Howdy Again
There is actually a little bit more to the story of the Model 28 than has been stated.
First introduced in 1954 as the Highway Patrolman.
Yes, the Highway Patrolman was a more utilitarian version of The 357 Magnum (the name Model 27 did not exist yet at that point.)
It needs to be remembered that the original 357 Registered Magnums were very high end guns. The Registered Magnums were the most deluxe revolvers S&W was making when introduced in 1935. They cost $60, $15 more than anything else in the S&W catalog at the time. Somebody else can look up what an inflation calculator says 60 1935 dollars would be worth today. As I said earlier, the Registered Magnums were customized to the prospective owner's wishes. The only standard feature of the Registered Magnums was the checkering on the top strap and barrel rib, the only model S&W ever made with those features. Owners had their choice of any barrel length from 3 1/2" to 8 3/4". Seven choices of front sights and rear sights. Standard 'service' grips or Magna grips, with or without a grip adapter. Sighted at the factory for the ammunition of the customer's choice out to 200 meters.
When S&W introduced the Registered Magnums in 1935 it was the height of the Great Depression and they did not think they would sell very many. Instead, the factory was overwhelmed with orders, they could barely produce 120 revolvers per month. By 1938, after approximately 5,500 Registered Magnums had been made, the Registration program stopped and stamping a registration number in the yoke cut was discontinued. The 357 Magnum continued to be produced until 1941 when production temporarily ceased for wartime production of other models. Total pre-war production was 6,642 revolvers.
Reintroduced in 1948, with the incorporation of the modern hammer block, production continued, with less options, until 1957 when S&W changed over to a model number system and The 357 Magnum became the Model 27.
Law enforcement agencies showed great interest in The 357 Magnum, but the price was prohibitive. S&W President C.R. Hellstrom discussed with his engineers the possibility of making a more utilitarian version of The 357 Magnum for law enforcement. Thus the Highway Patrolman was created in 1954. The same frame and cylinder size as The 357 Magnum, the same internal components, just a less highly polished utilitarian brushed blue finish instead of the standard highly polished blue that was standard on all S&W revolvers at the time. Gone too was the unique checkering on top of the top strap and barrel rib. 4" or 6" barrels were standard. I have a copy of the official S&W circular from 1957 that shows The 357 Magnum with a price of $120, the Highway Patrolman cost $85, or $90 with target stocks.
In 1957 The Highway Patrolman became the Model 28.
A Model 27 no dash from 1959 at the top of this photo, a Model 28-2 from 1964 or 1965 at the bottom. Both have 6" barrels. The higher luster of the Model 27 blue is not quite evident in this photo. Notice the different style front sights, the Model 27 usually came with a Patridge front sight, the Model 28 came with a Baughman Quick Draw front sight. (the slanted rear of the Baughman front sight was for drawing from a holster without snagging)
The checkering on the top strap, barrel rib, and rear sight tang have always been missing on the Highway Patrolman/Model 28.
Chambers and rear of the barrel of a Model 28.
Two Model 28-2s, semi-target hammer on the left, target hammer on the right.
A four inch Model 28-2 probably from about 1973. That is not the standard 'dull finish' this one has been refinished and probably sand blasted.
Even though the name was changed to Model 28, the barrels of were still marked HIGHWAY PATROLMAN. .357 CTG means 357 Magnum Cartridge in S&W Speak.
Even though Smith and Wesson is still producing a version of the Model 27, my copy of
The Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson by Supica and Nahas says Model 28 production ceased in 1986.
There are still plenty of used Model 28s out there, my records show I paid $650 for one a few years ago.
