Looked at a very nice 4-inch 27-2 with original box and papers...serial number of N216796. I'm coming up with 1975-77 as manufacturing year. Can anyone pin it down any closer for me?

This gun is seriously nice, and interestingly enough, does not have the target hammer and target trigger. No target stocks. Has the Patridge front sight with no bead. $1200 is the asking price. Is that reasonable? Help and opinions are welcome.

Thanks.

That is the range of years the Catalog gives. I thought the 4" was only from about 1979-1981. Somebody smarter than me will advise.
The 4" ones are not common. I have heard they are going for about $1,000. Make them an offer.
I paid $300 for mine that is about 99% about 15 years ago.
Jim

Patridge front sight on a 4 inch Model 27-2? Something about that raises a red flag for me.

I would make further inquiries. My first reaction is that it is "not factory," with a 4 inch barrel and Patridge sight from that time frame. I would want to know how it originally shipped, and if modified, who did the work.

You know, I actually looked at two 27-2s at the same LGS...the one I'm talking about here, and a later-manufactured one in the wooden case. Maybe I'm getting them confused? I actually made photos so I'd remember the serial numbers, but the price tag obscures the end of the barrel on the one I said has the Patridge. Maybe I'll get back there and look again tomorrow. As I said, it's in the original matching number box.

What front sight should it have...a Baughman?

Thanks for replying.

Thanks for replying. I was thinking of offering $1K. Not sure what to do yet.

For the year you state, 1975-1977, a Patridge front sight and a 4 inch barrel on a 27-2 would be unusual enough to trigger an inquiry about whether it was shipped that way or whether it was modified, and if so, who did the modifications.

The 4 inch was made as a factory standard item only for the approximately one year indicated previously. It had a Baughman ramp on ramp base.

If I recall, there was a Stacy Williams (aka Bangers Distribution) PC limited run with a 4 inch barrel that used a Patridge sight, but that was much later, I think, and it had an 8-shot cylinder, so it was not a 27-2.

There's a thread around here somewhere, I think, where this subject's been beaten to death, reincarnated, then beaten to death again.

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USAF Retired/VN Vet

Better to ask again to be sure. This way I will remember. I'm getting older now.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I looked at two 27-2s at the same LGS.

I did get them confused in my mind (I'm easily confused). The one with the Patridge front sight is a 6-inch. The 4-inch has the Baughman.

Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for the price advice, anyway.

The standard barrel lengths during the time that gun was made was 3 1/2, 5, 6, and 8 3/8. Did you measure the barrel length?
Also, standard on the 27s before 1975 was standard hammer and trigger, regular black sights and Magna stocks. It came in a cardboard box. In 1975 they began shipping with the wood presentation case and all target configuration, even in the 3 1/2 barrel one.
I have heard that a 4 inch barrel could be special ordered at one time, but not sure of when this could be done. I have never seen a 4 inch post war .357 or model 27 made before they standardized the barrel length at 4 inch and dropped the 3 1/2. A true 4 inch model 27 from that time frame would indeed be a rare bird.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102