Do I really need a 28

Seems like you do....

If I were you, I would come clean to the wife. Nothing good ever comes from pretending the powder costs $150. Now if you can get the slush fund as such, you could always walk in the house with it backwards....

Good luck,
LNK

Do I really need a 28

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Please explain to me what "need" has to do with anything?

And, these days $400 is a good price for a M28. I think you did fine. don't forget the pictures when it comes home with you...

$400.00 for a highway patrol is a good deal. One of the few guns I regret selling was my 4 inch highway.

Not a question of need as much like to have. The price was right and you would like to have it so you went ahead and moved on your thoughts. Congratulations.

Ron

$400 is a great price.

As long as it is not an issue with household finances, I would not hesitate. (and I don't like N-Frames)

As to how to handle the wife...apparently I am a neanderthal...I would inform if I thought she would care. (mine likes to play with the new toys)
YMMV

You done good by snagging that 28.

FWIW, I don't discuss gun purchases with the wife.

I just consider it a "need to know" matter.

28-2

You done good but if you want to keep it don't let her shoot it.

My wife shot my 28-2 once and now thinks it is hers. She shoots it as well as I do.

At that price I'd have bought it in a New York minute.

The 28-2 is Smith's work horse in the 357 Magnum line in my opinion. Getting one for $400 is a very good deal.

4 inch vs 6 inch

I much prefer the six inch barrel. But still, $400 is a good price.

Shoot, I've got one, so I don't "need" one, but for $400.00, I'd be tempted to buy it.



Figured we needed a picture.

44-henry

Got to agree with everyone here, that at $400 a Model 28 in the condition you described is a great deal. Just be upfront with the wife about it.

I would love to have a second M28! About the only thing I can find wrong with the M28 is that it is chambered for the 357 Magnum. Lots of extra iron for that cartridge.

Back when I was married my then-wife fought me over everything I bought, even though I only used my "gun" money. This was the money I made from selling/trading military surplus firearms, not household funds. I soon figured out that she really had no idea of what was in my safes. The only way she knew if I got a new keeper was if I threw myself under the bus. Sooooo, I just quit telling her. It worked out much better that way with far less drama.

Oh yeah, nice 28.

Before changing it why not try it as it was meant to be? You might be surprised at how well it handles. From what I understand there were more 6" models made than 4" models.

44-henry said:

...I would like to send it off to Bowen and have it customized and re-chambered for something more exotic, perhaps 44-40. ...

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Very soon after purchasing my M28-2, I installed a new M25-2 barrel and cylinder. It shot very accuratley and became one of my competition revolvers. Eventually I got a 25-2 and really did not need a pair of them so I sent the original 4" barrel out to be rebored and rifled to .452. I then removed and replaced the 6"barrel with the 4"skinny barrel and had a great 45 ACP revolver. I rounded the butt and fitted a pair of grips to it but found I preferred the square butt style.

Here is an old photo with a pair of big grips on it. The have since been replaced with a set I made by removing a lot of excess wood.



It still looks like a M28-2, just chambered in a cartridge I prefer. The 44-40 has been done in S&W revolvers but I am not sure if it was problem free. I seem to recall something about the cases backing out and tying up the cylinder. Please, do not rely on my memory. Research it and draw your own conclusions. Lots of cartridges are appropriate for the N frame. Picking just one is the hard part.

You don't need one, and neither do I, but I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

I'd have been all over an M28 at that price.

As for the wife.......if she'll notice the money missing, you'd better come clean. I have enough guns and enough squirreled cash that mine wouldn't notice a new one unless it really stood out, but I still almost always tell her. However, I pay all the bills (her car, phone, etc. included), so if I can afford it, she knows better than to give me a hard time.

The model 28 was a flaming deal because the only difference between it and the more expensive "flagship" model 27 was cosmetics. All you didn't get was a high polish blue and checkering on the barrel rib and top strap. Also it lacked serrations on the front and backstrap of the handle. While all of this is nice to have it doesn't make the gun shoot any better.