pre model 27 smith & wesson .357 magnum

R

rosminc

Inactive
hey guys i just picked up a real beauty and was wondering if anyone could help me find out the value of it

smith & wesson .357 magnum pre model 27 w/3.5 inch barrel
serial #124xxx according to s&w customer service it is from late 1954
appears to be in almost new condition the blueing is perfect and has not been refinished. the bore is also in great shape it looks like it has never been fired.
it has the original numbered grips on it with no wear.
i do not have the box or the papers on it.
any help finding a value would be greatly appreviated.
thank you.


Will try to post some pictures later today
 
You just "picked it up" and you want to know the value? What did you pay for it? It's worth what you paid.

Not good enough? Well, the 3.5" is the sexy one everybody wants. Demand is very high. In the nearly new condition you describe I would ask $1,200 for it if I were selling it. Understand you ask 10 guys the value and you will get at least eight different answers. Value can vary wildly based on numerous factors.

I assume the serial has a letter S prefix? Then 1954 sounds about right. I have a couple in the S140xxx-S143xxx range that are lettered to mid 1955. But bear in mind S&Ws were not necessarily shipped in numerical order. Some set in inventory for a long time before being sent out.

This one is S138621 which sounds like early 1955 but actually shipped March of 1957.


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SaxonPig said:
Well, the 3.5" is the sexy one everybody wants.
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Indeed. I'm not much of a collector, and a 3.5" M27 is my grail gun. I was thinking in the $1,200 to $1,500 range for a nice one.
 
I recently was happy to pay $600 for one of those, which had been rather poorly reblued. The metal and screw-heads etc are in great shape but that cold blue is not so good.

Especially once I took the grips off. Oh, my eyes!

In a few days I will be handing it to some wizards of Cerakote, if we agree on a price I can afford.

What a shooter! And the chambers are so polished the fired .357 cases just fall out when I raise the muzzle. This was one of my dream guns and since it has much less collector value, I can customize with no guilt.

Bart Noir
Who thinks it ought to be a felony to apply cold blue over S&W's case hardened trigger and hammer finish.
 
In a few days I will be handing it to some wizards of Cerakote

Bart Noir
Who thinks it ought to be a felony to apply cold blue over S&W's case hardened trigger and hammer finish.
Click to expand...

By that standard, painting a good revolver should be a capital offense.
 
Think I paid $1200-$1300 for a factory-refinished '51/'52 6-inch pre-27 about three years ago.

Magnificently re-done by S&W.
Value depends just as much on what you don't mind paying for something you want as on what anybody else says the gun's worth.

I've never bought as an investment.
I buy as a "want" or a "need". :)
Denis
 
Well mine is a 27-2, 3 1/2 inch. Excellent condition with great bluing, target trigger and hammer. $800, flat.

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and it goes well with my Lew Horten 24 in .44 spl.
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Deaf
 

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With Smiths, all things being equal older will bring more. A 1954 pre-model will sell for more than will a 27-2 of equal condition. I paid $275 for the one pictured above, but it is more like an 80% gun rather than nearly new. Also, it was 15 years ago.
 
"By that standard, painting a revolver should be a capital offense."--You mean its not?

I've been shooting a 27-2 since the early 70's when it was new. The older ones are even better.
 
Thanks everyone for all of the info. I found this at a pawn shop and they wanted 750.00 for it and I came back the next day and offered 500.00 out the door and they agreed I do believe that I got a very sweet deal.
 
sorry for the poor pic its the only one i have and it not good looks much better than pic. the bluing is not worn that is light shadows
 
My 27s. The one on the right is a five screw, in really great shape for its age. The others are 27-2s. One is a 3 1/2 inch barrel with stag grips. The other is a 5 inch barrel with football grips. I'm looking for one with a four inch barrel and one with a 8 or 8 3/8 barrel.

I accept gifts.

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I would have bought that in less then a second for $500. I really love the 3.5 ones, but I'm already getting a 3 inch model 24 which has almost the same exact look, so my 27 will be the 5 inch and I'm sure I won't be so lucky to get a beautiful -2 or earlier for any less then $800
 
It's truly amazing that the shop knocked of more than 1/3 of the price. If that would have been in the pawn shop I'm at for $750 (which it wouldn't have been), then bottom dollar would maybe have been $700 + tax. Either they paid some poor soul $100 dollars for it or they should think about getting into another business that they better understand. Anyway, you got a great deal. Everybody needs one of those deals in their life.
 
I agree with you that I stole it for 500. The funny thing is it is a pawn shop that reminds you of the tv show pawn stars there is a old man (grandfather) a Rick (the son) and a Cory (the grandson). I was dealing with the son and the old man came over and told the son that that was too much for the gun and that he would accept my 500 offer I did not hesitate to buy it at that point.
 
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