I had a 27 3 1/2" like that. Had the re-bluing rectangle. I bought it from the original owner (barely fired wife's gun) when called the owner about it, said he never sent it back for any work. I got it lettered and it was shipped just a couple months before the re-blued date stamp.

The original owner said he special ordered it thru his local gun dealer with two sets of grips and a RR/WO sights. One set was regular target grips and the other a beautiful set of Rosewood Magna's. They both were with the gun when I bought it.

Jinks letter said it was a shipment of five 27-2 3 1/2" guns to a wholesaler near the gun dealers town.

What I "think" may have happen was the wholesaler sent one of his five back for the grips and sights instead of ordering another one. The two sight pins were ground flush like they were back then (S serial#) hence the need for the re-blue.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

Your call......but I would seldom consider adding $400 to the price of a gun just for an original (and correct) box. Sounds like the seller is being more than fair.

Sounds like seller has made things right and then some. I would love to have that gun at that price. Enjoy that fine revolver.

Seller sounds like a stand-up guy.
Knock $400 off the price or return it for full refund..?
More than fair.

Man, the seller is gonna give you $400 back? Hell yeah, keep that nice 3 1/2" 27-2. $1200 for that gun is a steal, especially on a GB buy. You could easily sell that with the fake box for much more here on the forums. You done real good with this purchase in my opinion.

Beautiful revolver oldblue and IMO well bought @ 1200.

Well, only worked out because of the help of the fabulous people here!

"So I shot it today after work. When I got home I put it on a scale; weighs 72.3lbs. Pretty sure it's something like that."

Wow, now I know why the young shooters look at my S&W revolvers and tell me how much lighter a plastic gun would be.

Might want to reweigh the gun as even changing pounds to ounces doesn't seem to work.

Very nicely done, old blue.
That's a fine gun, and an excellent price at 1200.

Very well handled to, and kudos to the seller.
This is a good reminder of how to explain the issues and work them out.
Congrats and enjoy.

I was probably OK with the $1,600 considering the others going for $1,750. At $1,200 it is a steal as the short barrel guns are way more popular than the longer ones it seems. That seller sounds like a real stand up guy and I would definitely want to do business with an honorable guy like that.

We here on the forum eat, sleep and drink S&W's but most FFL's cannot be experts with every maker that they deal with. This guy made an honest mistake and went way above board to make it right. Kudos to him.

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James Redfield
LM #497

I'm so thankful to each of you for your help!

I will post another update when I receive the refund to close the loop. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Great to know that the seller seems honest and that he offered just compensation for a mistake. Since you shoot it well (your disclaimer notwithstanding) I think its a keeper. After another outing or two you could raise the rear sight a couple clicks if it still hits low.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I would pay $1200 for that, and be pretty happy with it. Sell the box and get another $75 bringing the total to $1125. Sounds like a good deal to me.

This has been an interesting thread and I appreciate the value of wanting everything to match (after restoring several old vehicles- '52 Ford F-1 PU; '69 GTO; '63, 2 toned red/white, Mercury Comet convertible; '63 Ford Galaxy 500; '67 Ford Galaxy 500 Convertible, I know). IMO, at the end of the day, I had to decide, actually strike a balance, between "matching numbers originality" and the pure joy of owning and driving a very cool piece of history. I decided if I was going to show it and try to get premium price, the numbers need to match (and the buying price reflects that as well), but if I'm going to keep it and drive it every day, nope. WHEW! That's a relief! Now, I can kick back and enjoy the whole experience( Oh I still require the parts to be OEM and I still go off the color code to paint{altho I DID put white rag tops on the Convertibles, when originally , they were black, but hey, I live in the South, it gets real hot} . Now, the most important thing is that it runs as good as it looks and looks as good as it runs. With a revolver, the timing and cycling and space between the cylinder and forcing cone would be my top priority. Then if it makes my heart go pitter patter, it's a keeper. YMMV

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USMC Life-GOA IDPA A10051

That's a nice 27-2 and I think the price is more than fair. Sell the box on e-bay and knock it down another $100. As far as the shooting goes, I just started shooting revolvers again after more than a few years of the plastics fantastics, and more recently 1911s. I've been spending more time with my 5" 27-2 and my groups have improved to the point I am shooting at 25 yards what I was doing at 7 yards. Good luck with the 27-2 if you decide to keep it.

For $1200 I’d definitely keep it!

Called a few times to follow-up (just because). Got the actual refund today.

Anybody want to buy a box? ;-)

That's great to hear, oldblue. You got a great gun at a great price.

Only -- and I mean only -- because of everyone here. You gave the information, ideas and confidence to call and negotiate the problem. Thank you!

Sorry for the tardy reply - no evidence that there was ever anything written in grease pencil anywhere on any surface of the box. Just smells like boxes in my grandparent's attic.

My opinion: the guy demonstrated to be a gentleman, indeed.
If you were satisfied paying 1600, now you will be happier being lighter of 1200 only.... All that, owning the same gun .
Keep it and enjoy

Keep the gun. Now every time you pick it up you'll have a good gun, a good price, and a good feeling about the deal/seller as well!

I was going to give you another arrow for your quiver, the box was described as excellent condition, but looks a little ragged in your photo. But a moot point now. You could sell it on eBay cheap and 'pass it forward'.

The rear side plate flat head screw under the grip is correct after WW II so the grip fits flat, pre-war Magnas had a dimple in the back of the grip so it would sit flat over the domed head screw. But then the flat head screw was used and is to this day.

The number in the yoke matches the one on the left side of grip frame (and inside of the side plate) which is correct.

I agree with James, the circled RE means it went to the service dept before sale most usually for a flawed finish and reblued.

So all in all, it's a righteous gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819