First S&W - M27-2!

[E&J]

Hello everyone,
I just joined yesterday after lurking and reading this forum for a while. I thought I would share pics of my first purchase, a M27-2 6" that looks to be in very good condition.
I found it on Armslist from a local seller who inherited the gun from his grandfathers S&W collection. There was no box available but the gun was in such nice condition I could not resist after seeing it. What a nice trigger pull this gun has! I did some research about buying a used revolver, so after checking the cylinder lock-up (very minimal play) and cylinder gap (.006 is the smallest gauge I have and it will not squeeze in the gap) I felt this gun was indeed in as good of condition as it looked. I managed to bring her home for $500. There is only a small amount of Blueing missing at the muzzle due to the ****** zipper case it was stored in.

Here are some pics. Any insight on the particulars would be appreciated! Ser No. N6284XX













thanks for the help!

Larry

[gunnut44]

Nice gun at a great price.

[Flint Ridge]

looks like 1979'ish

Great gun at a super price. Nicely done.

Is this your first Smith? And when are you headed to the range?

[E&J]

Originally Posted by Flint Ridge

looks like 1979'ish

Great gun at a super price. Nicely done.

Is this your first Smith? And when are you headed to the range?

This is my very first revolver purchase. I hope to be shooting outdoors tomorrow but it looks like it may rain/snow. Indoor range is not too far though...

I have a tendency to buy the first of anything I look at. However, I did some research here and other places so I feel I made a good purchase. Now I can relax and wait for the "prefect" buying opportunity for the next one - yes, I'm hooked!

[markeb]

Very nice 27 at a very good price. A couple months ago, I also found a very nice 27 no dash on ARMSLIST. I don't know for sure, but your 27 looks more like a him than a her. Enjoy your new Smith.

[rbmac52]

The model 27 is the Cadillac of the S&W line. Congratulations on a terrific purchase for a great price. I hope it leads you to many more classic S&W revolvers. Stick with the older guns like this one. You cannot go wrong.

[teesur]

Hello E&J,
Beautiful revolver, great price, and outstanding photography. Welcome and thanks for posting.
teesur.

[Iggy]

That's a pretty spectacular start on your new addiction.

You've been warned.!!

Well done.

[Waveform]

Very nice! Love the 27-2 - that was my "gateway gun" into the world of early P&R S&W. It's a powerful addiction! You have been warned.....

and yes - the 27-2 has a spectacular trigger. First time it blew my mind. Over on another forum a very well-respected retired gunsmith posted he used to keep his 27-2 in his shop and whenever someone would come in and brag about the trigger on their revolver he would go get out his 27-2 and say "This how a factory trigger is supposed to feel." He said he sold a lot of trigger jobs that way! And he could get other triggers as good as his 27-2 but never better.

Wave

[JCS&W]

What a way to start a S&W collection!! Welcome, and as others have stated, hard to beat a M27. I call it the Flagship of the S&W Line. You will too once you get that beauty to the range.

[JP@AK]

Are you kidding? A Model 27-2, with 3T and a 6" barrel in that condition for $500? You did very well. Thanks for sharing the photo. Nice revolver!
JP

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by E&J

I hope to be shooting outdoors tomorrow but it look like it may rain/snow.

Okay. I don't get this. What's a little rain or snow have to do with shooting?
Of course, I live in Alaska, so if I let that stop me, I would not shoot for months at a time! I do draw the line when the temp drops below minus 25 . . .
JP

And oh yes. Welcome to the forum!

[E&J]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Are you kidding? A Model 27-2, with 3T and a 6" barrel in that condition for $500? You did very well. Thanks for sharing the photo. Nice revolver!
JP

Sorry to sound like a novice (I still am though), what does 3T mean?
As far as shooting in the rain/ snow, you wouldn't drive your brand new Corvette in the slop the day you brought it home would you? That's kind of how I feel, even though it sounds like I'm being overly cautious.

Thanks for all the great responses. Now I am glad I decided to jump in with both feet on this one.

[chud333]

Congrats Larry,
You have taken your first step on a very slippery slope.
You chose a very fine model for your first one.
Hard to beat a 27 in the world of revolvers.
Let us know how it shoots and have fun.
3T's means- Target Trigger, Target Hammer, Target Stocks

Chuck

[Amir Fleschwund]

You have some nice photo skills, especially the close-ups. You also seem to have gotten a really good price for such a fine gun.

[pawncop]

Well you certainly started off with a bang. Great first revolver.

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by E&J

This is my very first revolver purchase. I hope to be shooting outdoors tomorrow but it looks like it may rain/snow. Indoor range is not too far though...

I have a tendency to buy the first of anything I look at. However, I did some research here and other places so I feel I made a good purchase. Now I can relax and wait for the "prefect" buying opportunity for the next one - yes, I'm hooked!

Don't worry about your tendency. You bought the best so you can't go wrong. As far as the rain goes, I agree with you. The sun will shine!

[nipster]

Not a bad "first"

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by E&J

Sorry to sound like a novice (I still am though), what does 3T mean?

Chuck beat me to the answer on this one.

As far as shooting in the rain/ snow, you wouldn't drive your brand new Corvette in the slop the day you brought it home would you? That's kind of how I feel, even though it sounds like I'm being overly cautious.

Well, I was mostly just kidding you - we Alaskans tend to be a bit jaded on this topic. The outdoor range where I shoot has covers over the firing line, so I can keep my guns out of the weather. And if they do get a little dampness on them, it really doesn't matter much because they all get cleaned and wiped down thoroughly after each use anyway.

As I said, I'm not willing to forgo shooting for weeks on end and that is what I'd have to do if I always avoided shooting in foul weather up here. My hunting rifles get wet frequently during hunts, but always get wiped down as soon as possible each day and I've never had a resulting corrosion problem with them, either.

Enjoy your newly acquired revolver! And welcome to the S&W forum.

Jack

[E&J]

Originally Posted by chud333

3T's means- Target Trigger, Target Hammer, Target Stocks

Chuck

If someone has the time, could you explain (better with photos) what the difference is between standard and target "T3"?

And, I feel I need to ask what the gun may be worth now that everyone seems to think I did really well on the purchase. My curiosity is getting to me.
Thanks,
Larry

[GJHIII]

I don't have the ability to post pictures currently, but there are many examples on the web of 3T revolvers. Just look for the difference in the trigger, hammer and grip. As to the value in my area, that is a $700-$850 27-2 easily and perhaps more. Congratulations and Welcome to "The Forum".

[kennyb]

very nice indeed...welcome to the forum!

[Iggy]

This link will give you some information about typical S&W terms.
Center picture show difference in standard and Target hammers and rear sight with white outline.
THR

[JP@AK]

E&J (brandy, I presume)
I'm attaching two photos that I hope will help you.
The first is a Combat Masterpiece with 3Ts.
The second is a nickel plated Combat Magnum with standard trigger and hammer and Magna stocks.
If you look closely at the Model 15, you will see the trigger and hammer flare out in the areas where your finger or thumb, respectively, would contact them. You won't see this on the Model 19.
The difference in the stocks should be obvious. The Model 15 is wearing Targets; the Model 19 has the Magnas.
Regards,
JP

[slickracer]

You did very well, beautiful revolver! Enjoy and be safe.

[brokenprism]

If the 27 is the Cadillac, what's the 29...? GTO? Charger? ; )

Killer price, beautiful gun.

[Engine49guy]

Originally Posted by brokenprism

If the 27 is the Cadillac, what's the 29...? GTO? Charger? ; )

Killer price, beautiful gun.

The 29 is Oldsmobile 442 of course !?

[E&J]

Thanks for all the replies again. This forum has been a great source of truly helpful info. I finally shot the pistol today. Wow, what a nice shooter. I also bought a new S&W Shield 9mm and shot 150 rounds through that first, then picked up the M27 expecting quite a big difference in recoil, noise, and generally a bigger "Umph!". I was pleasantly surprised how smooth it was compared to that little firecracker. It is definitely my #1 favorite gun now. My next venture will be learning to reload .357 cartridges so I can shoot more economically

Larry

[glenncal1]

Uh-oh Larry- It starts with a 6" 27 and then you are thinking that one was so nice maybe another 27 in a different barrel length would be nice. And after a few of those you think, maybe I should get a K frame... Don't ask us how we know that