I've had this pre-27 for about 25 years. Now that I'm getting more into revolvers, I realize that the jeweled hammer and trigger (on it when it was purchased) are not original. I was also wondering if the grips are true S&W factory Rosewoods? Anyway, I was considering sending the hammer and trigger out to be re-case hardened or seeing if Smith has new originals for sale. Any thoughts?
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A little guidance with a pre-27 please
- Thread starter pdbertb
- Start date
Yeah, those jeweled parts are awful looking, aren't they? No 'counting for taste, I guess. I bought a 586 a few years ago with the same parts jeweled, and replacing them was the first order of business. To the best of my knowledge, the parts are still available (they'd be different for your N-frame pre-27, of course) from S&W but they would likely be MIM, and therefore inappropriate for a pre-27, though admittedly they'd at least look better.
The grips appear to be typical S&W smooth target stocks and may or may not be original to the gun. I'm guessing probably not, but that's less of an issue in terms of value than the jeweled parts - if you could find some original parts for the replacement it would increase the value of the gun considerably. They'd need to be installed and fitted by a gunsmith, but that shouldn't be a big expense. I don't know if it's possible to have your parts re-case hardened. There are some specialty gunsmiths who do that type of work, but I'm not sure if they'd take the job or how much it would cost.
The grips appear to be typical S&W smooth target stocks and may or may not be original to the gun. I'm guessing probably not, but that's less of an issue in terms of value than the jeweled parts - if you could find some original parts for the replacement it would increase the value of the gun considerably. They'd need to be installed and fitted by a gunsmith, but that shouldn't be a big expense. I don't know if it's possible to have your parts re-case hardened. There are some specialty gunsmiths who do that type of work, but I'm not sure if they'd take the job or how much it would cost.
The grips are not original to the gun. As for the jeweled parts, They can be refinished to original but at what cost? Doug Turnbull would be the guy to contact. It may in fact be fairly reasonable in that the parts can just be popped out and reinstalled afterward. They are already fit to the revolver. NOS parts may have to be gunsmith fit which will increase the cost. Call Smith and Wesson and ask if they retain any originals for the gun. In the event they don't, those are short action parts which are actually pretty common. I would even look on ebay and other auction sites. Gunbroker for instance.
Winchester_73
New member
Although the grips are not original to the gun, they are FACTORY S&W smooth "presentation" stocks and might be rosewood. I don't know the wood types very well, but S&W did use rosewood. Those grips are nice looking and feeling IMO. Factory would have been either S&W post war diamond N frame magnas or possibly early N frame target stocks without football cut out. Not Cokes either, the ones before the Cokes. Cokes are very rarely if ever found on 357 magnums, morseso 41 and 44 mags.
Shotgun693
New member
The first order of business is to get a factory letter describing the gun as it left S&W. They might be able to tell you the original buyer. Before any older gun is 'returned' to original condition it's best to know who and why it was altered. I known of several old guns what were restored only to learn that the person who had changed the gun was someone of note. Yep, knew a guy who 'restored' one of the very last SAAs bought by Wells Fargo, he reduced the value by about 3/4.
The grips really are comfortable and I think they look great too. I sent an email to Doug Turnbull's shop requesting a quote so we'll see about getting the hammer & trigger re-done. Think I gave the owner of the LGS $325 to find me a model 19 at a gunshow he was going to way back, and this is what he came back with. No disappointments!
Thanks for that Shotgun, sounds like a good idea. Is there a thread on the forums that explain how to go about getting that letter? Does the item have to be sent to S&W or just the serial #?
Thanks for that Shotgun, sounds like a good idea. Is there a thread on the forums that explain how to go about getting that letter? Does the item have to be sent to S&W or just the serial #?
pd,
The grips appear to be S&W smooth Presentation stocks. The 27 may have been originally ordered with them. In any case, they are quite desirable and pricey. If they are original, there is a slim chance they are numbered to the gun, though most numbered-to-gun stocks are magnas.
You may be better off, regarding hammer/trigger, to search for an original case-hardened set. Numrich may be a good place to begin that search.
Mike
The grips appear to be S&W smooth Presentation stocks. The 27 may have been originally ordered with them. In any case, they are quite desirable and pricey. If they are original, there is a slim chance they are numbered to the gun, though most numbered-to-gun stocks are magnas.
You may be better off, regarding hammer/trigger, to search for an original case-hardened set. Numrich may be a good place to begin that search.
Mike
Mike Irwin
Staff
What's the year of manufacture?