Question
Model 28
I am a retired Police Detective with 37.5 years of service. I have a Smith and Wesson Model 28 with serial number N 12. This gun is in decent shape and went through Smith and Wesson for a tune up just before I retiored. The gun is one hundred percent mechanically and the bluing is 75-80 percent. Original grips. I want to sell the gun and get the most I can for it and do not want to use Gun Broker. Could you please direct me as I know someone would love to have the low Serial number. The gun is registered to my permit in Massachusetts.
AnswerVery nice piece. Gun Broker will give you the widest exposure. If you'd rather not use that service, your next best bet would be a private sale, which in most states is simply a matter of swapping cash for steel (I don't know MA gun laws, but I suspect a private sale is not legal). If you take it to a shop, they are going to need to justify inventorying it, and that will mean that they will be able to give you about 50% of what they think they can sell it for. You could find a place that does consignments, but again they will charge for that (usually 20% of the sale, and if it doesn't sell you have to fill out paperwork to get your own gun back).
Revolvers have a narrow appeal, but there are S&W collectors out there who look for specimens of the various models in good shape (such as yours is). For maximum exposure leading to maximum selling price your best bet is probably Gun Broker, I'm afraid.
