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01-21-2015, 03:44 PM
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inherited a 357 mag. need help on year and value
I inherited a S&W .357 mag model 27 Nickel from my great uncle who is a pearl harbor survivor. He is currently in bad health and I was unable to inquire about the gun. The gun has the serial number S192235 and N Mod-27 behind the yolk. It has a 6 1/2 inch barrel, adjustable sights with white outline, and is a 4 screw, also has two ports on each side of the front sight on the barrel. The gun is in unbelievable condition, it is hard for me to determine if it has ever been fired. I received it in the original vapor wrapper and original box which is dated April 15th, 1955. I didn't know if this was the date the pistol was produced or the box. I was interested in the year the gun was made and the value and any other interesting information I can pass onto my son when he is at the right age. If there is any information I didn't put on here that would help I would be more than happy to get whatever would help u help me. Also fyi i attempted to upload pictures and failed. Thank you very much in advance!
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01-21-2015, 03:46 PM
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sounds like a very interesting gun. The nickel finish is scarce on the early 5-Screw, 4-screw (in this case), and early 3-screw guns with S prefix serial numbers. The box and documents are a big plus BUT the "ports" you describe at the muzzle on each side the front sight are not factory and virtually kill the collectible value of the gun.
so sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
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Kris
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01-21-2015, 04:06 PM
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Can you try to post some pictures...........again
As a general rule S&W were not Model marked until 1957/ 58......
SCS&W puts serial # S192xxx in 1958-59....( 1958-59 range was S182xxx-S194xxx) so I'd estimate yours was later in 1959..... but hard to guess when the run was actually done........
You can get the gun lettered and see how it left the factory and when and where it was shipped.
The porting you mentioned was something that got started in the early 1980s.......your saying there are 4 ports? Two on each side?
Are the Trigger and hammer nickel plated or case hardened ( kind of a brownish w/ rainbow tints)....... if factory both should be case hardened....... the front sight blade should be "blued"
Many aftermarket nickel jobs will nickel these parts.
The true 27 experts will be along shortly................................
Last edited by BAM-BAM; 01-21-2015 at 04:15 PM.
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01-21-2015, 04:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by barneyfife101
I received it in the original vapor wrapper and original box which is dated April 15th, 1955. I didn't know if this was the date the pistol was produced or the box.
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Neither. April 15, 1955, was the date the warranty and liability statements printed in the bottom of the box were adopted. The statements and that date remained in S&W boxes until well into the 1970s. So the date means nothing with respect to the dating of your revolver.
Quote:
The gun has the serial number S192235 and N Mod-27 behind the yolk.
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The serial number dates the gun to about 1959, so the Model number is appropriate. The Model 27 began shipping in 1958.
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Jack
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01-21-2015, 04:57 PM
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I am still unable to upload photos from my phone, I think I am going to have to wait till I can get on a computer. And I misspoke on the barrel ports there is only one port on each side in the shape of an upside down trapezoid.
As for the trigger and hammer they are both nickel as well. The front sight and adjustable rear sight are "blue". Also not sure if it helps any but on the top of the pistol (top rail) from the rear sight to the front sight is serrated(if that is what you would call it)
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01-21-2015, 05:16 PM
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The ports are most likely the work of Mag-na-Port Arms. Ports were advertised as reducing muzzle jump and are seen on some magnum caliber revolvers. The nickeled hammer and trigger (not case hardened as shipped from the factory) suggest a change of finish to nickel by someone other than S&W. If the factory did the work there will be an R-N inside of a rectangle stamped on the left side of the grip frame. If the finish was originally nickel, there will be an N on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame.
The top strap and top of the barrel were checkered on this model.
Bill
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01-21-2015, 05:26 PM
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It does sound like Mag-na-Port... they may have re-finished the gun when they did the ports.
If factory nickle, it may have an N on the back of the cylinder.
This may not be a collector grade revolver, but it should be a great shooter.
Last edited by jrd1976; 01-21-2015 at 05:28 PM.
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01-21-2015, 05:34 PM
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Bottom line it's a family heirloom....and even if not collectable they are often some of the best guns!!!
........get us some pictures and we'll do what we can to help you "figure out what you have"......
A tickle at the back of my memory......did Mag-na-port nickel or hard chrome???? Porting and hard chroming seemed to hit the mainstream about the same time.
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01-21-2015, 07:08 PM
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Mag na Port's signature finish was (and presumably still is ) Hard Chrome.
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01-21-2015, 07:13 PM
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Barney try reducing the size of your photos and post again
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01-21-2015, 07:16 PM
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S182,000 – S194,499……Late 1958 – Early 1959 (manufacture)
From other SNs on my list, that one very likely shipped in mid-1959. I agree with the other comments about the markings indicating an original nickel finish and the muzzle porting.
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01-21-2015, 10:26 PM
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Finally got some pictures to load, have a few more on the way. Thanks
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01-21-2015, 10:29 PM
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Few more...........
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01-21-2015, 10:31 PM
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.......................
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01-21-2015, 10:50 PM
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Nice gun. The trigger and hammer have been jeweled. A popular cosmetic modification back in the day.
Have no idea what a collector value would be if any with the modifications performed. However, it is a family gun and the value it will provide to you and consequent recipients far exceeds any monetary value that may be attributed to the gun. Family guns need to stay in the family.
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01-21-2015, 11:50 PM
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It really won't have any collector value premium due to the modifications, but that in no way affects its value as a shooter. While I prefer the Pachmayr grips for shooting purposes, they are not original to the gun. That will also negatively affect value. But the presencr of the box and the vapor paper will offset that. Does it still have the screwdriver and cleaning rod? THose will also help value.
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01-21-2015, 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BAM-BAM
Bottom line it's a family heirloom....and even if not collectable they are often some of the best guns!!!
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Seems like that right there is the real value in this one. The modifications, while they would likely make this gun a no go for most collectors, are nicely executed. The overtravel stop on the trigger is a nice touch. Looks like it would make a good shooter if you were inclined to use it that way and great family keepsake.
Congrats on a nice 27.
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01-22-2015, 12:41 AM
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Your great uncle took a top of the line Smith & Wesson revolver and had modifications made to his specifications to make it shoot better for him. Lots of folks have done that, many here on the forum, as well. Ok, so collector value is lowered. So what! That is a hell of a nice gun made to shoot better for the user. I'll bet that along with the jeweled hammer and trigger, that an action job was done and it is about as good as can be done, especially if Magnaport did it. They are famous for the quality of their work. I would not try to change it in any way, except change stocks to fit my preferences. I'd say ole unc knew where to go to get quality gun work done!
Now it is a precious family heirloom that could tell some stories. You can shoot thousands of rounds through it, and if cleaned and stored correctly, will not degrade its appearance whatsoever. Enjoy.
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01-22-2015, 04:34 AM
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Thank you to all who have helped. The box I received the gun in states on the side that it was a factory Nickel 6 1/2 inch .357 mag. I believe my great uncle knew me well and picked the right gun of his to pass down to me. My great uncle was a avid gun collector and shooting enthusiast and He knows I like to shoot! Haha And you guys are right the single and double action on this thing are as smooth and light as any I've ever been around, I can only imagine how it shoots. Will be a great piece for my son someday along with all the pictures and story's I have of the man who owned it. Thanks again to everyone! Also my father and uncle received some unbelievable handguns in this same manner, so I may have a few more to run buy you guys for them. Most were colts but I believe there were a couple S&W's
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01-22-2015, 07:24 AM
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That's going to be a great family heirloom...........
While not a "collectable" today ..........it will be in the future......
LOL Guns from the 1930s that were altered and tuned up by well know Smith's of the time ( such as King's of Calf.) have their own niche in the collector's world today........
My Father's Colt New Service in .357 went to Kings in 1939 for sights and an action job...... today it's one of our family's most treasured heirlooms
Congrats!!!!!!
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01-22-2015, 09:55 AM
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I fully agree with Richard Gillespie...that is a gun that was very special to your uncle. A handgun is a very personal posession reflecting one's taste, values, intelligence, and state of excellence. Your uncle has here one of the greatest revolvers ever made, in one of the very best calibers, that he customized and perfected as he bonded with it. It speaks well of him.
It will remain with you as a physical symbol of his very memory. You must be a very good man to receive such an honor.
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01-22-2015, 10:01 AM
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Jeweling of the hammer and trigger was also most likely done by Mag-na-Port as it is also a specialty of theirs.
Bill
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01-22-2015, 10:21 AM
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What a treasure!
To my eye, the *uncle* modifications are very tastefully chosen and employed.
Shoot, clean and enjoy...repeat.
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01-26-2015, 10:35 PM
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Congrats on getting a fine gun.
As other posts have said, the modifications were done by someone who had it customized to his tastes by a quality company.
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