Smith and Wesson M27-2

G

GodblessAmerica

New member
Just bought it today :) . 5" bbl, nickel finish, micrometer type rear sight, in wooden box with tools, paperwork except owners manual says model 19 on the front of it. I believe it's pinned and recessed but I have not owned one before that is. It looks very slightly used, trigger is extremely smooth and lockup seems very good. Can someone help me date it? S/N is N333XXX. Anybody have a 27 or 28 they can relate experiences with? Many thanks.
 
The .357 Magnum

I know some of the other folks here have date books for S&W revolvers.

The M27 is one of the finest revolvers ever made anywhere. I have two now, and I still lust over any I see available.
The -2 variation should be a pinned and recessed revolver. The 'pin' is cross mounted at the threaded portion of the barrel that screws into the frame. One sees it slightly protruding from either side of the frame, almost just over the cylinder gap. The 'recessed' part is the inner recess around the aft end of the chambers in the cylinder. Very obvious.

Uh... if you decide you don't like it, come talk to your Uncle Arch first.

Enjoy.
 
No Archie is evil (just kidding) Let me have it

People talk about Pythons and I have owned several of them too, yes there great guns, but the 27 is the finest 357 every built. I have had several, one was a 5 inch (and I am getting tears right now) but I sold it to a friend (but a good friend would have told me to keep it so he must be evil too).
There big, there cumbersom, but the fit and finish and the quality of build is second to none. And with 357's there sweet to shoot.
The only gun that I feel is better is the same frame, Model 25.
Same gun just bigger hole.
You can have your plastic guns, I wont argue that there lighter, work well and carry like nothings there, but give me the big cumbersom monster any day.
 
Something doesn't seem right. You bought a M27-2 357 Magnum correct? Why did it come in a Model 19 K frame 357 Magnum box? That just stands out.
 
Archie, thanks for the clarification. It also has a small pin on the end of the underlug (towards the front of the barrel). Sound about right? Ozzie, you are absolutely right about the quality from what I can see right now. I have an unfired NIB 1980 MY Python that I love but haven't dared shoot, so I've been looking a long time for a .357 shooter that stacks up well to the Python, w/o the Python price. Looks like I found it :) This seems (using snapcaps for both) to have a smoother trigger with less # in SA than the Python does, and makes a sweet mechanical click when the cylinder rotates in DA! The wood grips on the 27 even fit me better than the Python because they are longer. Xavier, thanks for the dates info. I'll try to narrow it down some. Sir William, as far as I can tell, the only thing in the box that doesn't match the rest is the owners manual, which is for a model 19. The prev. owner even has some 1970's - 1980's gun magazine articles in the box discussing the 27's. The 27 fits perfectly in the blue cutout in the box including the micro sight. I am guessing that it would not fit in a cutout for a 19 due to the size, but you guys correct me if I'm wrong. There's a blue 27-2 for sale on gunbroker.com that has the same box as mine (item # 28085379). I'd include the link but haven't got that figured out yet. Anyway, I bought it to shoot it and the box, etc. are bonuses. My Python is a safe queen but this one will be a range king. ;) Thanks again
G
 
OK. I understand better now. If that is from the Bangor Punta ownership, it is not inconceivable that it had the M19 manual from the factory. I bought a M36 back then and there was a 39 magazine in the box!
 
Gotta love a 27. I have a 3.5" that sees hard use as a game gun. No cherry guns when this shooter kicks the bucket :)
 
Pick up some Ballistol to clean it with.
Works very well on nickel w/out any fear of turning it yellow or lifting the plating. I use it on all 7 (? I think I have 7) nickeled guns.
 
My 30+ year old, five-ich, P&R'ed, 27-2. A superb revolver.
 

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I have a 27-2 Nickel, 28-2 and 27-3 50th Anniversary of .357 magnum model, yet unfired. The first two are P&R'd and have been shot quite a bit, great guns. The 27-3 will get shot one day but I'm in no hurry as to when that may happen. I'm a little curious as how it compares to it's older cousins though.
I see these older S&W's next to new ones at twice the price and it's no contest as to which I'll buy.
I'll keep buying, shooting and enjoying these old guns. One day I'll either sell some off at most likely a profit or let my newphews inherit them.
 
Great Purchase!

First of all, congratulations on a very desirable 27! Five inch guns are not all that common and are sought after by many collectors. You did GOOD!!

If you want to try to nail down the time-frame when the gun was produced, you might call S&W on Monday (1-800-331-0852, punch "7" for customer service). Have your serial number handy and ask them to estimate the production date. They should be able to get you close...but to be certain, you would need a factory letter...which they will be happy to provide you for about $30.

An example: I purchased a 27-2 on Thursday. I called in to S&W and was told the gun was "thought to be" produced in 1976. My gun's serial number is 1026xx.

Compare my serial number to yours...there is a bit of a spread. That "spread" may or may not be significant. My point, you can really only be sure with a factory letter. For most of us, "thought to be" is good enough. But a "factory letter" can nail it down if that's what you want and is a great addition to a nice piece in your collection.

Good luck.

Bob

P.S. Mine's new toy is nickel too!! But don't try to pack it around!

5378S_W27-2-8in-Rt.JPG
 
Grrr, you guys are making me jealous.
I passed up a 5" M27 a while back because I didn't have the money and that particular shop doesn't do layaways. Still kicking myself in the butt for not finding something replaceable to trade for it.

Although I did redeem myself somewhat with a M29 6.5" P&R. . . mmm, mmm good. :D
 
godbless america one note

I think the 27 has a very great trigger, but I do like the python for double action a little better.
For me I can stage the trigger on the python. you can pull it back and there is a kind of soft point that you can hold there and when the sights are on just pull it of through and, well you know.
I will own another 5 in 27 some day, for now its only in my dreams
 
Again many thanks to all for the input! This gun is making me completely reconsider my thinking on concealed carry options. I wonder if I can find another one with a shorter barrel for carry purposes. Hmmm..... What experiences do you have with the accuracy of these? I'm guessing by the balance and quality of it it will be more accurate than I am, but it will be at least a week til I can get it to the range. Anyone have any clean ammo recommendations? I'm kind of paranoid about that nickel finish (I'll be looking for the Ballistol Hal, thanks); am I overly concerned? Also, last question, and I appreciate your patience, am I likely to depreciate it more by firing it more? It seems I lucked into it while looking for a great shooter, but I have no idea about it's collector value long term. Still, I'm gonna hedge on the Python and shoot this one a bunch. :) Ozzie, even though the Python has probably only been dry fired 20 -30 times, I know exactly at what point you're referring to in DA. It has a sweet spot bigger than a Louisville Slugger. Thanks again for the info and positive comments.
G
 
I have a very nice 8 3/8 blue 27. It has spent most of it's life locked away in the safe, taken out and admired from time to time. It has been a while since I have shot a bullseye league at our local indoor range, so I signed up a few weeks back. At first I didn't even consider shooting it as I have several other choices, but for some reason I decided to drag it out of the dark depths of the safe and get to know her after all these years.

My eyes don't get along with focusing on iron sights anymore, but putting a scope on her was just out of the question, so I dug out my Dad's old stick on apeture and things are going quite well. With the apeture stuck on my glasses the sights do sharpen up pretty good, and I have been very happy with my scores.

The long sight radius, crisp trigger, and .38 special wadcutters makes for a very pleasant easy to shoot combo.

Good luck with yours!
 
am I overly concerned?
Click to expand...
No not really. Nickel guns (IMHO -YMMV) are the zenith of high quality handguns. Even a gun with the deepest and smoothest blued finish may not have a surface finished well enough to take a bright nickel plate. Those older P&R bright nickel guns are a work of art in the area of detailed finish.

I spent 25 years in the paint/coatings business, and the most difficult finish to apply was always a high gloss varnish. Any tiny imperfection is magnified a thousand times. I have a few older blued Smiths and if you look hard enough you can find a spot or 2 that has a bloom or a minor color difference. Even the outstanding Royal Blue on the Pythons has a spot or 2 - - usually a lot harder to find though. I have yet to see a nickel Python with any blemish.

OTOH. Nickel isn't impervious to wear and tear. My old 6" Model 19 has a lot of wear from use..... none from "ab- use" though. I consider it just the price of admission/the price you pay for shooting it. Honest wear is one thing IMHO, but the idea of boogering it up somehow just galls me. The plating on the cylinder face is 99% gone and it has some scratches here and there from being transported. <-- yes it will lose some value by being shot. Nickel guns turn "ugly" in a hurry. I wouldn't sweat it though. It probably won't matter much in your lifetime, or your kids,,,or possibly even your grandkids..

I paid $230 for my 6" Model 19 in 1977(?) maybe 1978(?). The last nickel Model 19 I bought, I paid $295 for - used but unifred w/out box - 2001(?). Given inflation over that time period, it went down considerably in value.
 
I have a 657-0 with a 6 inch barrel and unfluted culinder. That gun is a hoss! It will handle the 357 round with ease. Bowling pins at 50 yards are not a problem.
 
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