Four Inch Barreled Pre-27's - Photo and Info Thread

[Flygas]

I just bought a 4 inch Pre-Model 27 this weekend. Serial number is S164615 and it was shipped November 9, 1956 to H.H. Harris Co. in Chicago.

[rubiranch]

Originally Posted by rubiranch

Maybe a W/O rear sight too.

Looks like the previous owner beat me to it.

[RKmesa]

With Flygas' post above here's an Updated Summary:

Ten post war 4" pre-27's posted in this thread, of which 4 shipped to H.H. Harris on April 22, 1957:

SN S103689 Shipped February, 1954
SN S164615 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris
SN S164375 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris part of 8 unit shipment
SN S164145 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris
SN S164755 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 24
SN S164155 Shipped April 5, 1957
SN S164753 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, 5 units in this shipment
SN S164758 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, believed to be one of 12
SN S164775 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 8
SN S168244 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris Company

Hopefully a few more will be posted.

[rubiranch]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

With Flygas' post above here's an Updated Summary:

Hopefully a few more will be posted.

Thanks Richard.

[younggun22]

Looks like we can add S167844 to the list.

[RKmesa]

With Younggun22's post above here's an Updated Summary:

Eleven post war 4" pre-27's posted in this thread, of which 4 shipped to H.H. Harris on April 22, 1957:

SN S103689 Shipped February, 1954
SN S164615 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris
SN S164375 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris part of 8 unit shipment
SN S164145 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris
SN S164755 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 24
SN S164155 Shipped April 5, 1957, H.H. Harris, 19 units in this shipment
SN S164753 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, 5 units in this shipment
SN S164758 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, believed to be one of 12
SN S164775 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 8
SN S167844 Shipped ___________, ______________
SN S168244 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris

Looking forward to a date and shipping location for S167844.
And I continue to be hopeful that a few more will be posted.

[younggun22]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

With Younggun22's post above here's an Updated Summary:



Eleven post war 4" pre-27's posted in this thread, of which 4 shipped to H.H. Harris on April 22, 1957:



SN S103689 Shipped February, 1954

SN S164615 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris

SN S164375 Shipped November 9, 1956, H.H. Harris part of 8 unit shipment

SN S164145 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris

SN S164755 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 24

SN S164155 Shipped April 5, 1957

SN S164753 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, 5 units in this shipment

SN S164758 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris, believed to be one of 12

SN S164775 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 8

SN S167844 Shipped ___________, ______________

SN S168244 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris



Looking forward to a date and shipping location for S167844.

And I continue to be hopeful that a few more will be posted.

Looks like I’ll have to send out for a letter but I have a sneaking suspicion about what it’s going to say...

[magmag]

Whats the ballpark price range for a excellent condition example with all matching serial numbers and original box? What $ amount does it command these days?

[delcrossv]

Originally Posted by magmag

Whats the ballpark price range for a excellent condition example with all matching serial numbers and original box? What $ amount does it command these days?

Looking at closed auctions, over $3k.

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by delcrossv

Looking at closed auctions, over $3k.

I don't recall seeing any 4" pre-27s in recent auctions, do you mind sharing with me where you saw these so that I can update this thread with that information. Thanks

[delcrossv]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

I don't recall seeing any 4" pre-27s in recent auctions, do you mind sharing with me where you saw these so that I can update this thread with that information. Thanks

You're right, I could find none this year. I extrapolated from '17 & '18 sales. Gunauction, Guns America etc.. getting $2k+ for nice but not pristine guns. None LNIB, so that's a guesstimate.

[Dhs The IV]

Wow I’ve never seen a 4” pre 27. When I was First shopping around for a 27 I feel like I saw a lot of 4” 27-2 but by the time I was ready to buy all I could find were the 3.5” guns. Would really like to get my hands on an early one some day. It’s a real shame S&W didn’t produce more 4” N frames, I love the aesthetics of it and handling.

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by Dhs The IV

Wow I’ve never seen a 4” pre 27. When I was First shopping around for a 27 I feel like I saw a lot of 4” 27-2 but by the time I was ready to buy all I could find were the 3.5” guns. Would really like to get my hands on an early one some day. It’s a real shame S&W didn’t produce more 4” N frames, I love the aesthetics of it and handling.

I think that is why so many 4" Barreled N-Frame .357 Magnum Highway Patrolman revolvers were made. They are a great gun and that matte black finish is a functional-affordable-classy all its own...

[magmag]

A dealer is asking $6500 95% with box and factory letter, to high or about right?

[younggun22]

Originally Posted by magmag

A dealer is asking $6500 95% with box and factory letter, to high or about right?

For a pre-27 4in? Pending it’s not actually a Reg Mag or Non Reg Mag I would thinks that’s probably more than double street value.

That being said they didn’t make many

[rubiranch]

Originally Posted by magmag

A dealer is asking $6500 95% with box and factory letter, to high or about right?

Originally Posted by younggun22

For a pre-27 4in? Pending it’s not actually a Reg Mag or Non Reg Mag I would thinks that’s probably more than double street value.

That being said they didn’t make many

That's in the price range that I recently sold my 4" pre-27 for.

As you can see by previous posts there are only about 25 of them.

[Flygas]

Originally Posted by younggun22

For a pre-27 4in? Pending it’s not actually a Reg Mag or Non Reg Mag I would thinks that’s probably more than double street value.

That being said they didn’t make many

They aren’t the glamour gun the Registered Magnum is but they’re much more rare! I wouldn’t really consider any less than $5,000 for mine. If you find one for $3-3,500, please let me know. I’d buy another one for that.

[BAM-BAM]

The 3 1/2 inch 27 is one of the coolest looking guns and I wanted one for years ....... but

On an N-frame IMHO going with a 4" barrel makes very little difference in overall "bulk"...... but gives you more sight radius and FPS.

I have both a 4" 28 and a 4" 27-3 transition gun ( recessed but not pinned)

In the K-frame the 3" guns (65/66) make more sense to me than the 2 1/2 inch 19s and 66s. My 3" 66 with Spegel Boot Grips is, again IMHO, the ultimate in cool concealed carry revolvers. The 3" 65 is a great gun just not as cool......to me it's the "Highway Patrolman" of the stainless K-frames.

[younggun22]

Originally Posted by Flygas

They aren’t the glamour gun the Registered Magnum is but they’re much more rare! I wouldn’t really consider any less than $5,000 for mine. If you find one for $3-3,500, please let me know. I’d buy another one for that.

I don’t disagree about rarity but I haven’t seen one sell in quite sometime so price is an interesting discussion.

... you should put yours up on a no reserve auction so we can finally have a base line!

[RKmesa]

Sending this to the top to see if any more 4" pre-27s have come to light during the last year.

[Engine49guy]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

With Kenny's post above here's an Updated Summary:

Nine post war 4" pre-27's posted in this thread, of which 4 shipped to H.H. Harris on April 22, 1957:

SN S103689 Shipped February, 1954
SN S164145 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris
SN S164155 Shipped April 5, 1957
SN S164375 Shipped November 9, 1956 to H.H. Harris part of 8 unit shipment
SN S164753 Shipped April 22, 1957 to H.H. Harris, 5 units in this shipment
SN S164755 Shipped February 25, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 24
SN S164758 Shipped April 22, 1957, H. H. Harris, believed to be one of 12
SN S164775 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris order for 8
SN S168244 Shipped April 22, 1957, H.H. Harris Company

Hopefully a few more will be posted.

Richard, it is interesting to note the serial spread and that this serial range is sandwiched in between the first four inch .44 magnum serials .

[Donald Paul]

... well, looks like we ALL love those five screw pre twenty-sevens.
They ARE really quite beautiful.
Thanks for the show.
- Donald

[RKmesa]

Update - I just received the invoice for SN S164155 (see below). It shipped to HH Harris and was one of 19 in the shipment...



Look at all the great guns that were shipped on April 5, 1957. Wouldn't it have been fun to be at the store and unload that shipment?

[RKmesa]

Here is the invoice for the April 22, 1957 shipment to H H Harris, along with a list of the specific serial numbers of the eight 4" Barreled 357 Magnums that shipped in that specific order (4 of which are already in the above posts).





Thanks to David for sending me the invoice!!!

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

Here is the invoice for the April 22, 1957 shipment to H H Harris, along with a list of the specific serial numbers of the eight 4" Barreled 357 Magnums that shipped in that specific order (4 of which are already in the above posts).





Thanks to David for sending me the invoice!!!

I want one of the 1955 Targets chambered in .45 Colt!!!

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

I want one of the 1955 Targets chambered in .45 Colt!!!

H. H. Harris put the "special" in special order... Those would be great guns.

[raljr1]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

Whoops As a CPA, I know better than to do math in my head... now where is my calculator so that I can correct the initial post...

Richard, does CPA stand for can't possibly add?

Robert

[younggun22]

I forgot I had one of these in the safe! Thanks for bringing too of mind … still haven’t lettered it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marshal tom]

Mine is on the above list 164758. I have been posting on here for years and have never taken the time to learn how to post pics. Mine had a funny story behind it. I found it in a local shop several years ago. It was marked as a 3.5" barrel. I could see from several feet away that it was a four inch. A fellow police officer friend who worked there and claimed to know quite a bit about S&W's argued with me that it was a 3.5", that they didn't make a 4 inch. I had them put the gun back for me, came home and got on the forum to inquire about these guns since I was not aware of these special ordered guns with 4 inch barrels. I then went back and purchased it. I guess the store didn't have a measuring device to see that it was indeed a 4 inch gun, even after I told them.

[RKmesa]

Just discovered S164945 on another forum. Hopefully, the owner will post some photos here.