Howdy,
I was looking at my 27-2, ser. # N12XXX and just realized it has a smooth back strap. That might be as common as white bread but I don't remember ever seeing one that didn't have grooves/serrations.
This is a nickel gun and it looks to be factory. All the markings on frame ,27-2, S&W logo etc., look perfect. Wood to metal fit is good too.
Does anyone else have a 27-2 with out the grooved back strap?
I'm guessing they were removed but it looks more like they were never there.
If anyone can shed a little light on this I'd appreciate it.
Thanks a million
Mike

I have several 27-2s and all have grooves in back strap, also I don't think I have ever seen one without them

About three years ago a friend of mine showed my a 27-2 with a smooth backstrap. It too had a smooth top strap but what this one was a mismarked Model 28 Highway Patrolman. It had a nicer finish but it said Highway Patrolman and it said 27-2 on the frame. Yours sounds interesting, I would get a letter from Roy Jinks on this one. How about some pictures?

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Vaya con Dios

Hi Folks,
Thanks for the replies.
Here are a couple of pictures. The wood looks a little proud but it is about the same as the front strap that has the grooves.
It is either re-done or an odd ball of some kind.
The grip frame is yellowed or faded a bit but the rest is in fair shape.
It has "Shoot me" written all over it and I'm going to try to get it out this afternoon.
Here are a couple of pictures.


Thanks
Mike

I would do as David suggested, and letter that gun. Worth the cost to know if it left the factory that way.
TJ

Lettering the gun will tell you NOTHING about the backstrap.

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Dick

Howdy,
I doubt that I spend any money or effort on it.
I plan to shoot it and let my heirs deal with it when I'm gone.
I'm glad to know there are others that resemble it out there. This one was here for about a week and I thought "Holy stuff, this is different"!
I'm not stupid I'm slow.
Thanks everyone.
Mike

I'm going to guess this is what we'd call a factory goof. Its not in any way a problem that will interfere with its shooting. It might even be too strong to call it a mistake. It just didn't follow the normal path of other target sighted guns. I doubt if anyone can tell us why. At the time, no one probably even noticed it missed a production step.

These days everyone wants to find the misprinted stamp or dollar bill that was one of a kind so its worth millions. The reality is a gun like yours is worth no more or less than one with the grooves. Its interesting, but the factory letter will just tell you it shipped sometime in 1969 as a nickel gun. There may be a remote possibility it was special ordered the way it is, but I'm not sure why anyone would do that. The $50 for a letter is your choice, but will probably have no records relating to the "rare feature".

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Dick Burg

ALL of my N-frames have a grooved backstrap. Not just the 27-2's, but the 28-2's and the 24-3 do too. Blued or nickel, they all have it.

A letter from S&W won't mention anything about the backstrap. Unless you have another reason for wanting to letter it, like finding out if it was a nickel gun from the factory, it would be a waste of money IMO.

But you know what they say about opinions...

Enjoy shooting it.