[MarineTech]

The bug has well and truly bit me. In addition to the 2 19-4s I recently purchased, I am now the owner of a 4" 28-2 as well. I love the 19s for carry guns, but I wanted something a bit stouter to use for load development where I'd be firing a LOT of .357 Magnum. I figured that I'd pick up a cheap used Ruger Blackhawk and be done with it, or look for a model 27 or 28 down the road.

Walked into the local gunshop Friday and sitting in the case was a 28-2 with Pachmayr grips. Barrel was clean and bright, cylinder lockup was tight as a bank vault, and the finish was perfect without a trace of wear or rust. $300 out the door. And here I was going to pickup some reloading supplies. Guess they're going to wait because the 28-2 came home with me.

The crane says it's a 28-2 and the serial number is N5876XX.

I have 2 questions. First, could somebody tell me when this one was built. Second, since I seem to have pretty poor impulse control lately when it comes to S&W revolvers from this era, could somebody recommend a good reference book or books for S&W revolvers from these periods.

Thanks for the help.

[Old Fuff]

Yup, I can do both ..... At least to a point. Smith & Wesson is (or at least was) different in that they serial number frames. The numbered frame then might be built into several different model revolvers. This being the case it is sometimes impossible to find the exact year an older revolver was made, unless you send a $30.00 fee to S&W (which is reasonable, others charge much more) and have their in-house historian write you a letter which will usually reveal on what month/day/year it was shipped, and to whom along with detailed information about its configuration.

In general, "N" frame revolvers in the N-580000 to N-700000 range were made during 1980. That's as close as I can get.

This information, and a whole lot more will be found in a book entitled "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (second edition)" by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas. Anyone who is interested in S&W handguns should get a copy. If you can't find it at a bookseller's go to: www.armchairgunshow.com

[Archie]

from an old Marine Sergeant:

Buying older S&W revolvers is not an obsession or addiction.



It's good taste.

[MarineTech]

Thanks Archie. It's nice to know I haven't gone round the bend.

I just seem to like the older S&W revolvers better than any of the modern ones. Even my Dan Wesson 715-2 .357 Magnum is an older Monson Massachusetts production gun.

The older revolvers just seem more "right" for some reason.

[BigG]

You've come to the wrong place. We all do the same thing! :cool:

[Mike Irwin]

Yeah, well, welcome to the club.

[4v50 Gary]

Colt SAA.

OK, time for Firearms Confessional and I must unburden myself before the congregation.

I have only one Colt SAA (excluding the 22 caliber New Frontier) and it's a Bisley. I have no ambition of buying another and I probably have as many S&W revolvers as I have fingers.

[MarineTech]

I'm really not a single action revolver person. I have started to notice that I'm getting a unnatural yearning for a 5" Model 57 though.

I'm just going to have to control myself.

[chaim]

Somebody please help me. I can't stop buying S&W revolvers Sorry, short of bankruptcy or unemployment there is no known cure. So long as there is discretionary income it is pretty much irresistable. Kind of like (some) women and shoes.:evil:

Besides, why on Earth would you want to stop?:what:

[Atticus]

On the bright side....the addiction is self limiting unless your income is unlimited. Hmmm... maybe that isn't the bright side.:uhoh: :scrutiny:

[jar]

Income is certainly desposable though.:D

[FPrice]

"Somebody please help me. I can't stop buying S&W revolvers"

You think YOU are bad? Wait till people start pulling out pics of THEIR S&W collections. You will be amazed. I think Tamara has the most, but I am either right behind her or tied. I still have to get them all together in one room and take a family portrait.

[Majic]

How to stop?
Start collecting Colts. I love them dearly, but the prices will slow down the buying impulses of most people. After a few Colt purchases you will learn how to control impulsive buying (unless your pockets have no bottom).

[Futo Inu]

1. S&W entered an agreement with the Clinton administration to sell out the gun industry that was poised arm in arm against the bogus lawsuit by Clintons HUD agency. They have done NOTHING to rescind or repudiate this agreement since that time, and thus S&W still has contractual obligations to the current gov't (and all future govts). They have given a lot of lip service since then and those that are easily fooled now think all is forgiven (the same type of person that invests in pyramid cash-out schemes and buys the extended warranties, I guess). That should be plenty of reason.

2. Auto pistols have higher capacity, conceal more easily due to being thinner, and one 10mm round blows one .357 round out of the water, in terms of power.

I know, I'm evil, but you asked for help, so....

[Hutch]

<Stolen humor> "Oh, so you are addicted to S&W revolvers? Well, we have a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and we all meet at the BAR!!!"</stolen humor>

4 J's, 19 K's, (I think), 8 N's. I'm not addicted though. Nosir. I can quit any time I want to....

Edited 'cause I forgot about the 2 547's. Sorry

[Bainx]

I gotta feeling that Rod Serling is standing nearby ;)

[Standing Wolf]

I prefer Colt Pythons to Smith & Wessons, but will be the first to concede the latter are available in far more than two calibers, and the best are almost unbeatable.

[tex_n_cal]

You could collect variations of S&W registered magnums - that should at least slow you down, price-wise:evil:

[Nightcrawler]

Futo, if you could see through your own anger for a moment, you'll realize that these people are buying USED S&W revolvers, like the two I own. Or does that not meet with your approval, either? Or did you think people are picking up brand new blued S&W revolvers for $300.00?

Secondly, 10mm and .357 Magnum and, for all practical purposes, ballistic equals. One hardly blows another out of the water. As a matter of fact, you can load .357 a so hot in a Blackhawk or Redhawk, for example, than an equivalent 10mm load would probably break a Glock 20. Way beyond SAAMI specs, of course, but to quote WESHOOT2, "screw SAAMI".

[Tamara]

Somebody please help me. I can't stop buying S&W revolvers

Do I look like I have the solution to that? :uhoh:

Just surrender to the inevitable. :)

[Tamara]

and one 10mm round blows one .357 round out of the water, in terms of power.

I think about that a lot when I'm toting my 3" 610.

Not so much when I'm carrying my 3" 629, though. :D

[clem]

Follow this link to heaven:


http://www.smith-wesson.com/index.htm

[chaim]

Saxon, what is that strange creature at the bottom of the picture with its muzzle seeming to rest on the table? It certainly doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the family. Maybe it is adopted?:D

[M58]

That bottom piece is a "Poser."

Dear M.T.
Buy more!
Except: M58, 57, 657s.
I will take care of those for you.
No extra charge for the therapy BTW.:evil:


Sir Pig (see I read your post about this),
Nice virus you have.

[Poohgyrr]

This really is a great forum, but don't anyone mention all the other great pics on www.smith-wessonforum.com or this poor soul will really be lost... :neener:

[MarineTech]

Dear M.T.
Buy more!
Except: M58, 57, 657s.
I will take care of those for you.


No dice M58. The passion is starting to swing towards a 4" or 5" Model 57 if I can find one.

I never really wanted a .41 Magnum because of limited ammo selection. Now that I reload though, there isn't anything holding me back.

[Kevinch]

No dice M58. The passion is starting to swing towards a 4" or 5" Model 57 if I can find one.

Ahh...the M57 was my downfall last spring. Found a nice 4" -1 at a local gun shop & picked it up for $350, which was more than I wanted to spend but I had to have it.

[twoblink]

Ahh..

You've gotten the Tamara disease!! :D

A catalog or a book introducing which era your gun is from is the WORST thing you can do.. It propetuates the disease..

You will start reading about a gun they say is "better", and you will rush right out and buy one..

You know what? Screw the commies.. Buy as many as you can. :evil:

[MarineTech]

I just can't stop.

I keep finding myself checking Gunbroker, Auction Arms, and GunsAmerica over and over looking for that 4" or 5" Model 57 .41 Magnum. I've even started looking for a 6" or 8 3/8" Model 57 for a decent price to send off to Cylinder and slide for a barrel reduction. (Yes I know it would kill the collector value, but I buy my guns to shoot and carry.)

I know it has to be out there, mwahaahaa. It'll be mine, oh yes, yes it will.

[Nightcrawler]

You might find a 4". I don't think Smith ever made a 5" Model 57.

[Poohgyrr]

How about when you search out the magazines with your gun on the cover ? :neener:

[MarineTech]

How about when you search out the magazines with your gun on the cover ?

OK now that's REALLY mental illness. ;) :D

I do get a bit of a twinge when I see a gun I own in a magazine, but I don't go looking for back issues that showcase a gun I own. Why read a review when I've got one in my hand?