Did I pass up anything special? S&W M28

There is something of a cult about the Model 28 since it was discontinued in 1986-doesn't every out of production revolver have some sort of "cult" status?
And S&W N frames certaonly have a cachet to them.
I paid $140 for my very gently used 6" in 1981, the price sounds right to me.
 
When I checked for cylinder rotational play, I dry-fired it, kept the trigger rearward - like it is actually being fired - then checked for rotational play.
 
I look beyond function to aesthetics and that elusive panache. IMO the 28 is plain and utilitarian while the 27 is gorgeous. The 28 works fine while the 27 oozes panache.
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There you go, I happen to like plain and utilitarian. I won't go so far as to say the 27 is "pimped out" but it is more flashy.

I have my Dad's 29-2. Lovely shiny blue, just like the 27. I like the look of the satin blue on the 28 better. All a matter of personal preferences.

As far as I know, other than guns thru the custom shop, the 27s didn't get any special treatment to their insides, same as the 28. I consider them to be the same gun. It's a very GOOD gun.

One thing I do not understand is how anyone would ask, let alone pay more for a 28 (in equal condition) than a 27. The finish & features of the 27 are worth more than the 28, and always have been. The 27 is a high end gun, finely finished, on the outside. The 28 isn't. For those of us who don't care about the high luster finish, the 28 was a real bargain.
 
Quote 44 AMP: " For those of us who don't care about the high luster finish, the 28 was a real bargain."



I think for the most part they still are.... considering what 27's, 29's, 57's and even 19's of the same era sell for these days.

The exception of course being that occasional seller that has a misplaced notion of what his revolver is worth...But that goes without saying and applies to just about anything anyway.
 
I have some plain working guns. A few border on downright ugly.

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But these aren't the ones that make my heart beat faster. The pretty guns do that. To be honest, I'm not sure why I even have the HP I posted earlier. I think I bought it because it was offered to me for $165 and I keep it because it lettered as shipped to my hometown a few month before I was born.
 
For that price in CA I would have bought it. Even if you decide down the road you don't want it you can get your $$$ + out of it.

I love my 28. Paid $540 with 25 rounds of factory .357 Mag.

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This is my early 1970's 6" M28-2...but I have never fired it because it came to me in virtually NIB condition:

 
From my S&W history book the 28 was available with 4 inch and 6 inch barrels. Around a 100 were manufactured with 8-3/8 in barrel. +20 guns were built with 5 in barrels and nickel finish marked Florida Highway Patrol and shipped in 1959.
 
Cool Model 28 Story: I was jonesing for one of these and picked one up in a Spokane pawn shop when I lived there. I had wanted a 6" but found a 4" for a good price and bought it.

Not long after, my parents gave me a box full of my grandfather's police goodies from his time as a Florida cop. Included was his belt, with holster for a 4" N-Frame .357 and two speeloader pouches, which still had the loaders, still full of Federal .38 sp +P+. I had no idea that's what he carried, along with a Model 66 2.5" that seemed to be a back-up or off-duty gun.

The revolver has been fantastic and accurate, with the most crips single action trigger I have. I don't shoot it much because I have revolvers that conceal better, but it's a fantastic gun. It's one I'll regret selling, I'm sure.
 
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You know the difference in polish between the 27 and 28 is not that much in the early days. I ask you which is which? One is a pre-27 one is a pre-28.

If you know the guns, it is bloody obvious but many folks have trouble with the difference in the polish in 54/55.

Edited to add. Yes you missed a deal. $500 odd bucks for a pre-28? I would have jumped on it.
 
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