Smith & Wesson 27-2 4 inches P&R

H

hellishot

Inactive
Hi

I recently purchased a Smith & Wesson 27-2 four inches.

I been reading around the internet that the S&W 27-2 4 inch pinned and recessed is rare. I just wanted to confirm if this is true.

Some information regarding my gun, serial number N461xxx, so I was able to date it at 1978 based on the serial. The grips match the date since its the Goncalo alves Checkered Target Stocks with extractor relief made for the 1978 production.

My 27 does not have the red ramp nor the white outlined rear sights.

I read elsewhere saying, "some 27-2s made 1979-1981 (particularly the 4" versions) lack the pinned barrel and/or the recessed chambers as S&W started running out of these parts and began using the -3 parts." In 1979, 4" introduced with red ramp and white outline rear sights. This excerpt leads me to believe I have a special piece, but I need help confirming this.
 
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The Standard Catalog of S&W mentions a premium for the three-screw 4" barrel. It also mentions the 4" barrel being introduced in 1979 with the red ramp and white outline sight.

Others will have more knowledge of this, but it seems like you may have a transitional model combining aspects of both earlier and later models. It's also possible the barrel was replaced at a later time.
 
The 4" was available on special order until it became a standard length and replaced the popular 3.5 for reasons known only to S&W. The 27-2 with a 4" barrel was offered from 1978-1981 so only 4 years of production means there are fewer of them than other barrel lengths. Most guys still prefer the 3.5 guns. Is the 4" 27-2 rare or uncommon? I guess.

The barrel pin was officially eliminated with the 27-3 introduction. However, many 4" 27-2s are seen with unpinned barrels and my speculation is they started running out of pinned -2 barrels around 1980 and started using the -3 barrels. I refer to these as Model 27-2.5s.

I have heard that some were also made with pinned barrels but non-recessed -3 cylinders. I have never seen one like that.

One of my great regrets is passing on a special order 4" 27-2 made in 1963. The price was not outrageous, but it didn't excite me at the time. Now it does but the gun is long gone.
 
I have a 27-2 4" Nickel, its one of my favorite revolvers...

Rare...not really / uncommon, yes...

But I've seen 3 or 4 of the model 27-2's in 4" at least one blued / and 2 in Nickel for sale in shops in my area for around $ 900 -- $1,000 in the last 6 months ( when in excellent condition ) --- if there are many handling or holster wear marks -- value drops quite a bit. As I recall only one had the red ramp front sight ( like mine ) ....

Demand on model 27's and 28's in 4" is pretty high / a lot of shooters are looking for them, so they don't last long when they're around. All of the guns I saw, were sold in less than 2 weeks.
 
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Interesting information in this thread. I have a 27-2 with a five inch barrel and a 27-2 with a 3 1/2 inch barrel. I didn't know the above re 27-2 with four inch barrel.

I just checked gunbroker. There are currently two 27-2s, both pinned and recessed, with four inch barrels. I maybe now need a 27-2 with a four inch barrel.
 
I wonder if S&W dropped the 3.5" barrel to ease things for them-they were already set up for the 4" barrel for the M-28 and the only difference is the finish and barrel markings which are the last steps in manufacturing.
I have a 4"nickeled one with the red ramp front. It is a keeper.
 
Yes, they "standardized" barrel lengths at 4" and 6". No more 3.5 or 6.5 lengths.

Personally, they lost some panache. In 1982 when the pinned barrels and recessed chambers on Magnums vanished they lost nearly all appeal IMO and I don't have any post 1981 S&W revolvers. Then the lock came along...
 
Pinned and Recessed

The pinned barrel and recessed chambers were what made the S&W Magnums different from everybody else's guns.

Everybody knew that you didn't have to have these features to have a perfectly good revolver. Colts and Rugers and others were fine without them. But S&W fans felt them to be the visible "proof" of S&W quality of construction.

And when they went away, it was the beginning of a slope that it appears S&W is still sliding on.
 
I've always had a passion for the model 27 ! I still own one and remember trading my 6" barreled version ! Very bad decision , never will I sell another older N frame in any caliber ! :mad:
 
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