I have a 4-inch Highway Patrolman M28-2 that is mechanically excellent. It's finish is generally "thin" looking, about 80-85%, showing minor holster wear. There are no rust blossoms, nicks or pits anywhere. It cost me a little under $200 about 6-7 years ago.
I also have a new .44 Spl, 4-inch barrel and cylinder set I bought from S&W in 1988, with the idea that I would find a M28 to convert to .44 Spl. (This was before I found a NIB, 6-inch M24-3, which put the conversion on hold).
My choices are:
1. Leave everything alone. Sell the new .44 Spl parts because then I won't think about doing this anymore. (M28's are going up in $$$ all the time, and changing an original gun is only sometimes a forgivable sin).
2. Put the 4-inch barrel on the 6-inch M24-3. (Difficult because the 6-inch gun is a tack driver, and very powerful with "Keith" loads, but 4-inch M24's are in more demand than 6-inch M24's, and a bit easier to carry on the belt). Sigh.
3. Turn the M28 into a M24, because M24's are harder to come by than M28's. Give the converted gun a premium bluing job. (If I do the conversion I might try to have the now-extra .357 cylinder re-chambered to 45 Colt, and use it as a second caliber for my M25-2, which S&W used to offer as a factory option).
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
I also have a new .44 Spl, 4-inch barrel and cylinder set I bought from S&W in 1988, with the idea that I would find a M28 to convert to .44 Spl. (This was before I found a NIB, 6-inch M24-3, which put the conversion on hold).
My choices are:
1. Leave everything alone. Sell the new .44 Spl parts because then I won't think about doing this anymore. (M28's are going up in $$$ all the time, and changing an original gun is only sometimes a forgivable sin).
2. Put the 4-inch barrel on the 6-inch M24-3. (Difficult because the 6-inch gun is a tack driver, and very powerful with "Keith" loads, but 4-inch M24's are in more demand than 6-inch M24's, and a bit easier to carry on the belt). Sigh.
3. Turn the M28 into a M24, because M24's are harder to come by than M28's. Give the converted gun a premium bluing job. (If I do the conversion I might try to have the now-extra .357 cylinder re-chambered to 45 Colt, and use it as a second caliber for my M25-2, which S&W used to offer as a factory option).
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.