[Tanaka] S&W M28 “The Highway Patrolman” .357 Magnum 6-inch HW Model Gun

In 1935, a legendary gun was born: the S&W .357 Magnum, commonly known as the Registered Magnum. With the introduction of the model number system, the model later known as the S&W M27 was born. The .357 Magnum round, which remains in use to this day, was born at the same time.

Upon its release, it was advertised as "the most powerful revolver in the world." This high-powered handgun was purchased not only by general gun enthusiasts but also by law enforcement officers.
However, as the name "registered" suggests, the initial sales were not general sale, but were made to order, with a registration certificate that also served as a quality guarantee. Customers could choose the sights, barrel length, finish, and even grip, but due to the demand for custom orders, monthly production capacity was initially around 120 units. Then, orders for several thousand units began pouring in. S&W was delighted.
Production was temporarily halted during World War II, but production resumed after the war with a renewed model. The postwar version, "The .357 Magnum," was also in high demand among law enforcement agencies, but the price was a major issue. This custom gun was too expensive. Police departments across the United States asked S&W to "make the .357 Magnum as cost-effective as possible."
S&W responded to this request by leaving the internal mechanism untouched and minimizing the appearance, placing emphasis on reliability. Based on the .357 Magnum, the surface was changed from a polished finish to a semi-polished finish, and the anti-reflective checkering on the top of the frame and barrel was eliminated in favor of a blasted finish.
The barrel was also limited to a choice of either a 4-inch or 6-inch, with a semi-wide hammer and narrow trigger. This reduced the cost by nearly $100 at the time. This was the birth of the "budget version" of the .357 Magnum.
When this rifle was released in 1954 as "The Highway Patrolman," it was adopted by law enforcement agencies across the United States. When the model numbering system was introduced, it was numbered as the "S&W M28."

The following year, in 1955, the .357 Combat Magnum (later the M19) was released.
In terms of durability, the larger and thicker N-frame-based .357 Magnum cartridge x 6 (M19) is superior to the N-frame-based .357 Magnum cartridge x 6 (M28), but when it comes to carrying it around all the time, the lighter M19 is preferred.
However, the M28 was apparently much cheaper than the M19 even at the time, and the decision to adopt it was based on the financial situation of each police department or law enforcement agency.
This 6-inch model is bulkier than the 4-inch, but there are records that some law enforcement agencies, such as the Washington State Patrol (WSP), have adopted it to fully utilize the power of the .357 Magnum bullet.

The newly modeled "S&W M28 "The Highway Patrolman" 6-inch Heavy Weight Model Gun" is a model of the type produced after the transition to the model number system. This gun fully recreates the charm of the M28, including the frame and barrel top surface finish changed from the M27, the distinctive K-sight without anti-reflective grooves, the massive counterbored cylinder that extends all the way to the rim of the ammunition to withstand the unreliability of the primers (detonators) of the time and the high-pressure cartridges, as well as the semi-wide hammer and narrow trigger. Of course, the cartridge used is the .357 Magnum. We also newly created a slim, tapered 6-inch barrel that was selected to fully utilize the power of this cartridge.
The interior is based on the latest version .2 of our S&W N-frame model guns, and thoroughly reproduces the smooth trigger feel that S&W aimed for without compromising on the interior.
A variation of the sturdy and robust M28 has arrived in the Reiwa era.

▲From the barrel to the frame, there are only minimal serrations on the sloped surface. This is the reason why it is specialized for practical use.

【specification】
・Number of bullets: 6 ・Total length: 290mm
・Weight: 960g
Material: HW resin + zinc die-cast. Includes six .357 magnum firing cartridges. Frame type: N frame, square butt.
- 7mm cap gunpowder firing system