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Don't know, just found those two to compare on Gunbroker. I prefer the truncated look of the shorter one, which I believe is 3.5 inches but everyone calls it a 4?
If I could find a truncated one for a good price/condition, I would buy one. It is just I don't know exactly what I am searching for.
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S & W revolvers barrels can vary due to tolerances, barrel crowns, etc. This variation is usually 1/8 inch or less, yours looks like more than that. What are the measurements of these two barrels?
I'd have a knowledgable gunsmith or S&W collector look at it to determine if it's been reworked.
No worries about shooting a sound Model 28, they are among the strongest 357's ever built.
Don't know, just found those two to compare on Gunbroker. I prefer the truncated look of the shorter one, which I believe is 3.5 inches but everyone calls it a 4?
If I could find a truncated one for a good price/condition, I would buy one. It is just I don't know exactly what I am searching for.
They're both nominally 4" barrels. The Highway Patrolman didn't come with a 3.5" barrel. The 3.5" barrel was available on the Model 27, but it stops at the end of the ejector rod housing. Revolver barrels are measured from the front of the cylinder. Many measure from the frame and come up short.
The Highway Patrolman/Model 28 was the less expensive version of the Model 27. It was aimed at the police market and cut some costs by not bothering with some cosmetics, like high gloss blue, and checkered top strap. Mechanically, they are identical and of the same high quality of the 27.
S&W centers the barrel stamping. So it's obvious if one was a 6" cut down. Both barrels were made the way they sit from the factory.
As noted, there's some slight variation in length. The Model 28 also got a slightly shorter cylinder in the early 80's. Because the barrel has to be set a certain distance from the cylinder face, they are set farther back in the frame. The distance isn't much, but added to any other production variations, and you probably end up with one that is a tad shorter.
The two guns that you're looking at are plain Jane Highway Patrolman/Model 28's with 4" (nominally) barrels. Good eye catching the slight variation.
If you want a true 3.5", you need to look for a Model 27 in that length. Be aware they are in high demand and pricing reflects this. You pay alot for a half inch less.