunky and $150.00 for a college student was like $1,500.00. Wish I had a time machine.:banghead:

 

[Feanaro]

Great guns. They don't have checkering on the topstrap and that sort of thing but they are made with the same high quality. No issues I know of.

 

[carpenter]

If the bluing looks good, I'd jump on it. Reblue or not. That's a great price for a great gun.

 

[pv74]

Buy it

I second that...

You won't find anything that comes close to that quality these days for $429.

Heck, offer him $400 cash...he will probably go for it.

 

[P95Carry]

I'd go for it too - despite the ''poor man's M27" aspect - the M28 IMO is every bit still the fine .357 N frame.

Mine had hammer bobbed, trigger job and chamfered chambers - it is a honey I added CT grips too - and carried this for some months.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

How did I ever miss a thread about my very favorite revolvers?

My Model 28s are two of the guns that I just won't sell. There is (IMO) no better platform for the .357 Magnum, particularly if the gun is to be carried, as in LEO work. The Magna grips leave much to be desired for me, but a nice, stoutly loaded 158 SWC from a Highway Patrolman is just pure joy.

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Those are beautiful! I'm looking for something simular to my .357 S&W 65-3 "K" frame, which I purchased in February of '87 at a gun show here. This Model 28-2 certainly fills the bill.

The 65-3 was $189, stainless. I'm looking for something like those pictured in this thread only "blued."

That's a good price in today's dollars, JAKK55.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

The 28 is built on the N frame, the largest S&W produced until the recent .500 and .460 guns built on the X frame. The 28 is a bit larger and heavier than the K frame Model 65. The blued version of the 65 is, I think, the Model 19.

 

[MK11]

Blued counterpart for the Model 65 is the Model 13. Model 19 is the blued counterpart for the Model 66.

Good find. I haven't seen a 3-inch 65/13 in many moons and the four-inch 28s are harder and harder to find. I did stumble across 3 pristine 5-inch Model 27s about a year ago, but had other priorities at the time :banghead:

 

[beaucoup ammo]

Many thanks, Van-Gor and MK! Now I know what to look for....

 

[kjeff50cal]

OK here's my Parked beauty, again.... 6" barrel, 28-2 with a set of Hogue Monogrips.

 

[Checkman]

I have one as well. Used to have a 6" M28 that had also been parkarized. Still own the parkarized 4" M28.

 

[tipoc]

Below are two M28-2s the 6" is from about 1978 IIRC and is alongside it's box.



By the time the 28-2 came along it was essentially the same gun internally as the M27. The latter had a high luster blue finish, checkered top strap, etc. and could be oredered in any number of barrel lengths.

Below is a pic of the top strap of the two guns, a 27 and 28.



The 28-2 was pinned and recessed. The barrel was threaded to the frame and than pinned in place. In the pic above you can see the pins through the frame just in front of the cylinder.

The chambers were recessed for the .357 Magnum. I don't have a pic of the recessed cylinders of the 28 so here's one from a K19, same recesses just a smaller cylinder on the K frame. By the 28-3 S&W, to cut costs, elimanated the pinned barrels and recessed cylinders.



The 28-2 was also a 3 screw revolver meaning that 3 screws held the side plate in place. Two of which are visible in the pics above and the third is under the grips. Finally below is a pic of the 27-2 and the 28-2 side by side and below that a pic of pre model 27 with 5 screws next to the 28-2, note the difference.





There is a wealth of information available on these guns over to the smith and wesson forum. www.smith-wessonforum.com

tipoc

 

[Logan5]

I'd drop $429 on one in a hot second. I meant to link to one at my local gunshop with an extra $200 tacked on above what your example is tagged, but it's been sold. The M28 is an excellent .357 Magnum, unquestionably the most user friendly and all around best shooting of all the .357's I've ever owned. I'd like two or three more myself, just to have available.