27-2 (( Update received letter from Roy)))

ben_g1 · #1 05-05-2014, 04:07 PM

I ran across a 27-2 it's a late S serial# has a R-Bi in a box stamped on the frame. Is this a manufacturing stamp, or for a re-blue? Stampings on barrel and side plates look crisp and guns edges still feel sharp.
Thanks

old bear · #2 05-05-2014, 09:05 PM

I THINK (?) that indicates the revolver was re-finished in bright blue by the factory.

Art Doc · #3 05-05-2014, 09:15 PM

And I suspect it was done on March 4, 1969.

jjbrewst1 · #4 05-05-2014, 09:28 PM

Reblue. March 4, 1969. All the above looks correct.

Art Doc · #5 05-05-2014, 10:25 PM

If a "late S series" as you say, it was back for refinishing pretty quickly. Something happened to it.

Roy Jinks has said back in the day the factory could reblue a gun so you couldn't tell.

ben_g1 · #6 05-05-2014, 10:26 PM

Guess it will remain a mystery. Nothing special about it that would be letter worthy.

The serial # is S 3131xx, I believe that puts it late 1968,early 1969. The owner said he bought it new when he was 19 and was his wife's gun for the most part. Not shot much. Has numbered box, but no papers. Seems to be an honest guy.

The factory re-finished guns that I've seen have only three number stampings, month and year ( like 369). Would S&W stamp the day it was re-blued?

Just kind of strange marked re-finished about the same time frame as sold.

Nightowl · #7 05-05-2014, 10:35 PM

A good find anyway. Shoot it and enjoy it, they are great shooters.

Doc44 · #8 05-06-2014, 08:38 AM

R-Bi stamping indicates the revolver was sent to manufacturing from Customer Service (indicating it was returned to S&W for some type of work...I have seen a couple of other guns stamped with an exact date). However, I have a Model 629 with the R-Bi stamp on the grip frame and it was returned to the plant for reconditioning by Roy Jinks. Roy is the person who told me about the meaning of the R-Bi stamp. It does not have a date stamp on the frame.

Bill

ben_g1 · #9 05-06-2014, 11:24 AM

Thanks Doc44, That's some interesting information.

The owner did say he ordered it with some options, red ramp, white outline sight and grips. It did come with two sets of grips, the smooth rosewood magna's that were on the gun and # to it, and a set of target's.
I just went and looked at the targets that were wrapped up and taped in some paper, and they are also # to the gun. So I'm ***-uming that it was originally fitted with the magna's and he ordered the Target and magna Rosewood's.

So it's possible that the gun was sent from Customer Services to have the options installed, and that's what the stampings could be for?

I'm no expert but the gun just doesn't show any tail-tale signs of a re-bluing.

I'm happy with it. After a good cleaning it shined up real nice.

Doc44 · #10 05-06-2014, 01:59 PM

Super nice 27-2. It is unusual to have target stocks numbered to the gun and support your idea they were special ordered with the revolver. A factory letter should identify the options as they were special order and only available at extra cost.

I would spend $50 for the letter.

Bill

S&WIowegan · #11 05-06-2014, 02:09 PM

It amazes me how well these S&W blued revolvers survive years of neglect and dust accumulation.

Great job ben!!

JSW · #12 05-08-2014, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaxonPig

Roy Jinks has said back in the day the factory could reblue a gun so you couldn't tell.

That's certainly true! I have seen numerous refinished S&Ws that you couldn't tell until the grips came off.

weatherby · #13 05-08-2014, 11:59 AM

Very nice gun and stocks

ben_g1 · #14 10-12-2014, 09:25 PM

Well my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a letter. Got it the other day, not what I was hopping for but now I know that it was refinished for sure. Was surprised to know that they kept records for when guns came back for work.

Of course now I have more questions. Why did it go back with-in a year for re-bluing? I was hoping that the original owner just sent it back to have the options installed.

mchom · #15 10-12-2014, 10:15 PM

For being a re-blue (Which would not bother me personally) its a best case scenario;
Practically new when sent back and done by S&W
Its a beautiful gun!

g8rb8 · #16 10-12-2014, 11:18 PM

That's a beautiful gun no matter what.
This particular gun makes me wonder about the logic of automatically devaluing refinished guns.
Good luck and enjoy it.
John
Scoundrel and Ne'er-Do-Well in Training

CDROBERTS · #17 10-12-2014, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben_g1

Well my curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a letter. Got it the other day, not what I was hopping for but now I know that it was refinished for sure. Was surprised to know that they kept records for when guns came back for work.

Of course now I have more questions. Why did it go back with-in a year for re-bluing? I was hoping that the original owner just sent it back to have the options installed.

Your letter gives you the date to shipped to CAMFOUR 6/25/1968.

The gun sat THERE until it was bought by a dealer/gunstore, then sat THERE until a customer buys it.

It's possible it went straight out of the box from the new owner, BACK to Smith and Wesson, like many do these days.

It didn't leave Smith and go right into the owners hands.

jjbrewst1 · #18 10-12-2014, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDROBERTS

Your letter gives you the date to shipped to CAMFOUR 6/25/1968.

The gun sat THERE until it was bought by a dealer/gunstore, then sat THERE until a customer buys it.

It's possible it went straight out of the box from the new owner, BACK to Smith and Wesson, like many do these days.

It didn't leave Smith and go right into the owners hands.

What probably happened was it was sent back for a certain modification and the factory Reblued it after the work was Performed. Happened alot.

Retired W4 · #19 10-13-2014, 03:44 AM

Sorry. I will start a new thread.

Buttercup · #20 10-13-2014, 07:48 AM

A factory reblue doesn't bother me in the least. I have never understood why it is a problem. It is okay to refinish a 1968 camero ss but not a model 27?

ben_g1 · #21 10-13-2014, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDROBERTS

Your letter gives you the date to shipped to CAMFOUR 6/25/1968.

The gun sat THERE until it was bought by a dealer/gun store, then sat THERE until a customer buys it.

It's possible it went straight out of the box from the new owner, BACK to Smith and Wesson, like many do these days.

It didn't leave Smith and go right into the owners hands.

The original owner said he ordered it new when he was 19 ( he still lives a little NE of the Westfield Massachusetts area) with some special options (red ramp, white outline and grips). So thinking the dealer sent one of the five he ordered back to factory to have the options installed before the owner ever took possession of it.
The Walnut Magna's mention in the letter are nowhere to be found. Came with the Targets and the Rosewood Magna grips, both are numbered to gun but???.

The red ramp is mounted with two pins that look to be milled flush. Would that be the reasoning for the re-blue?

Retired W4 · #22 10-13-2014, 02:08 PM

Smooth rosewood magnas! Now that's something you don't see every day. Great looking gun.

CDROBERTS · #23 10-13-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttercup

A factory reblue doesn't bother me in the least. I have never understood why it is a problem. It is okay to refinish a 1968 camero ss but not a model 27?

It's fine to do whatever you wish with either.

However, a 70 LS-6 Chevelle with a frame off restoration will never bring what an original in like condition will. ( was never a CamAro guy. CamERos howver, may be a different story.)