S&W Highway Patrolman

[ByronF]

Pops brought his Highway Patrolman down to my crib today. We may park it. Or not. He's had that thing since I was a small boy and he was a volunteer policeman in our small W. PA community (it was a different world). That piece is what a revolver is all about: everything you need, nothing you don't. No frills but way classier than a lot of the wheel guns available today, if you ask me. Pinned barrel, counterbored cylinder so the cartridge rims are flush, color case-hardened hammer and trigger...just perfect. It's a big honkin full-sized frame revolver with 4" barrel. I dig it.

[SWOHFAL]

How about just getting it reblued back to original?

[ByronF]

Considering that now. Used to think of it as a scuffed up revolver we could parkerize for shits and grins. Now I'm feeling all nostalgic about it and may opt for sending out for reblue. I think Dad would like it parked, though. For him it's just an old wheelgun and he likes the park jobs I've put on some firearms so he'd like it parked. Maybe I'll talk him into letting me have it blued for him.

[Andy the Aussie]

28s were matt blued as I recall, I had one for a short time back in the day... ;)

[BUFF]

The Highway Patrolman is an excellent revolver. I have had over a dozen over the years. Big, brawny, heck-for-strong.

A little history on the sixgun: S&W developed the .357 Magnum cartridge in 1935. They used the N frame (used for their .44 Special, .45 ACP and a few other calibers) for it, and it was a custom order gun at first, with a gorgeous, high-polish finish, choice of adjustable sight combinations and, barrel lengths and a finely checkered topstrap on the frame and barrel rib. It was S&W's most expensive gun at $60, when the next most expensive revolver they made was $45!

Shooters liked the caliber, the revolver's smoothness and strength but not the cost. After WWII, requests for a less expensive S&W in .357 lead them to develop the Highway Patrolman. They took the N frame .357 Magnum (the guns had names then, not model numbers), eliminated the topstrap checkering in favor of sandblast stippling (still minimizes glare), limited barrel lengths to 4 and 6 inches and gave the gun a matte blue finish, which was far less labor-intensive than the fine blue and nickel jobs on the original .357. They have the same lockwork as the more expensive revolver and have trigger pulls and accuracy as good as the more expensive gun. The only options were the choce between 4 and 6 inch barrels and extra cost walnut "Target" stocks in place of the original "Magnas ." They began sellling them in 1954.

In 1957, when S&W gave their handguns model numbers, the Highway Patrolman became the Model 28. Discontinued in 1986.

The Highway Patrolman sold really well to both cops and their agencies and sportsmen. I thought it was the best value in S&W's lineup for years.

[ByronF]

This one's finish is matte stippled on topstrap and underside of frame and trigger guard. I'd not classify the rest of the finish as polished but certainly isn't matte. It's as if they simply didn't polish the metal as much as they otherwise might have. But not matte as if it were beadblasted and blued, a-la George Gouger's matte black (takes you back, doesn't it).

[bykerhd]

You might want to check with S & W what they would charge to refinish it.
If you are going to pay anybody to do it, having S & W do it would probably have the least negative impact on it's value, and probably the best result.

[BUFF]

Byron:

Your dad's gun's finish sounds original. Maybe "satin" would be better than my use of "matte." I guess matte usually means bead-blasted or something to most of us.

George Gouger... there's a name we don't hear much anymore! I have 2 rifles he built for me before he self-distructed, an Australian L1A1 on an Entreprise inch upper and a lightweight STG-based carbine on a DSA Type 2. The lightweight has his matte finish, which I understand is hot dip blue over Park.

Post your dad's gun's serial number (use X's for the last 2 digits) and I'll look up when it was made. Serial number is the one on the bottom of the grip frame (may also be elsewhere but there also other numbers stamped inside the yoke and the sides of the grip frame) and the "S" or "N" is a part of it.

[ByronF]

Thanks, BUFF. Serial is N2040XX. On frame under crane is same number along with Mod 28-2.

[BUFF]

About 1974.

The books list N200,000 to N300,000 as 1974 to 1977, about 25,000-33,000 N frame revolvers per year. All of the N frames (they were making the Models 25-2, 27-2, 28-2, 29-2, 57 and 58 then) were in the same serial number series.

The dash number part of the model number signifies an engineering or feature change.

[ThePitbullofLove]

The Model 28 is one of my all time favorites...

Here's mine
http://images34.fotki.com/v1146/photos/2/28682/3924679/25-vi.jpg

I vote for reblue over park...:biggrin:

[ByronF]

Originally posted by ThePitbullofLove
The Model 28 is one of my all time favorites...

Here's mine
http://images34.fotki.com/v1146/photos/2/28682/3924679/25-vi.jpg

I vote for reblue over park...:biggrin:

Nice! Dad's has more wear on side of muzzle from holster but nearly same condition. Is that a battlefield pick-up from a tour in Dirka-dirkastan? The Model 28 is the favorite noise maker for Dirka-dirkajihaddis.

[TideWater 41009]

Smith & Wesson Model 28; now that's a gun!

[Para Driver]

S&W factory recondition...

[GSP228]

Issue weapon for GA troopers 40+ years ago, along with a Winchester 12 ga. pump w/exposed hammer (I can't remember the Mod. #) and a Mod. 94 carbine in .30-.30.

[SWOHFAL]

A quality firearm is a quality firearm, even if they skipped some of the more expensive steps for finishing. Park would be good if it was pitted and abused, but not for just a worn finish on what will eventually be a collectors item and family heirloom.

[MAINER]

I had a M 28 years ago with the 6" barrel. My buddy had his Granddad's M 27 w/6' barrel in nickle finish and a "call" front sight. I really liked that sight, but he wouldn't trade. :tongue: The accuracy was equal, but his had a bit better trigger.

Found it amazing at how fast we could blow thru boxes of reloads with them sixshooters! That big magnum cylinder picks up speed on its own in double-action! :D

Sadly, both 357's were traded away for similar models with larger holes in them.

I have seen several 28's the owners wern't happy with and had S&W refinish them to M27 standards. Hard to tell them apart. I liked the origionl matte bluing on the 28, but it wasn't very durable and rusted easily in humid weather conditions.

Nostalgia I suppose, but I'd have S&W do the refinish.

[MAINER]

Originally posted by GSP228
Issue weapon for GA troopers 40+ years ago, along with a Winchester 12 ga. pump w/exposed hammer (I can't remember the Mod. #) and a Mod. 94 carbine in .30-.30.


Winchester Model 97. Win. made them by the ton as trench guns for the troops, police, prison guards. Where did they all go? :sad:

[molotov]

Winchester Model 97. Win. made them by the ton as trench guns for the troops, police, prison guards. Where did they all go?

They are still around, but not cheap.

My grandfather left his behind, complete with bubba'd copper tube ghost ring site. Great shotgun though. Nothing pulls duty like shotguns and the 1897 is about as good as they get so I think a lot of em just got used up.