Gentlemen and Ladies,

I recently had the opportunity to hold in my hand a 3.5" Registered Magnum. I like it! So I am thinking of starting the quest for a 3.5" Model 27. I want a shooter, so I was thinking, it would work for me in 357, 41, 44 or 45. What choices would I have and whats a decent price?

Thanks for the expert advice in advance,

Mike

The Model 27 was only chambered in one caliber, .357 Magnum. The 3 1/2 barrel length was unique to that model and pre-Model 27's. There were 3-inch Model 29 .44 Mag's, 3-inch Model 24's, 3 inch Model 625 .45's and 3-inch Model 657 .41 Magnums, but never in 3 1/2 inch length. Believe me, they are worth the money and once you shoot a 3 1/2 inch 27, you'll wonder why it took so long to buy one. Here is mine, and it will be the last revolver I would ever sell.

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Vaya con Dios

Unless you rechamber and rebore/rebarrel, you have one choice - .357 Magnum, nickle or blue finish. Prices should range between $500 for a real dog in well worn condition to over $1000 for 98%+. More for four or five screw models, much more for "Registered Magnum" (the early .357s, pre-27).

Ok then. It's a Model 27 in 3 1/2. Now just to find a shooter...
I'll look it up in the book, but, did they make that size into the 80's?

Mike

Hey Mike
The 5" is nice, too. Just a thought.
Bob

I enjoy mine

I guess in 1991 they made a retro 5" and 3 1/2. So that's what I'm looking for, I'll search for a set! Thanks Bob!

Mike

Just looking at David LaPell's lovely Model 27 3 1/2" barrel beauty made my evening! It's long been one of my two Grail guns (the other is the 5" version of the same revolver.) I have been searching for good examples of both for years, but have yet to find my luck improving. I've run across shooter-grade and beaten-up samples from time to time, but have not had the heart to buy them, such is my ideal of the perfect revolver: I must own mint specimens. I feel that the law of averages must favor me sometime, hopefully before I get too old to raise one in my rapidly enfeebled fist!

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NRA Golden Eagles Member

OIF2,

What stocks are on your 27?
Nice!

There is an idiosyncrasy of 3 1/2" Mod 27 barrels that you should know about. You will find them with the rollmarks centered on the barrels and also slightly forward of center.

Do not automatically assume an off center marked 3 1/2" has been cut. I understand that they have lettered as factory barrels. I can only speculate as to why the difference, so I won't.

One thing I do know, they have an unexplainable allure of there own.

My dad's is a 5 screw 3/1/2" factory refinished in '75 by a previous owner. It looks brand new with as silky an action as any S&W has ever had. The advantage was that he was able to trade an '80s vintage Mod 25 straight across for it. It's a beauty and a shooter.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have these 2 3-1/2" 27-2's, one shooter, one unfired, these other 2 keep hangin' around here too.
27-2 shooter

27-2 unfired

5" RM from 1939 EVPD

4" non- RM 1940 KCPD


Nedroe

The problem with the 5-inch and 3 1/2 inch commeratives from 1991 is that they won't have the pinned barrel and recessed cylinders that the earlier 27-2's. The 3 1/2 inch barrel was first discontinued in 1979. You will also be able to find them a bit easier and they might be a bit cheaper. Still expect to pay at least $600 for a decent shooter and then up as the condition goes. They aren't growing on trees and guys are snatching them up left and right.

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Vaya con Dios

Seriously, if you look hard enough one will surface. I recently bought a high condition shooter grade 3 1/2" 5-screw Pre-27 with origional finish for $600.

Keep looking... the hunt is half the fun!

Drew

Drew,
OMG! I've never seen so many in one place! I can't tell for sure, but you must have one of every post war model.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Damn, I passed out, where am I.....................

Actually Mike, that's not even all of them....

Damn, Again, I feel like one of those fainting goats...

Sold this one, a 27-3, to a Texas copper for $500.00. Harry Davis, master LAPD Armorer, did the action and added a smooth trigger for DA.
Bob

I think Sebago Son needs an intervention!

Nice grouping, though...

Now you're just being the Bob I know!

Mg

That is funny--I don`t care who you are.

You're a little late Harry...









I am proud to say that I knew many of the men that holstered these guns in my collection and the majority of them came from West Texas Lawmen. I've owned most for going on 30 years now...

One quick anecdote about 3 1/2 "Magnums"....

I bought this well worn example from a rough old hoss from Shafter, Texas. He had been a Border Patrolman since before WW2, going back to the old Mounted Patrol. It had been his last duty sidearm when he retired after some 40 odd years riding the river.



"Careful of that old gun" he said to me through a hard stare.. "it's got blood on it".

Those stocks are Herrett's Ropers, favorites of Skeeter Skelton. I like 'em too.
Bob

Now that's a weapon to be shot! Shoot mine all the time.

Mg

I also love the 3 1/2" Model 27. I have quite a few of them.

These two are both unfired since leaving the factory. One was manufactured in 1975 while the other was produced in 2007. They would make great bookends




One of my oldest and most fired 3 1/2"s was manufactured in 1954.




The truth is I love all model 27s no matter how long or short the barrels are and no matter what the finish.




Good luck on your quest. The 27 is a fine piece and will provide you and your family a lifetime of enjoyment.

I love my 2 shorties:

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Bill - SWCA #2327

I spent several years trying to find a nice 3.5" and a 5". Last summer in the same month I found an all original 96%-98% 5 screw pre 3.5" for $700 and a similar condition 5" original nickle 27 no dash for $475. It was almost depressing for it to be over that quickly.

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

In the 1970s I was looking for a model 19. Then I shot a 357 for the first time. It was a 3.5" nickel 27 belonging to a buddy's dad who was a cop. I immediately started searching for a 27 and bought a 5" one from a shop a hundred miles from home. Eventually got a couple of 3.5" guns myself. Something special about them.

Mike , I sold a 5" about a year ago to one of the guys in the unit.It was so new still had the cardboard carton over the wood case.I will check with him and let you know, also R Wemmer has a beautiful 3 1/2", I cleaned up for him,before he retired, not sure if he would want to part with it,like new.With his new job maybe he needs an auto,HA.Will keep my eyes open.Bob

There's a couple I've seen down here in NC, but they're REAL pricey...I'll keep my eyes peeled for something that isn't too stupid price-wise, too.
Bob

Thanks!

Mg

Great stories & pics, and I would have fainted myself, but the smile on my face was so big it held me up.

Here is an old pic of our family .357 Magnum. A great six shooter.




And a newer one, with me as we grill some chicken with fresh biscuits & chilled watermelon out back now.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Very rarely one will pop up on the forum for sale, you'd better be quick. I had the good luck to hit the 'for sale' section within a minute of this one being posted and grabbed it, glad I did, I can't tell you how many people have asked me to sell it. Easy to carry and just a classic design.
RD

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Got a Phd from Hard Knocks U

I finally found a presentation case for mine. Got lucky when VM put it up here with the re flocked inserts.
Now just need to find the tools as the cleaning kit is still in the original packaging in the original box.

Dang....you guys have good taste!
I only have one 3 1/2" Mod 27.....but after seeing all the others I figured I'd post it again. Shipped Oct. 1961. It's a shooter so I put some shooter grade cokes on it.
Craig...

They tend to grow on you.


Bought these two the same day.

Iggy's right.. you have no idea how they grow on you..
Remember just like Bushmaster 1313... WE warned you

Good luck in your hunt Mike..


.357 Magnum 3 1/2"




.357 Magnum 5"



27-2 5" nickel


27 no dash 3 1/2" with COKES

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

To many S&W lovers the 3.5" 27 (and pre-war and post-war variants) is the quintessential S&W. Good luck in your quest but be aware that due to the awful laws in CA most 27s will be illegal to import into the state as they are not on the CA "Approved List" of handguns. Any example that is at least 50 years old is C&R qualified and may be imported into CA. A dealer in CA cannot sell you an unlisted handgun. You can buy one from an individual but given the situation it is a seller's market and prices are outrageous.

SS puts most of us to shame but I have acquired a couple examples over the years.

I purchased a 3.5" 27-2, but because of the target trigger on the 27-2 I like my 5" "pre-27" better.
Unfortunately, it is very hard to legally sell a handgun in New Jersey for a reasonable price.
Very few dealers (who will only pay wholesale), and because I think it is illegal to bring a handgun to a shipper, it is very hard for me to ship to an out of state FFL.
It is possible I will bring it to a PA gun show (which I can do under the laws of NJ and PA) and see what I can get trading it or selling it through an FFL at the show.
Of course, if I see a handgun I like I will have to arrange for shipment to a New Jersey FFL.
Here is the 27-2:

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

Mike,

If you're in CA law enforcement, you can buy any gun out of CA, on the list or not, and have it to a CA dealer/FFL holder. After you've owned it for at least one year, it becomes a perfectly legal CA gun and can be transferred from you to any other private party within the state. There's a similar exemption for members of the military.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Also speaking of ca exemptions, you can convert any s&w to single action by removing the double action sear and as long as the barrel is 3 inches and the oal is 7.5 it is legal to import into ca. The trick is getting people to do the conversions out of state for you.

Bushy...

Trade hammers and triggers or get another set. Sheeesh!!!

Oh yes. Been buying and selling guns for 25 years here. Have had a weapons business and FFL for all that time too.

Mg

Lots of nice 27's here. I only have one 27, it's a -2

I also have only one. I traded a NIB Model 60 and $200 cash to an advanced collector for this "cast off." Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

http://attachment.php?attachmentid=2...1&d=1449539390

I finally found my "27"............hunted for a long time.

MFG in 1954, 5 screw, blue, 3.5" I'd say 97%.......it's the top of my collection

Steve

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Congratulations!
That's a fine one.

I love resurrected threads!

Mike Grasso, did you ever find yours?

I don't know why, but that little, missing half inch really gives the Model 27 something the 4 inchers and longer don't have. Kind of a "less is more" sort of thing.

I to now have the 3.5 and 5 inch guns and love them both and have very nice culina grips and Herrett grips on them both and enjoy shooting them both......

The 5 inch is unfired and complete with presentation box and paper

The 6 in is pristine and has a double stamped model number 27-22, the 2s overlap.

The 3.5 does not have 3Ts, I think it is because of the barrel length, the big target grips will look out of place on a short barrel.

Just realized this post was started in 2011. The prices stated in them are long gone. These start around $900 and go up from there particularly in CA.

Happy Holidays

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