The “Highway Patrolman”

A long time ago, back when the earth was green, and law enforcement was serious about putting a demise to the bad guys, the  preferred sidearm of most State Police in this country, was the 357 Magnum.  Its penetration power was well-known for punching through the heavy car fenders of the day and with the right ammo, would punch a hole through a cast iron engine block and STOP a fleeing felon without having to CHASE his butt across 50 miles of crowded interstate.

It would drop a hood instantly with the first solid hit, and KEEP him down.  Today, they're using smaller caliber 15-shot automatics, and I won't even begin to go into that here.....except to say that as a civilian now, I know longer HAVE to carry an "ISSUED" weapon of some bureaucrat's choice.

Anyway................back then, most police forces bought their revolvers from Smith & Wesson and Colt.  Among the S&W clan, Detectives seemed to prefer the little "J"  frame 38 "snubbies".  Many City Police around the country carried the 4"-barreled "K" frames in either 38 or 357, as did most Sheriff's Departments.

The STATE POLICE though, preferred the larger, heavy-duty 357's and Smith & Wesson made a DANDY gun, on what they called the "N" frame  line.....a premium gun, the "N" frame is the "whole enchilada", as they say.

Going from bottom to top...........or left to right if you prefer, are a "J" frame, a "K" frame and an "N" frame.  As you go further down the alphabet, the guns get BIGGER and more thickly built, to withstand the power and recoil, as they started getting more and more into the "Magnum" cartridges.

Smith & Wesson's "N" frame model 27 was the "desired" 357.  But with its polished blue finish, top-strap checkering, custom Goncalo-Alves grips and other little "flourishes, it was also EXPENSIVE.  TOO expensive for State Police units looking out for the taxpayer dollar.  But Smith & Wesson....responding to the promise of great bulk sales, catered a bit to the police....and to the general public as well, as it eventually turned out.

They would build a Model 28, which would be sort of a "working man's  27."  An IDENTICAL gun, with a PLAIN matte finishing, no frills, "bells or whistles".

Because the gun was built for the "plain-Jane" economy State Police everywhere, Smith & Wesson named the gun the "Highway Patrolman", and stamped it on the right side of the barrel.

Imagine if you will, a pair of classic 1964 Chevrolets.  One is an Impala, the other a Bel Air.  Both have the same engines, transmissions, etc.  Performance is identical.  The Impala has prettier chrome trim and triple tail-lights instead of dual.  It costs more because it's "prettier"....but side-by-side they're the same car.

The Model 27 & 28 are the same guns.  The 27 being the "Impala" and the 28 was the "Bel Air."

That being said.....shortly after I got back from Italy in 1976, I bought a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 28, and took it out that same afternoon to "get it on paper", as we say.              

(above is a photo of 6 of my favorites.  My "Highway patrolman" of 1976 is the one at the bottom right------facing the ivory-handled Ruger).

And that gun-----35 years later is STILL my favorite.....and a lot of guns have come & gone over the years, but if for some reason, I could only keep ONE,,,,,it would be THIS one.

Well.........they "proof-fire" them ALL at the factory but do not sight them in, and you always have to adjust the rear sight as you "dial it in."  Not with THIS one!  The gun was DEAD-ON right out of the box.......two cylinder-loads....12 rounds, all inside of the "8-ring" on its "maiden run" out of the box, with factory ammo, no less.

I used to reload at the time and my most "tailored loads" only made the gun shooter even TIGHTER.  I have taken it out with a DIFFERENT load in each chamber, with some 38's mixed-in as well, and all six still find their way into the black.  If you MISS something with this gun, it's because you FLINCHED!

If you've read my previous gun blogs, you'll recall the advantages of an "early-cut barrel", and if it could be verified through serial numbers and records (which it cannot), I'd bet GOOD MONEY that the barrel that went on THIS pistol was the first one cut from a fresh die.  It just shoots THAT good and THAT consistent.

The guns here on the counter are four of the most popular examples of "N" frame "Smiths".....................

Model 28.......in 357 Magnum                      Model 57......in 41 Magnum

Model 29.......in 44 Magnum                     Model 25-5......in 45 Colt

(post-note here----the Model 29, was the 44 Magnum chosen for Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" character.   The one you see here is stainless steel, where "Harry's" was the standard "blued" version).

(The "45 Colt" is not considered a "magnum", but still generates enough power and recoil to warrant it to be built on an "N" frame).

OK.....let's "fast-forward" to last week.......some guy needed cash, and sold this "28" to our local gunshop.  I've always had a "thing for these old "N" frame Smiths.......and while I already own a SUPERB "28", the sheer thought of this gun ending up in the "wrong home" where it might just be treated as "another gun", instead of the piece of workmanship it actually IS.....started to bother me a bit.

It bothered me "a bit' for a couple of days.  You can't afford to "save" every pistol that comes along....and having a gorgeous "28" ALREADY, I really could NOT "justify getting a SECOND one........

Pulling my "coveted 28" from the safe, a few things came quickly to the forefront........It's still in "like new" condition after all these years, because I rarely shoot it, so as to "keep the mileage OFF and the blueing ON", as they say.  That gun out there at the gunshop has just enough "holster and cylinder wear", that I WOULD go out and shoot IT every now and then!

I KNEW if I used enough "self-logic", I'd talk myself INTO another "28!"

Yeah....it's been around........they don't stay cosmetically pretty FOREVER when you use them.......but with a Smith & Wesson or  Ruger.....it's almost impossible to wear one out mechanically, over a lifetime.

Bore is excellent, perfect "lands & grooves"......no pitting.  Cylinder timing and lockup is smooth, trigger is crisp.........

         ,                  

"Drag-mark" from the cylinder stop......and "holster wear" at the barrel tip are both normal.  Excellent shape.  But how well does it shoot?..........Only way to know, is to bring it home!  Then pick a good day (if you can FIND one around here), and check it out.

So.....I did a little "gun-trading," got rid of a couple I never shoot anyway, and brought home this "2nd Highway Patrolman"

This past Tuesday morning, was about as good as it would EVER get this week, so I filled 5 old gallon-milk-jugs with water & went out.

The previous owner must have held his sights the same way I do, because I never had to put a screwdriver to an adjustment screw.  Five rounds, five hits.  I fired the 6th one at a pop can, then reloaded.

Yeah.....I reckon I'll keep it!  Like my FIRST one, this one too is a pleasure to shoot.  Recoil is very manageable with that hefty "N" frame weight,

And while THIS particular "Highway Patrolman" might not be the "OOH & AAH" one that's in the safe, I'm a lot more comfortable taking THIS one out!

Did I NEED another one?  Of course not..........but every now and then, a guy's gotta do something............just BECAUSE!

And just so they EACH have a chance to display their "inherent WICKEDNESS"....I put the Ruger away and have my "new/old" Model 28, on "sentry duty" right here on the table beside the computer..........freshly cleaned and fully loaded, so it has ample opportunity to "jump up on its own and hurt somebody" if it takes a mind to................

(all guns have this built-in "will to do evil deeds" ya know!)...........

PS.....several years back,  S&W came out with an "L" frame, which "size-wise" cradles itself right in-between the "K" & the "N".

And TODAY they build a 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum, currently the "most powerful handgun in the world."  A Real BEHEMOTH....on what they call an "X" frame.  I used to have one.

"USED TO"......as in "past tense!"  Nah, the "N"'s are plenty!