S – 128936 Pre-Model 27

Hi,

I have recently acquired a Pre-Model 27 serial number “ S 128936 “, produced between 1954 and 1955. The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the grip frame.

It has the “ 5 inch “ barrel.

5 screw frame.

The serrations are on the top of the frame and barrel, and on the fore and aft sections of the grip frame.

The revolver was fitted with the target style grips with the diamond around the grip screw.

The interior of the crane cut is stamped “ 41686 “, with a “ 7 “, below and a “ Q “, stamped above.

The yoke is also market “ 41686 “, no letters.

The right side, bottom foreword corner of the grip frame is stamped “ 765 “, with the letters “ R “ and “ B “

The revolver shows holster wear but appears to have had limited firing.

I would appreciate any information as to date of production, value, or anything of interest.

Thank you in advance for your time and action on this matter.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Is there by any chance a serial number stamped inside the right grip panel?

You say "765" and "R and B" are on the right side front of the grip. That's not normally where we see service work stamped. Is it 765 or 7.65 and is the R and B stamped individually or R-B in a box?

Your dates sound reasonable to me but someone with better data should be along. It's hard to give a valuation without seeing the gun. So, post some pictures, please.

__________________
Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

"The right side, bottom foreword corner of the grip frame is stamped “ 765 “, with the letters “ R “ and “ B “"
If it is stamped 7.65 instead of 765, that means it was returned to S&W for service in July 1965, and the R B (is it enclosed in a box?) probably means "Refinished Blue" Those stampings are normally on the left side.

By Grip Frame, I assume you mean the area under the grips.

“ S 128936 “ indicates late 1954-early 1955 production.
The closest SN on my list is S 1291xx which shipped in 4/55.

Do your target grips have a football-shaped relief cutout on the left panel? Or none? For that time period, a football cutout would be unlikely.

The top is not "serrated." It's checkered...if you really have a .357 Magnum, later Model 27.

Hi Wiregrassguy, Dwalt, and Texas Star,

Thank you for answering and I apologize for the delay but it’s summer.

Wiregrassguy;
The 765 and R and B are under the grips on the front part of the grip frame.
There is no dot between the 7 and 65 that I can see under the grips. The “R” and “B” are not in a box and not in line and looked like they were stamped with different pressures.
I am not familiar with S&W lettering to be sure if it has been re blued or not.

Dwalt;
The 765 and R and B stampings are on the left side of the grip frame, my error.
The left grip has the football cutout at the grip top and is a possible later replacement.
On the right side bottom of the grip from there is a “ 0 “, at the back, a “ 3 “ in the middle and a “ 1 ” at the front.

Texas Star;
The top of the frame and rib are checkered and the front sight has a red plastic insert.

There is also a hole through the bottom of the grip frame, aft of the grip pin.

Since Photobucket went costly, I need to find a new source for posting pictures,

Thanks again, sail32.

Welcome to the Forum.

Sounds like this .357 went back to S&W for some sort of work in July 1965 (765).

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

If the B is on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame it means the revolver was originally finished and shipped with a bright blue finish. If the R is more lightly stamped it means the revolver was reworked during its manufacture. Reworking of revolvers during manufacture was common at S&W. I would agree the .357 went back to S&W for some type of work in July 1965, but probably not a refinish.

Bill

The information that I have is that the revolver came out of an estate. The original owner was a member of the British Columbia Provincial Police until it was disbanded in 1950. He transferred to the RCMP at that time.

I had an Uncle in the BCPP, his choice was to transfer to the BC Game Department. Some of the BC Game Department cars, , were equipped with flashing lights and police sirens in the 50s. They were equipped more like ghosts cars
I went on a call with my cousin, also in the Game Department, and some idiot would not let us pass. It was interesting to see how quick he pulled over when the lights and siren went on.

British Columbia Provincial Police - Wikipedia

Thank you all for your help.

Yeah, we have drivers like that here in Utah as well. Big Larry

Many years ago, my partner & I were going to a fight call. We were running lights and siren and the car we were behind didn't pull over for close to a mile. We finally got past him.

When we got to the bar where the fight was reported, the fighters had already left. We decided to go back and get the car that had refused to yield. Didn't have to go far; the fool pulled into the bar parking lot. When we checked the driver, he was driving with a revoked driver's license!

Do not pass GO, go directly to jail!

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have a 5" pre-27 serial 990xx. . On the lower left of the grip frame is the letter B with nothing else. .

Rod

Truly, you can't fix stupid. Some of the best old-timer advice I ever got (from an old timer who enjoyed a good bar fight) was "Kid, don't kill yourself trying to stop a bar fight. Drive just fast enough to get there in time to fight the winner".

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Love the wisdom! It only took me a couple of incidents to learn it.

This fight was at a bar where an off-duty police officer was working and he had called for help.

Yeah, when I became a senior officer and was assigned a rookie to train, I practiced the same advice given above. I told one feller, "On a gun call, you want to wait until they run outta ammo".

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

And here we are to tell war stories.

__________________
I need ammo, not a ride.

Well, my duty gun at the time was a M27-2 that had been converted to .44 Special.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!