J-Bar
Member
I started a thread on Sept. 29 ("I think I want a S&W Highway Patrolman") which went to 4 pages, with great comments and photos. RK Gunshows is hosting a large well attended gunshow in Springfield, Missouri this weekend, and sure enough my S&W pusher was there this morning with a couple of Model 28-2s to look over.
I came home with the 6" barrel, made in 1978 by the serial number, N504XXX. I could not tell that it had been fired, so if it was not new, it was nearly so. The dealer said he had it for 20 years and never fired it. The blue box is original to the gun, with label information and serial number matching the gun. Factory papers and tools were not in the box, having not been transferred to the dealer at the time he acquired it, according to him. So let's call it "as new" with original box. The revolver was mine for $900 total. There were a couple of other Patrolmen offered by others at this show, in obviously used condition, with higher price tags. If I had won a bid for a similar revolver on an auction site, I think I would have paid about this amount after tax, FFL transfer fee, and shipping. I'm afraid the days of cheap "as new" Patrolmen are gone, for a while at least, particularly during this period of shortages. So, I didn't steal it, but I don't think I was gouged badly on the price.
I took it to a nearby indoor range and got it dirty. The maximum distance at this facility is 17 yards (51 feet). I did not have any .357 Magnum ammo loaded up, so I tried some .38 Specials with lead bullets, Bullseye and Titegroup powders over a wrist rest. Photo of the best group is below, and it mostly proves that my cataracts, arthritis, and tremors are not improving. I have no doubt the revolver is capable of smaller groups.
Thanks to all who responded to my first thread. It was fun to read and look at your guns. This Highway Patrolman has retired to an appreciative home!!
I came home with the 6" barrel, made in 1978 by the serial number, N504XXX. I could not tell that it had been fired, so if it was not new, it was nearly so. The dealer said he had it for 20 years and never fired it. The blue box is original to the gun, with label information and serial number matching the gun. Factory papers and tools were not in the box, having not been transferred to the dealer at the time he acquired it, according to him. So let's call it "as new" with original box. The revolver was mine for $900 total. There were a couple of other Patrolmen offered by others at this show, in obviously used condition, with higher price tags. If I had won a bid for a similar revolver on an auction site, I think I would have paid about this amount after tax, FFL transfer fee, and shipping. I'm afraid the days of cheap "as new" Patrolmen are gone, for a while at least, particularly during this period of shortages. So, I didn't steal it, but I don't think I was gouged badly on the price.
I took it to a nearby indoor range and got it dirty. The maximum distance at this facility is 17 yards (51 feet). I did not have any .357 Magnum ammo loaded up, so I tried some .38 Specials with lead bullets, Bullseye and Titegroup powders over a wrist rest. Photo of the best group is below, and it mostly proves that my cataracts, arthritis, and tremors are not improving. I have no doubt the revolver is capable of smaller groups.
Thanks to all who responded to my first thread. It was fun to read and look at your guns. This Highway Patrolman has retired to an appreciative home!!
