All,

I had to share...well, OK, gloat a little.

Gunshops in our area generally focus on black guns, Glocks and 1911s. That's fine but it leaves me wanting for variety. Just before Christmas I walked into one of my favorite gunshops just to troll. Like you, I usually give each cabinet a 'once over' looking for things of interest. As I trolled, I noticed what looked like a nickel N frame sandwiched between the black guns. I did a 'double take' and noticed the barrel was a little shorter. Hmmm, it needed a closer look. I realized I was looking at a Unicorn...a Smith & Wesson 27-2, nickel with TT, Th and Pachmayr's with a 3 1/2" barrel.

As I asked to see it, I started to shake and sweat (OK, a little too much drama). How many of us have been looking for one and abandoned the search knowing it will never happen? Holy COW, I was really holding one. I turned the price tag over and read it...$799. Double holy COW. Shamefully, I asked if he could do better? After looking at his books, he told me he took the gun in on trade and could lower the price by $100. I tried to contain myself as I said I'd take it.

I guess this is why we keep looking.

Well done. Now you just have to find a good pair of factory magnas.

You can keep the Pachmayr's but for shooting only.

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Expect the unexpected

Great, but where are the pictures?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

We need some pics! Today we have a nickel 27-2 3,5" on sale, but the price is the double of yours!

Yeah. I forgot to ask.

__________________
Expect the unexpected

Very nice find. Congratulations.

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Who watches the watchers?

Your real name wouldn't be Bill Clinton would it? He is the only one I can think of who is that shameless!

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You're shy a few manners.

Jeez! Prices are climbing. I won my blued mod 27-2 on a egun(Germany) auction in 2019. For about 850 Euro.

Edit. I prefer blued to nickeled(too shiny for my eyes).

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Expect the unexpected

Ok, while we wait for pictures of Cloudhunter's 27-2 I'll provide a picture of my nickel one and the story of how I got it.

Wandering around in a Cabelas Gun Library I spied a nickel S&W and asked to look at it. Sure enough, the real thing, and priced at $526 OTD. I told the salesperson that "yes, I'm interested, but where's box and papers?" He said, "well, wait a minute, the tag does say it has a box, let me see what I can find." It took him a half hour but he eventually came back with box including paperwork and unopened cleaning kit. It was though the unlabeled blue box that guns with presentations cases shipped with, I complained about the lack of the wooden box but said I'd take it anyway. Of course that was ten years ago so I understand the inflated price that Cloudhunter had to pay.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Attached Images

27-2 3.5 inch.jpg (53.6 KB, 403 views)

Sounds very much like how I found my Reg. Magnum, Pre model 39 and my 3" 66.

Shops didn't recognize what they had.... but this Forum and SCS&W gave me the knowledge I needed to score and score big.

We seem to be diverging a bit from Cloudhunter's post but while we wait on pictures how about sharing the details of your lucky finds? Especially the Registered Magnum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Magnas.....and we were getting along so well.
Targets I say.

Attached Images

20191125_164651.jpg (70.7 KB, 350 views)

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Not going to make an issue out of that.

I like magnas with the shorter barrels. I find them comfortable too.

__________________
Expect the unexpected

I've posted the long version before......
I was in a LGS... that had been in operation since the 1930s; Pittsburgh Handgun Headquarter........ closed about 10 years ago.
Tag read;

"S&W .357magnum
$325 consignment".

The owner brought it to my attention as "I know you like Smiths" But I really had no interest in a 6 1/2" N-frame. But looked to be polite and saw the "RM xxxx". The rest is history.

This was 15 years ago and $325 was the local going price for a 6" 28. Nice RM's were 10X that

Really which LGS in da Burgh? Just asking


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pittsburgh Handgun Headquarters..... as stated ..... closed about 10 years ago after a 80 year run..... was a Colt Service Center for decades..... some good pistolsmiths that got old......was sorry to see them go!

We all love a good deal and I have stepped into a few (and refused a few) myself over the years, yet we morally blasted SWM183 on his 2nd ever post to the forum for getting an 18-3 for the asking price $200. I hope SWM183 will continue to participate.

I hate you (not really). Great find!

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Sorry, I haven't figured out posting the pics yet. I'll keep working on it.

Yep, I prefer targets.

Did you watch for the red and blue flashing lights in your rear view mirror on the way home?

What are you guys (and maybe gals too) talking about? Some of you state you got a great deal or something...........

ALL, I MEAN ALL, of mine have been "greatest deal ever, 400% value increase the day I got it, nobody else in the whole world has ever found one like this, I feel so bad for paying what I did, etc. et. al. ad infinitum......"

You say you don't believe me............just ask my wife!!!!

Disclaimer: This post better self-destruct in 10 seconds.

Sorry for the thread drift....can't resist a "screaming deal".

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	collection 2.jpg (86.6 KB, 323 views)
	collection 3.jpg (101.9 KB, 282 views)
	collection 4.jpg (55.5 KB, 267 views)
	collection 5.jpg (99.6 KB, 267 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Gentlemen,

I bought this 27-2 5", proof fired in 1978, TT, TH ands equipped with the so called Mustang aftermarket stocks (now Ahrends Target), some years ago for then 300 Euro (then about 370$). I was the only bidder on an egun auction, and I never regretted to be so shameless. Description said some minor surface pitting and the photographs showed that there were very small spots on the bluing (apart from the Mustang stocks which of course were not adding to the value). When I got it, the turnline and the traces on the recoil shield said: A few rounds fired and then stashed away for the next 38 years. Needless to say: Lockwork is perfect as is accuracy. The tiny spots have long gone zhanks to regulary wiping the bluing with oil.

regards from Germany
Ulrich

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Life is too short to own a bad gun

NICE score!

A good deal from a LGS or pawn shop or gun show seller who should know what they're doing is one thing. Buying something from a friend or even an acquaintance for far less than you know the value to be is something else. In my book anyway.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Not to hijack, but Pittsburgh Handgun Headquarters was quite a place in the day. These guys (Herman and Ray) could fix anything.
They also had a big network to obtain hard to find parts.

In addition to being a Colt warranty center, they also were a warranty center for Ruger. Their prices were very reasonable. Many of the pistols
they repaired for me are still going strong after 40 to 50 yrs ago. Both were factory trained by Colt in Hartford.

Herman rebuilt a Colt DA 38 for me in the 70's
and it still works well. He also worked on the
Colt lightnings. He rebuilt a M1911 that was tired and defaced into a full blown match pistol with a
Gold Cup barrel. After almost 50,000 rounds, its
still accurate as the day I picked it up from him.

These guys were true craftsmen. I'm pretty sure
they knew the value of BamBam's RM but priced
it as the seller wanted. Back in the 70's, a new
Model 28 wasn't that expensive, like around $140 or so new. So a RM at 325 wasn't unreasonable, but 3 times what a stock 28 was.

I agree....... the other thing to remember is a lot of these shops don't have collectors in residence........ I figure that if they're asking $500 for a used gun they probably only paid $350-400 for it ...... they're just looking to turn it for a profit.

What bothers me is the shop that offers a "widow" pennies on the dollar.

Can't count the number of times I've heard a Gun Shop employee say "What are you looking to get out of it??" Most folks don't have any idea what Granddad's gun(s) are actually worth ....... it's just a "used" gun to them....MY RM was in on consignment for the price of a Model 28. The shop had skin in the game as they were getting 15%.

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NRA Benefactor Member

bam bam,

These guys were no dummies. I'm sure they priced your RM as the seller wanted. Everyone
got what they wanted. The seller, the shop and
you. You got a great deal.

Remember some 15 yrs ago, revolvers were pretty much passe' with the new plastic autos.

The guys you knew had been gone for several years..... IIRC Ray(?) passed away around 2000 and his wife ran the business for 4-5 years before selling it to a young Gunsmith and his Dad.

They didn't last long as the location in Westview a good location in the mid-20th century.......... was off every beaten track by 2000...... location is everything for a business.

About 10 years ago I was in a Gander Mountain to buy some fish bait, and I casually walked past the handgun counter. There was a long barreled N Frame in the counter. The tag was partially covered, but it was identified as a Model 27. I asked to see it. Of course the clerk had to see my pistol permit before he would open the case, so naturally I obliged.

I opened the cylinder and it was not a 27, it was a pre-27, and it appeared unfired. Then I flipped over the tag........$295.

After gaining my composure I said "I'll take it". I pulled out my MC and started filling out the 4473 while the clerk went in the computer to pull up the record and delete it from inventory.

I sensed a problem. The clerk got the manager and the 2 of them came over and tried to talk me out of buying it. He said a record problem and it might take a very long time to fix it. I said I'll wait. No problem, I'm not in a hurry.

It took an hour and a half but I ended up taking the gun home. I suspect the tag was mismarked and it should have been $1295.

A year later I bought a nice condition (but not new) pre-14 in the same store for $195.

Gosh, I loved that place.....

BamBam

You bring back a lot of memories. Herman owned the business, and Rosemary (his wife)
took care of the business end and did the test
firing. Herman took on Ray as an apprentice,
and sent him to Colt for the factory repair courses.

Herman was a hell of a gunsmith and overall
nice guy. He told me he restored my DA 38 as
a favor and never wanted to work on one again.
Too much hand fitting. He could fix 10 pistols in
the time it took to fix it. Still have the receipt for
$50. New hand, new cylinder with ratchet, and
retime. (1975)

Tis a sin to own a 5" M27 for all that time and not shoot it. Shame, shame!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I've only had these for about 20 years and haven't gotten around to shooting them yet. Would that be a sin too?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Attached Images

	27-2 5 inch .jpg (31.6 KB, 120 views)
	27-2 357 Mag Nickel.jpg (32.2 KB, 124 views)

Yep, it's a sin.

Back in 2006, my LGS had a NIB M27, nickel & 8 3/8" barrel. I bought it, found a 5" nickel barrel, and had David Clements swap barrels. It was a great shooter! Ain't no safe queens at my house.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Oh you guys! This weekend I think I need to take my 3 1/2" and 5" 27s for an outing at the club. They've been neglected too long.

Now THAT's a sin...

Show me a 8 3/8 of any S&W for sale and I'll probably come home with me.

don't worry, it's in regular use since I own it. This 5" is too much fun not to shoot it

regards
Ulrich

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Life is too short to own a bad gun