Nope, that serial number is way too early for 1973 shipping, unless it got pushed to the back for a few years. I have a 5" 27-2 that has a serial # of N168XXX and it was originally received by the gun shop I bought it from in March 1974 and I finished paying for it in April 74 when I turned 18. Teufelhunden82's 27 has a 5, not 6 digit serial number. So that puts it early in the N numbered guns, which started in 1969 I believe.