I appreciate the advice. I just bought an older 586, and will admit it is a lighter revolver, very handy and accurate. However, I am not concerned about a few extra ounces, I often carry a 4" 29-10 .44 concealed. Nostalgia is indeed why I am in the market for a 27. I made myself a promise 30 some odd years ago that I would own a 27 someday, after firing a former Deputy Sheriff's 6" 27 and falling in love with it. No, he wouldn't sell it, despite my numerous attempts. I owned several 28's over the years, so I am familiar with the weight. I find it comforting. I purchased my favorite 28 off another retired Sheriff's Deputy around 1989, for $125. NEVER SHOULD HAVE SOLD IT! I hunted with it, a hefty 4" model, covered allot of miles wearing that big old shooting iron. One of my most memorable shots, was with that gun. Deer hunting with Dad up in western Maine, on the way out of the woods, without any luck around noon, we were accosted by an angry red squirrel on a pine tree about 35 yards away. He climbed out on a dead branch and chattered at us. My father had been chastising me all morning about wearing the 28 Highway Patrolman, considering it dead weight as I had a rifle as my primary weapon. And, as he had said, handguns were not that accurate anyhow. He dared me to shoot the squirrel, who was perched on a dead branch the size of a mans arm. I, still in my early 20's, had been bragging to my dad how accurate the revolver was, but in truth I had yet to fire it. I only brought it along on a whim, finding an old, used Hunter holster at a local gunshop for $3 that it fit into. Now called out by my elder, I drew the S&W, carefully aiming with both hands, Dirty Harry style and squeezing the trigger. I could barely even see the squirrel! BOOM!!! Gun exploded in recoil under the force of a 125 grain Federal Magnum, Squirrel, wood and bark flew up in the air, fell to the ground and then the squirrel ran off. I had hit just a tad low, striking the branch under the tree rat, which now had a missing chunk of wood and was vibrating under the impact. Dad looked at me silently, impressed. I was shocked I even came close, much less THAT close, to hitting the pesky squirrel!! Playing it off, ears ringing, I quickly explained to Dad that the gun preferred 158's, the 125's shot low and I simply forgot to compensate. He just shook his head. I never let on it was a lucky shot. When I traded the gun off a few years later, I justified it in my head, knowing I would eventually upgrade to an ACTUAL Model 27 with better bluing, checkering, etc. I grew up reading Skeeter Skelton each month, so that only reinforced my reverence for the big, classy .357 Magnum.
So yes, Nostalgia is a huge factor in my wanting a new 27. Now in my 50's, I don't intend to wait any longer.
