I just saw a good (almost nice) 27-2 with a 3 1/2" barrel at a gunshow. It had some ugly rubber grips and the seller did not have the original grips, box, etc.

I had not seen a 27 with a 3 1/2" barrel before. How hard are they to find?

Sorry, no pix.

A 3 1/2" barrel was one of the options for the .357 Magnum (pre M27) and the M27. Right now, it is one of the most desired barrel lengths.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Ugly grips can be fixed easily...and attached to a revolver like that..usually means a bargain price on a nice model.

What price were they asking for it? I have one that I bought several years ago for $600. Grips can be changed.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

The 3 1/2" length was available from the beginning of Registered Magnum production but was not the most common 27-2 barrel length. The short barrel/most desirable phenomenon is a fairly recent occurrence (perhaps 6-8 years?) and now they are the most expensive and sought after of standard production lengths.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I don't recall the exact price but it was under $700, I think.

Buy it. Buy it now. I mean RIGHT NOW. Push little old ladies out of the way to get there kind of right now.

A "good, almost nice" 3-1/2" 27-2 for under $700 wouldn't last ten seconds at a gun show here. Heck, it wouldn't even be on a table to sell; another vendor would have bought it before the doors opened.

While good advice, I don't have the dough. Someone else will get lucky!

Just today took my 27-2 3.5 apart to clean out 57 years of solidified oil & gum.
A 1961 manufacture.

Month or so ago I paid $1300 for it in about 90% condition.
The grips are original, serial is STAMPED on one panel.
I would have paid more to get it, if necessary. Had not seen that barrel length since leaving my first PD in the 70s.
Denis

I wouldn't say a 3.5" barrel is rare, or the 5"

I would say they are extremely popular.

I think the 4" and the 6.5" are rarer.

Not rare, always a popular length. But very much in demand.

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No life story has happy end.

Man if it was in decent condition run back and get that one. It would bring more than twice that where I live. Earl

Don’t waste your time and effort running back to get it, it’s long gone. At that price any liberal soccer mom within 40 miles has already scooped that up.

The 3.5 are so popular that I bought one recently, had it on layaway for a month or so, then took it home and cleaned it, before I realized it was a 4" barrel.

When I saw it in the case, a mental block kicked in and I knew it wasn't a 6", or longer, so it HAD to be a 3.5. I never knew they made a 27-2 with a 4"....DUHHHHH!!

I'm not disappointed at all, but I'm still looking for a 3.5.

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John 3:16 .

OP...you sure there wasn't a "1 comma" in front of that $700?

Seriously, around here a 3-1/2" for anything under $1,500 wouldn't make it to a table at a show, and they seldom make it to the front display counter of any LGS.

They are out there, like mine (no box, no docs, no Uncle Harry carried it story)....just the gun...and this one was 2 collectors got a call about it.....I got there first.

Attached Images

	M27-2 A reduced size.JPG (45.1 KB, 94 views)
	M27-2 B reduced size.jpg (61.3 KB, 87 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I've had 2 of them, a blue one from 1969 (N-serial) I bought from a fellow club member for *325, and my current nickel one, from 1965 (S-serial) that cost me a whopping *525.
Both of them looked/look like new, no box or paperwork, but great shooters, like al the other S&W's I've bought around here.
Never had to pay more than *750 for a S&W revolver (bought 15 of them in the last 5 years), and that one was a 627 PC with the 5-inch barrel.

The 3 1/2-inch is one of only a few handguns in the world for which the hype isn't overblown. It's everything it's cracked up to be as will be revealed during its first trip to the range. Wish I'd had one years before I finally got one. It might just be the best way to tote the .357 Magnum cartridge.

Anybody have an exact weight on their 3.5 27? I'm curious. To me they look the best. I just don't like super long barrels on a wheel gun. Sure, 5"er's are palatable. But those 3.5"s..... there's just something extra special.

As far as the OP's find; either someone didn't know what they had, or there was something wrong with it at that price. Or they were desperate for money.

I have a 3 1/2 inch one listed on here.

Not a dash two but the next best thing.
Anything that resembles blue wear is camera flash. These three are NIB factory fired only, matching original serial numbered boxes tools papers etc. No upgrade possible. I have a nickel NIB as well, I will dig it out soon and take some pictures.

The 3.5" Model 27 is certainly in demand, although it does not approach the rarity of the 4" variation. I'm satisfied with my three Model 28s that have 4" barrels - great shooters, and almost the same gun for less. I have seen very few 4" 27s, and if one comes up for sale, I'm not sure I would want to pay the asking price.

My 3.5" dash 2, shipped in 1978, is one of my most prized Smiths. It reeks quality, and in my opinion is one of the most attractive S&Ws ever made. I bought it in 2006, and it would take a LOT of money for me to even consider parting with it!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Try finding one in CA. where they cannot be shipped into the state. They are harder to find than a Repub....uhh, a four leaf clover out here. But about six years ago I saw this one posted online right after it was listed and snagged it. It binded up DA so was priced at $475. It cost $100 to have fixed. It was carried by an Indian policeman on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in AZ. at one point. Those are the butchered "cokes" I had redone by forum member Gatorbaiter. What a formidable chunk of gun these little beasts are.
The grips looked like those K frames minus all the chips.

Here's mine...the paperwork is under the case lining....



If I were the OP, I think I would borrow the money, if I was short right now. That sounds like a once in a lifetime deal.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Not rare by a long shot

However those of us that own them do not want to sell them, so they are hard to find
Just last Saturday I convinced my buddy to buy one at the LakeLand Gun show

I think I'd almost rather have a 28 with that length barrel. Less to worry about. And I like matte blue better than polished blue for a shooter. I think rubber looks better on matte blue if you want to use rubber stocks. And every type of material stocks look better on matte blue. Only white and wood looks good on a blued gun. IMHO.

Well, they don't make a 28 with a 3 1/2" bbl, but they do make good shooters. Also, I don't care much for the S&W "Target" stocks, so I safely store mine, and my 27-2 wears ivory magnas and a Tyler T Grip:



And as you suggested, a nice shooter grade Model 28 no dash with PC magnas from a model 57, and a Tyler T Grip:



Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I love those ivories! Look real because I clearly see nice grain. In the early 80s I stupidly ignored the John Jovino Shotgun News ads that sold minty 4" Highway Patrolman cop trade ins for $189 each! My friend bought one. They must have had tons of them.
I do not like target triggers on short barreled N frames so I had a service trigger put in my short 27-2. It was a gift from a S&W Forum member.

To the devil with Cost, Let the availability be what it may, Compare it to what you will, and I admire the folks that can be satisfied with mod. 28s, but when the discussion is finished, and the dust settles, there ain't a doubt in my mind, that the Mod. 27 3.5" is the all time favorite, S&W revolver of the majority of us, S&W revolver enthusiasts. Since I've become too old to shoot, and sometimes get "Down in the Dumps", all that I have to do, to feel better, is get out my 27, 3.5", with it's special wood grips, by Kieth Brown, look, at, and fondle it a bit, and you couldn't knock the grin off my face with an axe handle. I only have one 27 3.5", but one, "Does the Trick". Here's my "pet".

Chubbo

Attached Images

DSC02170.jpg (90.1 KB, 79 views)

My favorite Smith, ever, the short barreled 27:









Got sick and had to sell all of them, recently, but there will be others.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Sorry to hear of your troubles!! Hope that you are on the mend.

I'll be looking forward to your new aquisions!! You sure had some beautiful Smiths there!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I weighed my newest 3 1/2" 27-2 for this thread here, which the OP was trying to start a database of various S&W revolvers weights. My 27-2 weighed in at 43.8 ounces with factory target stocks.

Here is the revolver I weighed:

Be aware that because of wood density, weights vary.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

How was the Lakeland Show? How is the new venue?

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I pray you feel better. I know how it is. I've sold some guns lately too to pay for doctor bills.

Thank you for the weight muddockter!

You guys make me feel a lot better about the $1,500 I spent on a LNIB with all the tools & papers 27 3 1/2 " about a year & a half ago. That's the 2nd most I've ever spent on a gun & the reason I joined this forum to ask about this gun.

Fist full of dynamite. Fast out of the holster, fast shooting, powerful, a real gunfighters weapon. Extremely popular with the FBI in the 1950s and 60s, and other law-enforcement agencies, the popularity and desirability of the 3.5” 27 is nothing new.

And Earl Swagger's preferred sidearm.

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Mine with service grips is 41 ounces on my postal scale.

Fugate, you disgust me.
Denis

OK, so I am not sure I would paf for one when I have nice model 28's, BUT, what are the worth in collectible condition?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

While I love the modified "boot grip" cokes I have on my 3 1/2 incher, I'm really torn between them and these smooth extreme dense sambar stags I bought in 1984. I can pretend they're ivory to team up with my Colt .45 if I want to play Army and be Patton.

While rehashing this thread, this thought came to mind. Has there ever been a thread on this Forum, with as many members in agreement, about the most popular S&W Model, with a specific, bbl. length? Could a Mod. 27, with a 3.5" barrel, be the most popular revolver, S&W has ever made? It's my all time favorite. Here is a picture of mine. What would be your all time favorite S&W model?

Chubbohttp://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=380183&stc=1&d=1549411497

Attached Images

DSC02548.jpg (101.4 KB, 45 views)

Mine would be the 5" 3rd Model .44 Special.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t take a 3-1/2” Model 27 if you gave it to me, but for my uses I’d take a 4” Combat Magnum or a 6-1/2” Model 29, instead. Never did see the sense in short-barreled N-frame .357s, but they are fun to look at. General Patton liked his, which it is said he referred to as one of his “killin’ guns”. (Of course there is no indication he ever killed anyone with his.) They do look like they mean business.

I basically traded my 125th Anniversary 25-3 fro my 3 1/2" pre-27.
I even got change back.

I took it because it was the only pre-27 in the collection and I wanted it to go with my 27 no-dash and my 27-7.

I've never seen a 3 1/2" 27 at any gun shows around here and I go to a lot of them. All but one of mine have come from auctions out of state.

Attached Images

DSCN6891.jpg (167.3 KB, 42 views)

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Vietnam 1969-1971

Over a 50+ year span of collecting I have had a good number of 3.5" Model 27-2 revolvers, but not near the number that some on this thread have! I will side with Chubbo on his selection of this particular S&W icon for its major popularity.
Currently I have only these two; 'Utah' and 'Big Nik':


'Utah' is my (shipped May 18, 1967) former Utah Highway Patrol "rescue".
'Big Nik' is the "pretty one" with all the extras (shipped December 1981).
These two are different from most of the other 3.5" guns I had in the past. These two are actual shooters. I have only two personal rules for MY gun collecting: #1 All guns are for shooting. #2 Life's too short to shoot ugly guns.
Rule #1 does not deal with how much or how often they are shot but that on any given day any gun could go out in the wild or to the range. No exceptions.
Rule #2 started about 30 years ago and is due to my profession; Industrial Designer. It gave me an appreciation for well designed and built machines. The Model 27 is at the pinnacle of both in my opinion.

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Bill - SWCA #2327