Smith & Wesson N Frame Question

Laredo Lefty

August 20, 2002 23:35

Last weekend I had occasion to examine a S&W mdl 28, 6", Blue steel. The odd thing was it was a .44 Mag. Since mdl 28's have always been .357 Mags I asked the owner "Whats Up". The frame was stamped 28-2. The owner said that when the gun was made there was an over-run of 40 of these frames with no cylinders or barrels in .357. He said the factory put .44mag cylinders and barrels on them so as not to "waste" the frames, and that is why the mdl 28-2 designation.
My standard catalog shows that 28's never had a -2 added to the mdl number.
His story seems possible, but it is also possible that someone just switched barrel and cylinder from .357 to .44 Mag.
Does anyone out there know the answer. Have any of you heard of the factory doing this.
Thanks, Joe

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  E.Williams

  August 20, 2002 23:49

  The only Smith .44mags I have seen is the 29,629 and 27.Try to search the auctions here for any Smith 28-2's but I can say I have never seen one Im interested to know the answer to this one myself.
  
  Eric S. Williams

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  E.Williams

  August 21, 2002 00:49

  I just looked around the auctions curious myself.The only 28-2's I see are .357 Magnum with 4" barrels so my vote goes to changed barrel and cylinder.I searched round on the net some also and the closest I could find is the 29-3 in .44 mag.
  
  Eric S. Williams
  
  Edited by - E.Williams on 08/21/2002 04:53:53

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  Laredo Lefty

  August 21, 2002 01:05

  Eric,,,,, That might be the case. I know that mdl 27's .357mag. and mdl 29's .44 mag, each have -2 and -3 sub models, so its only logical to believe the mdl 28's would have had sub models thrown in the heap somewhere along the line since they were made from 1954 to 1986.
  -Joe-

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  Blokey

  August 21, 2002 05:42

  If memory serves me correct, the 28 was called the Highway Patrolman; it was a less highly finished version of the 27 N-frame .357 Magnum. An incorrectly marked gun like you describe would be worth a factory letter.

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  E.Williams

  August 21, 2002 05:52

  Thats my mistake on the 27 comment I get mixed up sometimes between them and the 29 for the use of the same frame.
  
  Eric S. Williams

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  Nighthawk

  August 21, 2002 06:59

  I have a S&W Model 28 in 357 Mag,it has NYSP stamped on the left side of the barrel.I wouls call S&W and ask them you may have a very rare Handgun.
  
  Best!!
  Im Begining to believe I cant read
  SORRY
  Rugster
  
  
  Toujours Pret
  
  Edited by - Rugster on 08/21/2002 14:17:34

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  Laredo Lefty

  August 21, 2002 10:21

  Thanks fellas, Saxon,,, the finish on the gun was a high gloss blue like on the models 27 & 29, and the entire gun matched perfectly. It looks like a factory finish, and the barrel and cylinder match the frame. Since the mdl 28 frames were the dull blued finish, I wonder if they refinished the whole gun after they put the .44 barrel and cylinder on it.
  Maybe I will call or write Smith and see what they say.
  Thanks again, -Joe-

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