Recently inherited S&W .357 MAG and wanted to use for PPITH course but have been unable to find anything other than strips to load, several brands of speed loaders unsuccessful because the diameter is too small. Thus led to my quest for model search.
It is hand ejector with 5" barrel. Serial # S 117429 with Post-war adjustable rear sight. There is a "7" stamped below the assembly number on the yoke, but not sure if this was a model #? Any insight would be helpful either to ID, or suggest a compatible loader for classes.

Attached Files

Doc1.pdf (165.6 KB, 256 views)

Looks like a no-dash 27, 5" to me. Someone helpful will come along with the year of manufacture shortly, but I'm seeing diamond magna stocks, which should have the serial number inside the right one.
HKS model 27 speed loaders will work with this model.
If you plan to shoot it a lot, I recommend either buying modern stocks for it and store the originals or just be careful with these, as they are nice and likely original, therefore impossible to replace should they become cracked or chipped.
Do you have a closer pic of the numbers under the crane?

If the barrel has been measured correctly, from the muzzle to the face of the cylinder, at 5" your revolver should be what is referred to as a pre model 27. Or it's a model 27 that was not properly marked.

Added. Any speed loader built to fit an N frame should work just fine.

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Always Stay Strong!

Smith and Wesson made/makes .357s on a number of frame sizes (J,K,L,N)

Your looks to be an N-frame ( large) Speedloaders are sized for each.....

HKS and Safariland (IIRC) both make N-frame speedloaders.

It looks like a model 27. You will need speed loaders for an "N" frame Smith & Wesson. Also wait for value appraisals from the experts (you will need better pictures though). Maybe you will find out it to be worth too much to just fire it away.

Edit. Boy! I really need to learn how to type faster. beat to the draw by no less than 3 hombres.

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Expect the unexpected

Welcome to the forum. That's a nice revolver that was likely made in mid to late 1954. Enjoy it.

Welcome aboard from Wyoming.

The name of your revolver is ".357 Magnum." Many do add the "Pre Model 27" suffix, but it's really not necessary. I agree it was likely shipped from the factory in 1954 (Model numbers didn't begin till 1958).

That's a real gem you have. Enjoy.

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

The closest SN I have to S117429 is S1164xx which shipped in 9/54. The N-frame cylinder is larger in diameter than the K-frame and requires a different speed loader. Just by the appearance of its finish, it seems to be what S&W called the ".357 Magnum" later becoming the Model 27. There was a very similar model called the "Highway Patrolman" (later becoming the Model 28) which was more utilitarian and sold for less.

Welcome to the Forum.

What does "PPITH course" stand for? A concealed carry course?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Personal Protection In The Home

Just to highlight the difference in size.

On top an N frame(model 28)

On the bottom a K frame (model 14).

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20180422_003400.jpg (78.5 KB, 285 views)

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Expect the unexpected

...bigger image of the revolver in question...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Thanks. I like that photo. Couldn't get Karin's pic to enlarge and it's tiny. But when she mentioned a five-inch barrel, that pretty much answered the question, assuming correct barrel measurement.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and posit that Karin is a male, not a female.

Reason for my guess is that I have an uncle named Karin.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

HKS, yes. Safariland, not so much...

I sure wish they DID make a speedloader for the 27!

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Okay... Russian, Swedish, or what? I think that a M-27 size gun might be a bit heavy for a woman, but these days, they do things beyond our stereotypical expectations.

He/she did say it's for home use, not a carry gun. I hope the OP has a smaller gun for street carry. As an outdoors gun, it's got a lot of merit. I've owned several, and liked them.

In the case of my uncle, I'll ask my mother (the uncle is her youngest brother) the next time I talk to her.

A wild guess at this point, Scottish or Welsh. Lots of those in our Heinz 57 pedigree.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279

Safariland positively does NOT make speed loaders for this gun. In fact the only non-safariland speedloaders I have are for the N-frame .357s