Originally Posted by colt_saa

Actuaally, Smith & Wesson used a heavy barrel profile on these in place of the Model 27's tapered barrel

That is what prevented me from buying one of the production 627s when there were first produced.

As to the Carbon Steel 8 shot Model 27s, considering all barrel lengths there is close to 2000 of them in the marketplace. If there were a way to investigate it, I would bet that the number of 8 shot Heavy barrel Model 627s is probably not too far off that same number. These were not good sellers.