Surprise! Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman 4" 357

[evan price]

I've been wanting a shooter-grade Smith & Wesson N-frame for a while now but the prices keep getting higher. Since I'm a C&R I wanted a C&R eligible one, too...might as well wish for a minty Python for $600, right?

Found this one on Gunbroker. It was advertised as a Model 28. Obviously, it's been nickel plated. The seller's response to my email confirming it was a Model 28 no-dash was sort of ambiguous. Not what I'd normally want but the price was right, so I waited until the end of the auction, bid- and won!

While waiting for it I was hoping the seller hadn't made a mistake and it was really a 28-2 or something not C&R, that would pose a problem! So I finally meet the UPS guy in my driveway, open the box, and- it wasn't a Model 28.

What I got instead was a 1956 Highway Patrolman, a pre-model-28 based on the serial number and lack of model stamp in the crane.

It is stamped with Georgia State Patrol on the left side (GSP) and inside the grips are a business card from a Vice lieutenant from another state's sheriff's department.

Trigger is smooth and crisp, action is tight, lockup is timed perfect. Grips are not original but are black washer football target grips. From the rubber stamps inside they are probably purchased as replacements from S&W in the early 70s. I'd bet that was when it got plated.

Not bad for roughly $450 to my door!

 

[drband]

I'd take that! Nice pistol and nice price!

 

[Hanshi]

That is a great find! A fantastic looking M28.

 

[Reloadron]

Got yourself a real nice revolver there, enjoy it. I have been waiting for a decent Model 28 to come along, that or a Model 25.

Ron

 

[19-3Ben]

Awesome gun, insanely good price... what more could one ask for?

 

[newfalguy101]

For $450 I woulda bought it!! I really like 4in .357's

 

[kBob]

Nice pistol, but you are hurting me.

Looks just like the one I had stolen in Florida from my car during a dive many moons ago. Nickeled and big wood grips, only odditiy was a previous owner had drilled two dished out holes in the rear sight leaf, one on each side of the notch and initially had red fingernail polish in them, later I put a "glow in the dark" paint on them. These matched a paint stripe on the front sight....can't remember if there was a hole drilled up front or not as I have had one drilled and one just painted.

Probably my single most expensive scuba dive. To say I was ticked would be an understatement.

I had put the S&W little bitty grips on it at one point so a new female shooter could use it along with some powder puff .38 S&W DEWC loads and some faux .357 SWC loaded very mild in .357 cases. Got her away from her old .32 NP and fairly well along in training before she switched over to a .44 Special.

Miss that gun.

So did some GSP troopers. A friend buying one had a discussion with a GSP trooper who claimed the "new" model 19s they had been issued lacked the knock down power of the older Highway Patrol pistols. Friend tried to explain that the same cartridge in the same length barrel was the same. GSP officer drew his Mod 19 and demonstrated pistol whipping. "Naw, I always only had to hit someone once with the old gun and sometimes two or three times with the new one."

And folks wonder why I always drive more careful north of the boarder.

-kBob

 

[Blacksmoke]

Funny story. Probably true.

 

[MikeS.]

Nice buy!

 

[CajunBass]

Not bad. Not bad a'tall.

 

[bannockburn]

evan price

Nice find! I'd go at least that much for a pre-Model 28, especially in such great mechanical condition.

 

[BCRider]

I think you scored big time there. Enjoy it like you appreciate the fact..... SHOOT LOTS! ! ! !

 

[Radagast]

Very nice. It's great when all the elements fall together. Shooter grade, C&R, price. I would be very happy with that deal and that gun.

 

[Catpop]

Great score! Love that trooper inscription!
Catpop

 

[PabloJ]

Four hundred fifty is very good price for "shooting anvil"..... next to impossible to wear out by shooting.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Great deal ....

$450.00 is a great deal for a .357magnum 6 shooter in that condition.
It would be sold in gun stores around me for $850.00 to $950.00 easy.

RS

 

[palmetto99]

That's a very good price. Even for a shooter grade. I picked up a very nice 4" 28-2 about five years ago for $350 and have been amazed at the prices I've seen over the past couple of years. The 28 is a great revolver. Sure it's big, but it will soak up hot .357 rounds better than a 19.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Nice!

 

[4D5]

Very nice!

 

[Swing]

Hey pally, nice score! Gotta dig those classic wheelguns.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Knew a few troopers who carried one of those. I believe the contract with S&W included the nickel plating. Never saw a trooper carrying a blue mod28. These guns pre dated the stainless era

And yeah, the did have a bit more "knock out power". Precluded having to shoot the uncooperative perp.

I was issued a mod65 to start with. At one point I was one of four in the dept (game and fish) that was allowed to carry a mod66 (pistol team).
I much preferred the m686 as a carry gun. Best of all worlds.