Did I screw up

BC38 · #1 01-23-2021, 11:37 PM

Saw a 27-2 at the gun show today and gave it some serious thought, but just couldn't make myself pull the trigger as they say.
It was 8-3/8" barrel, 3 T's and about 90% finish remaining (maybe slightly more). Some bluing loss on both sides of the muzzle and some high edge wear - typical honest holster wear.

Biggest problem was that it was missing the rear sight. It has a scope base that uses the sight screws to secure it to the gun and a dovetail groove on top. It had an old Bushnell scope with the dovetail rail integral to the tube mounted in it.

Asking price was $800. I'm wondering if I ought to go back and wave seven Benjamins in his face and see what happens.

jimmyj · #2 01-23-2021, 11:49 PM

Return with cash in hand

bigmoose · #3 01-23-2021, 11:55 PM

Unless you’ve always wanted a long tube with holster wear, I’d say pass and save your cash for what you really want.

sigp220.45 · #4 01-23-2021, 11:56 PM

Those long-toms never did much for me. I would have passed, too.

Tom K · #5 01-24-2021, 12:25 AM

The question you have to answer is, do you WANT a 8-3/8" Model 27 with a scope mounted on it. If you're considering it just because you think it's a "bargain", that's $700-800 less that you'll have when something you actually want comes along.

My daddy always said you can go broke spending money on bargains.

ken158 · #6 01-24-2021, 12:31 AM

Be sure there are no extra holes drilled for the scope mount... Not feeling anything special here and you will be searching for a hundred dollar rear sight...

BC38 · #7 01-24-2021, 12:38 AM

There are 3 factors weighing into my decision at the moment.
1) I do not own a M27 - I've got a 4" M28-2, but no M27.
2) I don't own a single 8-3/8" revolver - 6" is the longest I currently own - and only a couple of those.
3) $800 (or better yet $700 - if I can get it for that) seems like a good price for a M27 in decent condition these days.

The biggest negative is the missing rear sight, but how hard can one be to find, and how much would one cost are the two big unknowns in my mind at this point. I'm thinking the scope base and scope could be sold for enough to offset a lot of the cost of the sight.

That's why I started this thread - to get some feedback.

As for saving the money for something I want more, there really aren't that many more guns I can actually say I REALLY want - and my gun fund is still pretty fat from working for the census last fall.

lrrifleman · #8 01-24-2021, 01:12 AM

BC38, I have a Model 27 (I think it's a -2) that I bought used in the early 1990s. It had the 3Ts and an 8 3/8" barrel. Personally, I would suggest that you take the plunge, but go into it with your eyes open.

I used mine (initially) for IHMSA matches. Using the old Speer 146gr half jacketed HP, that revolver was very effective on the rams at 200m. When my opportunities to shoot IHMSA dwindled, I used that revolver in local bowling pin matches. That is when disaster struck. I was shooting a pin match in the early to mid 1980s, and the extractor star separated from the extractor rod.

I contacted S&W CS, explained the problem, and was told that the existing supply of -2 parts was exhausted and they would have to replace the entire cylinder assembly with -3 parts, and the cost would be about $400, at that time. I visited my trusted gunsmith, and he had it repaired in under an hour at the cost of $35. I was told that the parts that failed had been press fit. He welded the offending parts, worked his magic, and refinished the assembly.

The point of this, is that no matter what the current condition, chances are good that you may have to invest in some unexpected repairs. In order to keep it a -2, you may need a true machinist/gunsmith, not a parts swapper!

mh51 · #9 01-24-2021, 01:39 AM

If it was me, I'd keep my wallet in my pocket and walk right on past it.

22hipower · #10 01-24-2021, 10:52 AM

Pretty sure I would have bought it. My first S&W was a 27-2 8 3/8 and I still have it. Rear sights are not too hard to find; eBay is a pretty good source. Given that most 27-2s are in the $1000+ range these days I'd have tried to buy it for $700 especially if it still wears factory stocks. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Barbarian-CBX · #11 01-24-2021, 10:52 AM

What grips did it have? I have a 27- 2 8 3/8". I can't remember it the sight leaf is checkered. There are several non checkered sight leafs (or should I say leaves? I was never good in geography) on Ebay ($76). $700 for a shooter doesn't sound to badly to me. But I love '60s and '70s N frames.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Pine_Worker · #12 01-24-2021, 11:10 AM

I bought a 27-2 with an after market sight on it. 27-2 rear sights are checkered like the top of the barrel rib. They are extremely hard to find.I found one at Jack First. One! Pretty expensive. I ended up buying all the parts separately and assembled one for under $100. But it took several weeks. Food for thought.

BC38 · #13 01-25-2021, 12:44 AM

Well, unfortunately things didn't work out for me to get back to the gun show today and somehow I lost the card I wrote the seller's phone number on.

Guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I got to looking at my 3rd edition of the SCSW last night and it basically looks like there is at least a small premium on pretty much every barrel length EXCEPT the 8-3/8". Interesting...

Neversink n Klapperthal · #14 01-25-2021, 08:09 AM

I love the long barrels. They were creme de la creme back in the day

SPEEDGUNNER · #15 01-25-2021, 09:59 AM

If you have to make apologies for it then it may not be a bargain.

BC38 · #16 01-26-2021, 02:37 AM

Well, maybe this one IS meant to be mine after all.
On the way back from the gunshow Saturday, I stopped at Lowes for a couple of things.
Today I stopped at Lowes again on my way home from work to pick up a 2x4.
I got out of my car and looked down and there on the ground was the business card with the seller's name and number on it.
I gave him a call and he still has it - it didn't sell.
So I'm going to meet with him Friday to take a second look.

Pine_Worker · #17 01-26-2021, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

Well, maybe this one IS meant to be mine after all.
On the way back from the gunshow Saturday, I stopped at Lowes for a couple of things.
Today I stopped at Lowes again on my way home from work to pick up a 2x4.
I got out of my car and looked down and there on the ground was the business card with the seller's name and number on it.
I gave him a call and he still has it - it didn't sell.
So I'm going to meet with him Friday to take a second look.

“Luke, it is your destiny.”

AJ · #18 01-26-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC38

Well, maybe this one IS meant to be mine after all.
On the way back from the gunshow Saturday, I stopped at Lowes for a couple of things.
Today I stopped at Lowes again on my way home from work to pick up a 2x4.
I got out of my car and looked down and there on the ground was the business card with the seller's name and number on it.
I gave him a call and he still has it - it didn't sell.
So I'm going to meet with him Friday to take a second look.

Keep us posted.

Jack Flash · #19 01-26-2021, 03:48 PM

You must like it. In that case it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

DeafSmith · #20 01-26-2021, 06:01 PM

8-3/8"?? No. Of course of you are gonna just look at the piece once a year or so when you open your safe... but lug it around?

GypsmJim · #21 01-26-2021, 06:25 PM

We all have likes and dislikes. My 8 3/8" Smiths are only less liked than my Ruger 9 1/2" and my Contender 15 incher.

I can't imagine that a rear sight would cost THAT much.

If I didn't already have one I'd ask for a reference to the seller....

BC38 · #22 01-26-2021, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeafSmith

8-3/8"?? No. Of course of you are gonna just look at the piece once a year or so when you open your safe... but lug it around?

Range toy, or possibly hunting gun since it is scoped

AJ · #23 01-26-2021, 06:38 PM

If you want it buy it. Make yourself happy. You only have to answer to yourself in the long run. If the wife is involved then talk with her. But overall only you know what you want to do. Lots of times I pick stuff up and think"I want that", then in five minutes I'll think "Just what am I going to do with that?". Others here can't figure out what they want let alone what you want or need. Again buy or pass, but make yourself happy.

bigggbbruce · #24 01-26-2021, 06:38 PM

I paid $850 for this old wore out 27-2..

Borderboss · #25 01-26-2021, 06:41 PM

I think the biggest issue is whether or not there are extra holes in the top strap that were drilled for the scope base. If not, and if there's nothing yucky going on to the top strap under that scope base, then you're probably ok.

Given that it didn't sell at the gun show, it seems like the guy will be open to making a deal. If you want to get it for $700, perhaps starting at $650 "because I have to hunt down a decades old rear sight" might work.

BC38 · #26 01-26-2021, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigggbbruce

I paid $850 for this old wore out 27-2..

Very nice! How long have you had that one? I'm guessing it's been with you a while...

BC38 · #27 01-26-2021, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borderboss

I think the biggest issue is whether or not there are extra holes in the top strap that were drilled for the scope base. If not, and if there's nothing yucky going on to the top strap under that scope base, then you're probably ok.

Given that it didn't sell at the gun show, it seems like the guy will be open to making a deal. If you want to get it for $700, perhaps starting at $650 "because I have to hunt down a decades old rear sight" might work.

Yeah, that's one of my concerns too. On the other hand, even if there's an extra screw hole or two, the sight would cover it up, and it would only be visible with the cylinder open.

Qc Pistolero · #28 01-26-2021, 09:00 PM

rear sight is easy to find;a little looking around might even get you a used one at a real good price.
And those long Tom are really fun to shoot.

JohnRippert · #29 01-26-2021, 09:11 PM

I would not have even given it a look. Only have two N frames in my accumulation and no long toms. K-frames are the perfect size for me and 6inch barrel is the longest I will own. All depends on what YOU want.

Truckin · #30 01-26-2021, 09:14 PM

Long Toms are Awesome!!!

Dieseltech56 · #31 01-26-2021, 09:19 PM

I have a 29-4 classic hunter I bought with a scope. It has extra screw holes drilled and they are threadlocked into place. Not to scare you or anything but that base might not come right off.

Needless to say mine will be wearing a scope the whole time I own it

BC38 · #32 01-26-2021, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieseltech56

I have a 29-4 classic hunter I bought with a scope. It has extra screw holes drilled and they are threadlocked into place. Not to scare you or anything but that base might not come right off.

Needless to say mine will be wearing a scope the whole time I own it

That's easy - butane micro-torch...

BC38 · #33 01-26-2021, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRippert

I would not have even given it a look. Only have two N frames in my accumulation and no long toms. K-frames are the perfect size for me and 6inch barrel is the longest I will own. All depends on what YOU want.

Love me some N-frames, I have 6, already, so this one would make Lucky # 7