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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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Old 06-19-2018, 12:01 PM
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Default 27-2 bbl lengths, mfg #’s?

Curious as to what the numbers were for 27-2 bbl lengths?
3.5”, 5”, 6” and 8 3/8” guns...6” guns seem to be more common. Any info is appreciated.
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Old 06-19-2018, 12:02 PM
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You missed 2, the 4" and 6 1/2" barrel lengths.
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Old 06-19-2018, 01:02 PM
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Valmet

The Model 27-2 was made from 1961 until 1982. 3 1/2" and 5" were early variants with the 6 1/2" added soon after, followed by the 8 3/8". At least that is the sequence I recall. The 4" barrel is probably the least common, and those are sought by collectors.

In 1967, the 6 1/2" was replaced with the 6" barrel.

The 5" barrel was discontinued in 1979, and I think the 3 1/2" was dropped at that time also.

I don't think we know the actual numbers of each barrel length produced. But the 4", 3 1/2", 5" and 6 1/2" are probably the most coveted, probably in that order. My personal favorite is the 5".

I hope this helps a little.
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Old 06-19-2018, 01:08 PM
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A couple more thoughts:

As you probably know, the Model 27 was the direct descendant of the .357 Registered Magnum, introduced in 1935. At that time, barrel lengths were all ordered with the gun and could range from short to 8 3/4", in quarter inch increments. In the postwar period, when the .357 Magnum was reintroduced, there were lots of them issued with 6" barrels. I once owned one from 1952 with the 6" barrel. For some reason, in later production (from 1958 onward, when model numbers first were used) the 6" was eliminated and the 6 1/2" became the standard for a mid-length barrel (between 5" and 8 3/8"), until 1967, as noted above. Sort of a weird sequence, it seems to me. I'm sure there was a reason.

Also, the N prefix replaced the S prefix in the serial numbers during the -2 years.
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Old 06-19-2018, 01:40 PM
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Thanks for the info JP@AK, helpful info indeed. My favorite is the 5” also. Mine left S&W in Nov 1978 so it is one of the later ones.
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Old 06-19-2018, 01:55 PM
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Valmet,

I wasn't sure what your question is. If you want to know the total number produced of each barrel length, literally no one knows those numbers. S&W didn't keep any sort of running total but all of the old records have been preserved. Maybe some one will volunteer to count up each barrel length of model 27-2s from 1962 to 1982. I wonder how many interns that would take???
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Old 06-19-2018, 02:00 PM
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I doubt anyone knows the absolute production numbers of each length, but from highest to lowest I would guess 6, 5, 8 3/8, 3.5, 6.5 and lastly the 4” 27-2.
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Old 06-19-2018, 04:02 PM
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The 4" was added as a cataloged barrel length in 1979 replacing the 3 1/2 and 5 inch guns, which were discontinued.......thou a 4" 27 could be special ordered prior to 1979.

I have a nice shooter grade transitional 4" 27-2 that has a recessed cylinder but is not pinned......the 27-3 was introduced in 1982; but it was in competition with the new L-frame .357s.... so my guess is not all that many 4" 27s were built over the next decade.

The 3 1/2 inch 27 is kind of a 'cult" gun.... from 1935 till the 2 1/2 inch Model 19 was introduced it was the shortest barreled .357 you could get; and looks way cooool.... but IMO it's a big hunk of steel to try to conceal carry ..... a 4 inch 19 would be easier for me to conceal..... I can carry one IWB in a Summer Special..... no way I could do that with an N-frame.

In my eyes a 3 1/2 inch N-frame and a 3 inch K-frame have the same perfect butt to barrel proportions.......w/ full length tapered underlug.....

Again IMO the most practical .357 N-frame is the 4 inch 28

Last edited by BAM-BAM; 06-21-2018 at 09:06 AM.
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Old 06-19-2018, 04:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by muddocktor View Post
You missed 2, the 4" and 6 1/2" barrel lengths.
I don't believe there were any 2 inch 27's.
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Old 06-19-2018, 04:13 PM
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I don't believe there were any 2 inch 27's.
I meant 2 different barrel lengths, the 4" and 6 1/2" barrels, not a 2" barrel.
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Old 06-19-2018, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by muddocktor View Post
I meant 2 different barrel lengths, the 4" and 6 1/2" barrels, not a 2" barrel.
Yes. And the punctuation of your sentence says precisely that.

"You missed 2, the 4" and 6 1/2" barrel lengths."
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Old 06-20-2018, 08:16 AM
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. . . The Model 27-2 was made from 1961 until 1982 . . . In 1967, the 6 1/2" was replaced with the 6" barrel . . .
Just a footnote: the 6" barrel became standard production in 1967 but 6 1/2" barrels were still available five years later . . . certainly not the first time the factory used up obsolete inventory.

I have an N-prefix Model 27-2 with 6 1/2" barrel and red ramp front sight that shipped in June 1972. When I questioned the originality of the 6 1/2" barrel length that late, Roy assured me that barrel length and sight configuration was still available in 1972.

Russ
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Old 06-20-2018, 01:01 PM
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Just a footnote: the 6" barrel became standard production in 1967 but 6 1/2" barrels were still available five years later . . . certainly not the first time the factory used up obsolete inventory.

I have an N-prefix Model 27-2 with 6 1/2" barrel and red ramp front sight that shipped in June 1972. When I questioned the originality of the 6 1/2" barrel length that late, Roy assured me that barrel length and sight configuration was still available in 1972.
Good point, Russ. We should remember that dropping something from the cataloged offerings isn't the same thing as it being no longer available. This is part of what makes collecting S&W so fascinating. There is always something else to discover.

Take for example, the .32-20. Production stopped no later than 1930, but the item was still in the catalog in 1939. Yet, at least one was still in inventory after WWII - long after, in fact.
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Old 06-20-2018, 02:41 PM
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It is impossible to know for certain how many of each barrel length was made by S&W since the factory kept track of production of the Model 27 by its production designation, NT-357. The barrel length and finish were not recorded.

Bill
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Old 06-21-2018, 12:32 AM
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My 27-2 is an odd one. It has a 4" barrel, recessed cylinder, but a non pinned barrel. Serial number is N88XXXX, which is a late -2.
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Old 06-21-2018, 08:01 AM
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Around 1980 S&W started running out of pinned barrels and recessed cylinders for the -2 and started using -3 parts on -2 frames. I call them 27-2.5s.

I don't think the 6" replaced the 6.5 as someone suggested. The 6 was likely the most common length and the 6.5 was made at the same time but sporadically or infrequently. I have a 6.5" 357 shipped in 1957 and I have been told the 27-2 with a 6.5 barrel is seen into the middle 1970s.

The 4" barrel was a special order item (I have seen one made in 1963) until 1979 when it replaced the popular 3.5" as a standard length. Only made a couple years the 4" is hardest to find. IME half are unpinned.
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Old 06-21-2018, 11:41 PM
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Wink Transition gun

I have a nickel 4" 27-2 which has recessed cylinders but no barrel pin. Serial number is N887442 which is estimated to be a 1981. I and other collectors believe there are more nickel 4" 27-2s than blue. Maybe old men's tale.
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Old 06-25-2018, 11:17 AM
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I have a nickel 4" 27-2 which has recessed cylinders but no barrel pin. Serial number is N887442 which is estimated to be a 1981. I and other collectors believe there are more nickel 4" 27-2s than blue. Maybe old men's tale.
Well I for one have never seen a blued 4". Mine was nickle-sold it
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Old 06-25-2018, 04:03 PM
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Quote:
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Well I for one have never seen a blued 4". Mine was nickle-sold it
Here's one, N710025. It had rubber grips when I got it and I like these. Lot of glare in the picture, not a strange wear pattern on the blueing. P and R, target trigger, hammer but not a target rear sight (strange but,,,).
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