Please take a look at the front sight on this nickeled, short barreled Model 27-2, s/n N214664.



Was this set-up with a target style blade and a gold bead standard, or a factory special option? If it was done after it left the factory it appears to me to be a very skillful job. Your thoughts are welcome. Thanks!

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Do you have pics?

I really like the gold bead patridge type front sights. Wish I had a metal shop so I could make some custom sights for my guns. Just aren't many options when it comes to Colts.

That's one thing I really like about S&W revolvers. They offered so much more in the way of accessories and features, like target/service hammers and triggers, service/target/combat stocks, better sight options especially front posts, etc.

The Model 27 was available with any sight combination, but normally shipped with a Patridge on barrel lengths greater than five inches and a Baughman ramp on barrels of fives inches or less. Usually, a red ramp or McGivern gold bead front sight would be a special order.

Bill

Thanks for clarifying that for me, Bill. I'm glad to know that this was a factory installation and probably special ordered since a 3-1/2 inch Model 27 normally would not have shipped with this sight.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

That flush pin would be hard to remove and replace without leaving any trace.
The gun appears to have an altered trigger.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I don't see any pictures, did you remove them?

No, I posted just one picture, in the original post. I can see it now, can you?

Here it is again, as an attachment. Let me know if you can open that. If not, I will email the photo in question.

Attached Images

Front Sight.jpg (73.4 KB, 368 views)

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I am going to drive over tomorrow and look at this revolver up close and personal. Serial number is N214664.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Based on the photo, the front sight blade looks original. However, examination of the revolver in person will tell for sure.

Bill

Any pointers for me to pay particular attention to?

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Uh-oh. This one just popped up also. Looks like I am going to be running the ridges for the next couple of days.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

BlueRidgeBoy, the pic doesn't show from post #11 for me. You can try attaching them or use a hosting site such as postimage.org to post your pics where everyone can see them. Postimage is free and there are several other folks here use.

BTW, I've tried to quote your post, your link address shows, but even copying it out of the post and trying to put the address into a new tab doesn't show it either.

The pic in post #7 shows up-cool gun!

Ten or Fifteen years ago I sent my model 19-4 to Smith & Wesson to have
them slick up the action. While they had it I asked for the McGivern gold
bead front sight. Not a great photo, but it kinda shows up.

Attached Images

SAM_0337.jpg (99.9 KB, 196 views)

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In Omnia Paratus

BlueRidgeBoy:

Most likely, your photos in post 1 and post 8 do not show up for the most of us because you have your album set for private (the mods, Handejector and Doc44 can probably see them because of their mod status). This happened to several others before and that is what we figured out.

BTW, I love the nickel 3.5" with the Patridge front sight and a gold bead (I can see it in the attachment on post 7)! I also love the modified trigger - I'll bet that one is a joy to shoot.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Well, if your looking for a original gun, save yourself a drive. This ones been refinished. Call and ask if there are serial #'s in the barrels extractor rod housing and on the end of cylinder, along with a star stamp.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

I saw no indication of a refinishing job, at least not at the factory. There is no re-work star on the cylinder, and no R mark on the grip frame. This one is a 27-2, so the serial number does not appear on the rear of the cylinder or in the ejector rod housing. Correct me please if I am mistaken and those markings should be present on a 27-2. I will post pictures tomorrow.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Except for the smoothed trigger, the 27-2 looks good to me (at least on the right side). The serial number stamping is correct for a revolver shipped in 1975. The stocks on the .357 in post eleven have been shortened.

Bill

I bought both of them. The 27-2 was bought here in Virginia yesterday, so I have it in hand, and will take extensive photographs and post them later today. It appears to me that a case colored target trigger was re-worked into the smooth faced wide combat-style trigger that is on the gun now.

Tuesday, I bought the pre-27 in Tennessee so it must be shipped here. I noticed the shortened stocks when I bought it. If you have a photo of what the stocks ought to look like handy, I'd appreciate your posting it.

Pictures to follow.

Thank you, Bill.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Hi Bill
OK, maybe my dyslexia brain read something wrong (happens a lot ) Here's the gun I thought you were looking at N214664.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/723671225

Sorry for any confusion.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

Well, that IS the gun we were referring to. My previous comment still applies.

Why do you think this revolver has been refinished?

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Correct stocks should look like these.

Bill

Something may have been done to the 27-2 as it is unusual to have the serial number stamped in the extractor rod shroud for a gun of this vintage. It suggests the revolver was taken apart and some of the parts numbered so they would be kept together.

Bill

Usually when numbers show up in the barrel shroud and cylinder end shows the gun was taken apart so parts are not lost/misplaced usually in prep for a refinishing/repair. There is no reason to stamp the barrel unless its being separated from the frame.

Maybe it was pulled from the frame for the new sight and then re-finished. As that's the only way the flush looking pin on this gun could be installed if not factory original (you can see the grinding marks lined up on pin and frame).

My guess is the whole gun was re-finished (sometimes even the best re-finishers can't match up the slight differences you get from plating parts in different batches.

If you letter this gun, would not surprise me if it lettered with a longer barrel from factory. The 3 1/2" guns are worth more than a longer barrel gun. Those people are out there, I see miss-matched barrels/guns quite offen on GunBroker and called factory original.
Only way to find out for sure is to letter it. If its a shooter for fun and games who cares, looks to be a really fun gun to play with.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

But there is no number stamped inside the extractor rod shroud of the 27-2. I will post photos as soon as possible.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

this is getting interesting, I love a good mystery

Attached Images

pix894265022.jpg (57.0 KB, 86 views)

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Vietnam 1969-1971

No reason to remove the barrel to change sights. Years ago, officers were permitted to hand carry their guns into the S&W Springfield Service Center. I brought my 6 1/2" 25-2 in & had the front sight changed to a ramp for holstering. When I got it back, included in the plastic package was the original sight & the sheared pin.
They explained that the (skilled) tech routinely sheared those pins for sight changes. The new pin that was fitted is visible now. The original pin was installed prior to finishing & was flush and about invisible.

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NRA LIFE
Reserve Officer 9yrs

Well, I stand corrected. In normal light, those numbers (inside the shroud) are very hard to see, but when I light up that area, sure enough, there they are.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I've been able to take a few good pictures using only natural light, which is the only way I've found to successfully make photographs of nickeled guns.























Oh, the gun came with a set of round shouldered walnut magnas in excellent condition and numbered on the right hand panel 500315, obviously not to this gun. I look forward to your comments.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Very nice 27-2 with an unusual front sight. If that is an R-N on the right hand side of the grip frame, the revolver was refinished in nickel. I believe it was originally bright blue. Still, a nice addition to your collection. I like it.

Bill

Thanks, Bill. I am just headed to the Post Office to send off a request to Roy for a letter on this gun. I will drop you a related note when I return.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

I think that is an RN stamping.

I'm really good at spotting refinishes on Colt revolvers, so I'm fairly good at spotting S&Ws too, but they are different from one another.

At first I wasn't sure of a refinish, but assumed it would probably be necessary due to the work that was done on the gun. However, once the OP showed the extra photos, I can see signs of a second polish beyond the factory one. Overall, it appears pretty good work, probably cause it was factory done.

The second to last photo in post #29 shows the sideplate fit and screw hole dishing and is suggestive of a refinish. I think it's a safe bet to consider this correct.

Looks like a mighty fine shooter though, and a very nice setup the original owner completed.

looks to be a blue gun sent back for a nickel job. Can't make out the date it was sent back.

I had the same type 27 3 1/2" except for the front sight. Was originally a 1971 blue gun sent back to Smith & Wesson in 1974 for the nickel refinish.

The nickel refinish was 43 years old when I sold it this last summer, looked as good as the day it was refinished. Your gonna have a lot of fun for a long time with that Smith.

Attached Images

DSCN0197.jpg (105.4 KB, 51 views)

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Vietnam 1969-1971

I just sent off a request to Roy for a letter; that should be revealing.

Robert, I am specifically interested in knowing if the trigger on the revolver you posted was part of the modifications done by Smith. It looks close to the one on my revolver -- a wide target trigger that has been smoothed and recontoured. What can you tell us about how that trigger came to be on the revolver you previously owned? Thank you!

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

It was not a smooth trigger, just a regular wide target. Please share the letter with us, be interesting to see how this gun shipped. thanks

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Vietnam 1969-1971

Of course.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

BRB, Im not sure how long you've been collecting older S&W's, but I'd highly recommend getting the Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson 4th edition if you don't already have it. It has a lot of good info, even on how to determine if one was possibly refinished. It can save you a lot of money over time. I posted another brand that I'm not as well versed on the other day thinking it was all original, but found out by several of the experts that it was a refinish, saving me from a $1000 mistake. Take your time, read as many S&W books as you can, and post a lot of pictures for the experts here. It can save you a lot of problems down the road.

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Get off my lawn!

I sort of don't care if it is collectible. It is a really handsome revolver, and everyone who has seen it -- including some very gunny and some totally non-gun people -- have smiled approvingly. It's a beautiful piece of nickel-plated American steel.

Is it worth the $1,400 I spent on it (without the ivories)? It is to me, and I don't plan on selling it, so, commercial value just isn't an issue. One thing I am sure of: I am the only kid on my block who has one.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.