First, I am a new member on the site but have visited many, many times.

To make a long story short, I found a "27-2" with a 5" barrel for sale locally last night. I met this morning and made the purchase. Gave it super quick wipe down and went into work.

Turns out, this isn't a 27-2 to the best of my knowledge. Nothing about a 27 anywhere on it. Did I purchase a pre-27 5 screw? Serial is S 122xxx or something close to it.

Does that hurt value? I really love Smith Prelocks in 357 magnum so I am happy but I haven't got a clue in the world concerning value.

(I'm sorry for the poor photography, I had to hurry to work)

Thanks for the help!

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Looks like a 5" Pre 27 to me. Quite valuable compared to a 27-2. With target stocks no less!

IMO you did quite well!

Here's my 5" Pre

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

That is a nice find in the perfect barrel length. I really like the 2 proud pins used to hold ramp on the rib back in the 50's. Later they polished the pins flush so you can not see them. You have a pre 27 from the 1954-1955 period. The target grips look pretty nice but are from a later period- your gun should have grips with a diamond around the escutcheon. We need more pictures once you get back to it. As said a pre 27 is more valuable than a similar condition 27-2 so that is a bonus for you.

Thank you for the replies! It is much appreciated.

I'm attaching 3 more pictures. If you all would like to see more I would be happy to make it happen.

I did notice that the side plate on the frame is a different hue than the rest of the revolver. Is that uncommon? Also, the barrel, frame, and cylinder are all matching numbers.

Given its condition, what is something like this valued at? If it is against forum rules to ask, I apologize and please ignore the question.

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Had one just like it last year, sold it to a club member for $490.
Had very used targets on it.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Asking for value is fine, folks around here are quite friendly about such things. The really big no no is posting a live auciton.

Based on this new set of pictures it would appear your gun has been re-finished. Not done at the factory. The stocks from the first picture appear to be incorrect, they look to be roughly 15-20+ years newer then the gun.

Value is a bit hard, you have some active rust by the looks of it deal with, and the finish is very wrong. Whoever did it didn't do a good job, probably had the temp wrong accounting for the difference in color on the side plate and barrel. It also appears to be more of a matte finish then a high polish which would have been correct for a model 27.

That said, no good functioning N frame is cheap any more. As a shooter I'd say it's somewhere in the $500-$600 range. Maybe a bit higher because of the uncommon and desirable barrel length. Unfortunately, because of the finish the gun is only a shooter. Likely a great one, but it's collector value is gone sadly.

Still, I'd happily own it. They are truly great guns to shoot, and that is in my and many other's opinion, the best barrel length for one of these. Enjoy it!

I probably paid a bit much at 450 but I'm happy with it all the same.

Value is a little tricky, better detailed pictures would help; it looks a little rough to me perhaps with pitting and some finish loss? Here's one I acquired a couple years ago. Correct stocks numbered to the gun and about 98+% condition. I paid about $1500 for it. Almost any early functional N frame is worth $500. The value of yours probably lies somewhere between those numbers. The stocks you have are worth $100-$150 although the correct diamond target equivalent would likely be $200-$250. The gun probably shipped with diamond magnas though which you can probably find for about the value of the targets you have. Without better pictures or actually holding it my guess is $700-$800. That's what I'd be willing to pay for it anyway.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

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Some elbow grease and determination on the rust, you will have a very fine shooter.

Randy

I agree refinished. Probably shipped in 1953 or 54. Model numbers assigned in 1957. Official name for your revolver is "357 Magnum" (Post War). You didn't pay too much. It's easily worth 450 as a 357 Magnum shooter. Stocks are post 1968 Target style. This model was the top of the S&W line.

This is the closest one I have to yours. Shipped 1950 in nickel with a 3.5" barrel. The stocks are the style came on yours.

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No life story has happy end.

You definitely did not over pay at $450; I'll buy every one I find in the condition yours shows at that price.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I’m glad some one else said refinish. I didn’t want to rain on your parade. But at 450 you came out good I’d say. Almost any N frame is worth that if it shoots. Cool find

I'll try to take better photos tonight, but I think some of the matte finish you might be seeing in the photos is from condensation when I exposed the "cool" metal to the muggy hot air of the South. Although far from pristine, it appears to have a good shine.

Sorry I didn't make that clear earlier.

You walked into the barnyard and came out with a rose, at a bargain price.

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S&WHF 366

First Welcome! Second take the stocks off that baby, then soak in a sealed container for a couple of weeks in 1/2 plain/cheap/non-synthetic ATF and 1/2 acetone.

Take it out, give it a good scrubbing with a toothbrush. Hit any rust left—there won’t be much—with BRASS wool.

Then you will have a new gun.

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Possum—The other white meat!

I'll second that.
At $450 apiece I'd be happy to take at least 2 or 3 like that one!

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

You did perfectly fine at $450, excellent price for what should be a very pleasing shooter.

It is in beautiful shape, and I love that model so I would not have resisted buying it either. An early 27, no doubt with very good value.

This might be an ideal candidate for a "restoration" job.

I don't know where you're located but in my area that would be a real steal! What I call a Jesse James deal - were you wearing your mask?

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Ed