Frame size on S&W Highway Patrol

[HiWayMan]

My buddy just picked up a .357 S&W Highway Patrol yesterday. Out of curiousity is this a K-frame?

Thanks all.

 

[Skofnung]

It is an N frame.

 

[Checkman]

The M28 is a great gun. I own three of them. Boy it seems that M28's are being scooped up at an ever greater pace. I think that websites like THR has alot to do with it. Everyone hears how it's a strong, well made, affordable revolver plus everybody post's pretty pictures of their various M28's. Add to the fact that it's been out of production for eighteen years and you've got a sure fire recipe for their numbers to be scarfed up.

 

[obiwan1]

I agree. A GREAT gun! Ya gotta love them N frames

 

[Colt46]

From what I understand

It's nothing more than the Model 27 with a few cost cutting measures to make it more affordable to police departments than the expensive 27.

 

[bountyhunter]

The only cost cutting done to make the 28 (compared to the 27) was to eliminate all the hand labor of mirror polishing the steel so the 27 has the beautiful gloss blue finish and the 28 is more of a matte finish. Other than that, the guns were supposed to be made exactly the same from the same parts by the same production people. They are a great gun and seriously overdesigned for the .357 cartridge in terms of strength. The cylinder has so much room in it that the SW PC finally drilled eight holes in it and made an eight-shot .357 version and called it the 627.

 

[isp2605]

There's more to the 27 than just the exterior polishing and finishing. The top strap and rear sight will be checkered. There's a bit more hand fitting of parts. The Mod 27 can be had with target hammer and trigger. The older 27s were in different barrel lengths than what the 28 was made with.
I wouldn't part with my 27s or 28s. They're tanks and great shooters.

 

[dmftoy1]

I think you could get the 28 with target hammer and trigger also couldn't you? I sold my last one (still regretting it ) 14 years ago but I'm 99% sure it had a target hammer/trigger.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Checkman]

According to the S&W catalog (2nd Edition) the M28 did not come equipped with the target hammer and trigger - nor were they available. But it dosen't say that you couldn't order the model with those features. I bet if somebody was willing to pay a little extra they could get those added on by the factory. And of course a gunowner could always have them put on after the gun had been bought. Just speculation.

 

[thatguy]

OK, what is a "Highway Patrol?" S&W never made a gun called this. The Model 28 was stamped "Highway Patrolman" on the barrel, so is the gun you mean? Everyone responding is assuming that you are talking about an N frame Model 28 BUT there there is also the K frame Model 68 built for the CA Highway Patrol back in the day and these are sometimes called "Highway Patrol" models.

BTW- On M28 options I had one that came with the wide, smooth combat trigger and finger groove grips. S&W used to outfit most guns any way you ordered.

 

[Checkman]

thatguy-

I believe that the M68 was a 38 special. If I remember correctly the California Highway Patrol was forbidden to carry .357 revolvers back in the seventies. Not politically correct. The cops might actually be carrying a gun that can kill the bad guys.

 

[HiWayMan]

thatguy-

Yes it is a Highway Patrolman. My appologies for any confusion this may have created.

This gun is so sweet. For some reason it just seemed smaller than an N-frame.

Thanks everyone.

 

[isp2605]

S&W custom shop would put together a gun with just about any accessories you wanted to pay for. But standard catalog listing did not list the Model 28 with target hammer and trigger. Standard listing was thin hammer and trigger and Magna grips in only 4" or 6".

 

[russlate]

Sad to say, S&W has gone from the Highway Patrolman to Highway Robbery...

( sorry, just couldn't resist the temptation )

 

[Lloyd Sloan]

The number designations for S&W revolvers did not come into public use till 1957, if memory serves. Before that time, the number designations were used only internally, and S&W revolvers all had public names like "Centennial", "Masterpiece" and, yes, "Highway Patrolman". There was definitely a .357 Magnum Highway Patrolman - I toted one. And they were in widespread use by police officers, together with Colt Pythons & S&W Model 27's (orig. just called ".357 Magnum") even in jurisdictions that'd only allow them to load 158 gr. LRN .38's. Everybody I knew packed at least a few magnum loads for really messy situations.

When the numbering system came into public use sometime in '57, both the model name and number were used, then later just the number; thus the Highway Patrolman became the Hwy. Ptmn. Model 28, the Military & Police became the Model 10 M&P, the K-38 Masterpiece the Model 14 and so on.

I learned the S&W models by name back when there were not about a jillion S&W revolver models around. Now if somebody mentions a model number to me and it's not one of the really common ones, I have to look it up - but I can still identify the old ones by name.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Mmm.... Highway Patrolman... *drool*

For the longest time I though my grandpa's .357 was a 4" Combat Magnum. But my dad tells me he's pretty sure it is a Highway Patrolman. Either way, it was the first centerfire handgun I ever shot more than 2 rounds through. Very nice pistols, and if I ever spot one (or a .357 Magnum/M27) with a 4-5" barrel with cash to spare, it is mine!

Yes, it is an N-frame. Great big indestructable .357. Hope your buddy enjoys it.