New (to me) Highway Patrolman

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HPCadm17

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Stumbled cross this old workhorse at the LGS the other day. Model 28-2 ca. 1974-77. This is the gun that made me fall in love with S&W revolvers, and I'd almost given up finding a decent one locally.

Needs some TLC but mechanically it's tight and smooth, very good working condition. I've had new revolvers off and on but never clicked with any. This one's a keeper.

28-2.4.jpg 28-2.3.jpg 28-2.1.jpg
 
Nice score! Someone swapped the grips for modern N-Frame target wood and they look great, IMO.
It also appears to have a full-target, .500" wide, hammer installed rather than the .400 semi-target which was standard in the M28. This was a factory-option, but could have been done by a gunsmith as well.
 
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Great find! Mine is from the same time period, but a 6". It's tied for the best trigger of any revolver I've ever owned. It mostly eats 38's and some occasional middle-of-the-road 357's. At this rate it will still be completely tight when my grandchildren are shooting it with their grandchildren. :)
 
Congrats on the “new” revolver. Like some of the others here, I also have a 28 and agree they are great guns.
 
Really nice find. I like the target grips too. I have a model 28-2 that belonged to my dad. I got it in 2003 when he passed away. He bought it new, brought it home, load the cylinder and put the gun in his nightstand. Then threw away the box and paper work. Its never been fired. Not since he bought it or I got it. I am waiting for one of my sons to go shoot with me and let them have the first shots from Granpa's old gun.

I do wish I had better grips on it. Those target grips would be nice but they are hard to find and expensive when you do find them. I thought about just getting a BK grip adapter and being done with it.
 
Nice score! Someone swapped the grips for modern N-Frame target wood and they look great, IMO.
It also appears to have a full-target, .500" wide, hammer installed rather than the .400 semi-target which was standard in the M28. This was a factory-option, but could have been done by a gunsmith as well.
My M28-2 has the .500 target hammer, and you could also get a smooth semi-target, or "combat" trigger. I love both the M27 and M28, these are both -2's below:
IMG_1894.jpg
DSC01522.JPG

I sure like HPs.
And here it is sitting with its 4" N-Frame brethren (top left). Its prettier sister, a Model 27-3, is bottom left.
View attachment 1085219
I like your M58, what year is it? I've got one from 1967.
 
Someone swapped the grips for modern N-Frame target wood.

Those are Altamonts...I have an identical set I use on my 19-3 (I keep the factory smooth Presentation grips wrapped up).

172695796.hSVsqVKK.jpg

And this is a timely thread...I just "won" another 28-2 on GB less than 5 minutes ago. Seller says it's a mid '60's "S" serial number, and it's got Presentation grips. Seems like a nice find for $640.

172703707.iXGXdhce.jpg

I also have a circa '75 28-2...

172647873.WOO0jkej.jpg

I usually keep a set of Altamonts on it for range use.

172692094.tIJyFvcu.jpg



I foolishly sold a circa '64 nickeled 28-2 a few months ago...

172388425.KXEhClUA.jpg


Somehow I keep falling into 6" HP's...I'd love to pick up a 4".
 

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Doesn't get much better than that right there, a vintage N-Frame Smith you can shoot all day without worry about knocking 300+$ off her value....
You just reminded me of a point.... I'm about to create a new thread on....
 
Those are Altamonts...I have an identical set I use on my 19-3 (I keep the factory smooth Presentation grips wrapped up).
View attachment 1085292
Not to change the subject away from M28's but what is the story on that M19-3? Is that a commemorative of some sort, what is on the right side plate, and the hammer and trigger are not color case-hardened. Dash-3's have the S&W roll stamp on the right side, unless it is a commemorative, the roll stamp wasn't changed to the left until the dash-5 on regular production guns. Here's my M19-3, from 1974: (I also keep the GA target stocks stored away, and use Altamont stocks. Included are my other two K frames, a M66-1 and a M48-4 Revolvers S&W K frames.jpg
 
Not to change the subject away from M28's but what is the story on that M19-3? Is that a commemorative of some sort, what is on the right side plate,

It's a 1973 Texas Ranger Commemorative I picked up at a gun show @ 6 months ago. The sideplate has some specs and haze, but the rest of the gun is flawless. I was looking for a shooter-grade 19, and found this one for the same price as some clapped out 19's.

172440704.eHU2SdeH.jpg

They also featured a cut-away trigger guard...
172704157.3UamJm9b.jpg

172704158.U3O29DdK.jpg

172704161.RV6b44Rd.jpg
 
It's a 1973 Texas Ranger Commemorative I picked up at a gun show @ 6 months ago. The sideplate has some specs and haze, but the rest of the gun is flawless.
They also featured a cut-away trigger guard...
View attachment 1085351
That cutaway is cool. What was the purpose? To allow a gloved finger to get a faster access to the trigger? The smooth combat trigger is nice also.
 
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