Stainless & gold plated smith mod. 28?

[It's O.K.]

Has anyone ever seen a S&W Model 28 in Stainless with gold plated trim?

I recently found this old Smith Model 28, 4" barrel,.357 Highway Patrolman in shiney
stainless steel, (except on the top strap, where it is matte finish stainless),"S" prefix on the serial number, pinned barrel, recessed cylinder, Gold Plated Target Hammer, Gold Plated Trigger, Gold Plated Thumbpiece, Gold Plated Ejector Rod, blued rear sight. Butter smooth action. Stag grips.
This is a pretty gun.

This unusual old Model 28 was inherited as a part of an estate collection.
The history of this piece is that it was a "presentation revolver", given to a relative in appreciation of xxxx years in law enforcement. The person who sold it is known to me. She is getting up in her age, the economy is going down hill, retirement accounts are shrinking, Christmas is coming, etc.

Before anyone asks, sorry, but I also am getting up in years and have never learned to post a picture.

My guess is a S&W custom shop Model 28, as every other Model 28 I have ever seen has been blued.

Any opinions on this old Model 28? I suspect there is a lot of Model 28 knowledge on this site.

Appreciated.

 

[mnrivrat]

Until the experts come with more info I have to say that the Model 28 was not made in stainless to the best of my knowledge.

That likely leaves the gun in question as a nickel plated sample. Whether the work was done at the factory would be the first question and therefore you should have the gun lettered . That will give you the documentation of how the gun left the factory.

The highway patrolman was the cheaper verson of the Model 27 . It was less polished and had fixed sites . They are very nice N frame guns.

 

[SaxonPig]

The 28 was a bare-bones service revolver with no options according to S&W Historian Roy Jinks. He says the only upgrade available was target style stocks but I personally believe it unlikely any were shipped wearing them and were instead installed by dealers at customers' requests.

The only factory finish ever offered on the 28 was a brushed blue (although special orders for VIP customers or law enforcement are possible and some nickel plated 28s are known to exist) and this model was never made in stainless steel.

Gold and silver plating would certainly be aftermarket applications.

If the gun is model number stamped then it was made after 1957. From 1954 (introduction date) until 1957 this model was known simply as the "Highway Patrolman." If there is a suffix number (ie 28-1, 28-2) this would further narrow down the manufacture time frame. The -1 models were made 1961-62 and the -2s were made 1962-82. The S serial prefix indicates it was made before 1970 when the N frames (like the 28) adopted a letter N prefix.

It sounds like someone spent a lot of money to gussie up a service revolver. I have seen several like this. I guess the Model 27 (deluxe version of the 28) was fancy enough but some folks felt the 28 needed help.

Pictured is a first year production Highway Patrolman to illustrate how this model should look from the factory.

 

[Jim Watson]

1. Per mnrivrat, the Model 28 was not made of stainless, a white one has been plated. Also, as said, it was the economy model and seems a strange choice for a "presentation revolver."

2. There was a shop in my home town that specialized in two- and even three tone gun finishes. A visit to such a shop seems more likely than a factory custom that flashy.

3. Buy the gun, not the story. Unless the story includes positive proof of connection to a real historical figure or occasion. Does it? Do you maybe get a newspaper photo of the recipient holding the gun upon his retirement?
Otherwise, it is just a gun that you think is "pretty" and the purchase of which will help the owner.

 

[XavierBreath]

Any opinions on this old Model 28? I suspect there is a lot of Model 28 knowledge on this site.

1. Your revolver is not stainless. It may be hard chromed or nickel plated. This finish was applied after it left Smith & Wesson.

2. The gold plated parts were gold plated after the revolver left Smith & Wesson. I thinking the Model 28 was never offered with a target hammer and trigger, so I suspect those may have been swapped into the gun.

3. Market value is substantially less than normal due to the refinishing. Sentimental Value may be increased due to the fact the refinishing may have been requested by the owner's partner or department, or the owner himself on retirement. The revolver may have been the duty gun of the retired officer.

4. The market value of the N frame stag grips, if they are genuine stag, is likely equal to or more than that of the revolver they are on.

My opinion only........

Below is another hoto to illustrate what these fine revolvers should look like. Here is an short article I wrote about them.

 

[Black Knight]

SaxonPig, I hate to burst your bubble but I personally know of one Mod. 28 shipped with target stocks. I ordered one in the early 1980's with target stocks and they were on it when I picked it up. I still have the original box it came in as well and it indicates "TS" on the side. I guess there are some "rare" ones that crop up from time to time.

 

[It's O.K.]

Thanks for the Model 28 Help.

11-22-08

Thanks everyone for all of the good information on the S&W Model 28.

I never thought this revolver I found was worth a fortune. The silver and gold look however, is somewhat unique. More importantly, there is something special about it. I like it. Even those old patina stag grips feel right.

I bought it for a fair price. Tomorrow, I plan to take some of my best 148 grain wadcutter reloads, (2.7 grains of Bullseye), to the range along with this new (to me), Model 28 and see how it does.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

 

[krs]

I could see a rollmarked "Highway Patrolman" being chosen as a presentation or retirement gift for a person who was ending a career as a highway patrolman.

 

[XavierBreath]

I feel certain you are going to enjoy it OK.