Been awhile since I first joined the forum. What is the finish on this revolver? Stainless, nickel or other? S 209xxx And the grips? 3.5 inch barrel on this beauty. I may sell as well to a lucky go getter. Thanks everyone.

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Looks like a nickel M27 or pre-27 (I'm not an expert). My recollection is that if the hammer and trigger are nickeled, most if not all the time it is a refinish.

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NHI, 10-8.

S209xxx puts it around 1960-61; four or five years before the first stainless guns came out. The stainless version of the Model 27 was the 627, but I don't believe there ever was a 3 1/2" barrel offered. And it wouldn't have an S prefix serial number.

It has a nickel finish but it looks suspiciously like an aftermarket refinish.

Nice gun anyway.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Looks like a Model 27 made around the 1960-1961 time frame according to the SCSW. And yes, that is most probably an aftermarket nickel finish on it, as normally the hammer and trigger are color case hardened finished from the factory nickel guns. It is a nice looking 3 1/2" barrel 27 though.

Looking at the case it is in and the rear sight being silver my thoughts initially was that it's a model 66 no dash with stainless rear sight and flash chrome hammer and trigger. Then it dawned on me that the op gave an S serial. S serial would put it before any stainless models. Bummer deal, looks to be a refinished (nickel hammer and trigger) model 27 or pre 27 if in .357 mag. Beautiful gun though and nice grips to boot!

Didn't they make a 627 ?

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1st smiles,lies.Last,gunfire.

Ooops. You are right. Sorry about that. Came out in 1989.

I'll fix my earlier post.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I consider the 627 as it's own model, not a "variant" of the model 27. IMO the model 27 is Top of the Heap for S&W revolvers, the absolute Flagship. While close the 627 doesn't feature checkered top straps and barrel ribs or semi lugged barrels with the exception of a few very rare special feature releases. I will also note that recent models of the 27 with roll stamped checkering are also not what I would consider a true model 27, to hit that standard the checkering must be CUT and SHARP EDGED.

I will also note that I think the 3 1/2 inch model 27 to be the most beautiful revolver ever created and even with an aftermarket finish I would still be proud to own the model 27 featured here, IMO that is worth at least 1200 bucks. Sadly that does mean it's lost about 1/2 of it's value due to that refinish but it's still a beauty.

BTW for you 44 Magnum lovers, the model 29 has also never featured a checkered top strap or barrel rib so it won't ever be the flagship.

Look like it a beauty.

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Life is short,live it fully.

That is a Model 27, open the cylinder and look at the frame, it should be stamped there. It would have shipped in the 1960-1961 time frame after model numbers were assigned (in 1957).

Unfortunately it appears to have been nickle plated by someone other than S&W and the sights, trigger, and hammer bead blasted nickle. This has reduced the value of this fine firearm by 40% to 50% as far as any collectability is concerned.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Lovely weapon. Grips, not so much.

That'll be a dandy shooter!

Yea, they never nickel plated the parts in question (hammer, trigger, et al). But then I've been wrong before. The 3.5" blue is a safe queen of mine. I'll probably shoot it before I hand it off to my daughter just prior to my funeral . Great revolvers!

Nice shooter, That's probably what 80% of the older Smiths are anyway, so I wouldn't sweat the re-finish much.

You could switch out those stag grips for some S&W original grips even-steven. Easy enough to change out the hammer and trigger for case harden ones and ya got a descent looking Smith.

For value, as it sits, even at 50% value it would bring more than $600.

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Vietnam 1969-1971

At a certain age some folks britches kinda end up near the armpits. For us flat butts, gravity pulls the britches further away from under the arms. For a full size weapon its a belt and suspenders for me.

On the plus side, you can shoot the snot out of it and remain guilt free.

While it does not serve any purpose for me that would make it something I would buy, this is still a very nice revolver. Inane quibbles about the re-finish and collector value are just so much drivel. A lot of folks could get by with that as their only revolver and do darned well, especially if the front sight were made less difficult to pick out from the rest of the revolver.

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NHI, 10-8.

Drivel = Dollars

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Charlie