Smith 28-2 question

[denfoote]

Last weekend, while the board was down, a vintage Smith 28-2 came into my posession. I posted a pic on another board and some discussion ensued about the barrel length. Some said that it was a three inch barrel and when I measured it, from the point where it joins the frame, it did indeed measure 2 7/8in. However, it is a factory installed Smith barrel with the words "Highway Patrolman" clearly stamped on one side and "Smith and Wesson" on the other!!!

Now, some other chap suggested that the proper measurement point was from the cylinder face, which lengthens it to 3 7/8in, which would make it a 4" barrel after all.

Who is right????

By the way, it shoots like a dream and has a DA trigger that is smooth as a baby's butt!!!




C'mon Smith guys, educate an old Guero.

 

[Old Fuff]

Barrel lengths on revolvers are measured from the cylinder face (where the barrel starts) to the end of the muzzle. Standard lengths on the model 28 were 4 and 6 inches. The one you have has a 4 inch barrel, and judging from the picture you got a very nice gun.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The proper way to measure the length of a barrel is to measure the length of the entire barrel, which is to say: from breech face to muzzle. Measuring from the cylinder face will add a few thousandths of an inch—or many thousandths, if the gap is excessive.

The model 28 was one of the best guns Smith & Wesson ever made.

 

[stans]

Old Fuff nailed it. That is a 4 inch model 28, nothing rare about it. Model 28's, unlike model 27's, were available only in 4 and 6 inch lengths.

 

[Tom C.]

Looks like you have a nice 4" model 28. They were the less highly polished version of the Model 27. They may be even more rare than the model 27 and may now be worth more.

 

[deuce20]

For Reference & Sharing

Here's a 1964 6-inch Model 28-2 Highway Patrolman just acquired.

 

[denfoote]

Not as eloquent as Stephen's!!!

But I did shoot it.
I fired 50 rounds (total) of 125gr Winchester Winclean .38spl.
The range for this target was was 25 yards.
All shots were fired double action from a freehand position.






I may have been wrong about Smiths all these years!!!!

 

[uglygun]

3 1/2 inch barrels are obvious when they pop up as the end of the barrel is dead flush with the end of the ejector rod shroud where it normally would join up with the underside of the barrel.


Yous definitely gots yous a 4 inch barrel thar.

 

[JNewell]

Not all 4" barrels are really 4", though. I had a recent 629 barrel come through here, ordered from S&W as a replacement part. It was barely over 3 3/4", even before being turned down. FWIW...

 

[BluesBear]

S&W barrel lengths are "nominal" at best.
I became interested in this a couple of years ago while comparing some 4" guns that didn't match up.

All of my personal 6" are actually 5-7/8". I have never measured a S&W yet that wasn't.*
6½" on the other hand seem to be either 6½" or 6-5/8"
My 5" is exactly 5" as are all I have recently seen. Including a 1955 pre-27 I am drooling over.
My last three 4" were indeed 4". But I have seen a lot of 3-7/8" and 4-1/8" even one that was 4¼"
All of the 2" I have measured were 1-7/8".

I ain't gonna quibble over 1/8".




*and before someone else says it... A lot of things advertised as 6" turn out to be somewhat less.

 

[Phil in Seattle]

4" & 6"



I know there's another 6" floating around here someplace too.