A friend of mine has this 6" S&W 27-2, target trigger and hammer, patridge sight and glossy blueish finnish. Grips were swapped for some black rubber ones. He does not have the original grips, box or other asseccories. Ser no N176XXX

He asked me to figure out how many of these were made - hence why I am asking you

Welcome.
"A lot"
I don't think anyone has an answer for how many were made of a particular model, or how many in a particular barrel length.
I think the best we can do, is guesstimate the year it left the factory.

There is no way to answer your question, but the Model 27-2 was made from 1962-1982 and the six-inch length was a standard length for this model. I would guess in the many thousands.

Bill

Didn't the -2 model have the longest production run of all of them. Just goes to show you how scarcity doesn't necessarily mean it's more valuable. I have a -5 which is not nearly as common but it won't bring the price of a -2.

I would think over 20 years, I would guess tens of thousands. A beautiful
gun with a great following and lineage. A mass produced Reg. Mag. ,
with not as many options. A beautiful piece of machinery. If you dont have one, buy several.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Is there a way to close in on the estimate a bit? Does S&W themselfes know?

Just thinking out loud here...
Lets say,
25 000 S&W 27-2 was made.
80% of them with 6" barrel
80% of the 6" barrel ones had patridge sights
50% of the above had target hammer and trigger
80% of them was blued

That gives 25 000 x .8 x .8 x .5 x .8 = 6 400 in this configuration

What do you think?

I doubt S&W bothered to track the numbers made by barrel length. They could find out by doing a manual audit of their shipping records, but that wouldn’t make them any money.

I’d say 25,000 is way low. The 27-2 was produced with both S and N serial number prefixes. N serial numbers reached 900,000 and included 8 different models, but the 27, 28 and 29 seem to be the most common. S&W only made about 20,000 model 58’s and about 3000 model 520’s, so that brings it down to 6 popular models. The number of 27-2’s made probably exceeds 100,000, but that’s just a semi-educated guess.

Virtually all of the 6” 27-2’s had a Patridge front sight and as Doc44 said, it was the most common length. All of the 27-2’s made after the mid-1970’s came standard with a target trigger, target hammer, target stocks and a presentation case. I’ve heard it said that about 10% were nickel plated.

I can personally account for 5 27-2’s and two of them have 6” barrels.





If you want to see just how popular the model 27’s are, check out this thread. It’s over 12 years old and some of the photo links are dead, but it has over 500 replies.

The Ultimate Model 27 Thread!

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"I also cook."

Post number 7 above is very helpful. While the actual numerology is lost or never truly existed as an intentional record, a relative answer that many would give is “too few “.

As a spiritual and mechanical descendent of the Registered Magnum, the model 27–2 is iconic to many of us. The caliber is accessible, and for many years 38 Special ammunition was also so affordably abundant that we took it for granted. Then, underlying all this was the storied history of the creation of the 357 Magnum in the 1930s, and the tales of its prowess in the hunting fields of yore.

When loaded with appropriate 357 Magnum ammunition, either from a factory or from ones on loading bench, it was powerful, lively to handle, yet not overwhelming in recoil or cost. In a sense, a combination never to be found again. (Of course, about 20 years after its creation, along came the 44 Magnum, and its own great history.)

All best to your friend with his classic .357 revolver. May it serve him with great pleasure for years to come.

Given the number of posts I've seen in that and other threads, and yours just now, I'd say there are significantly fewer owners of M27's as there are M27's.

Like the OP's friend, I only have the one, but consider myself fortunate to be on the list of M27 owners, what I think is an elite group within the hordes of firearms owners.

Mine, a 1977 vintage:

Attached Images

M27-2.jpg (193.1 KB, 29 views)

The other (not mentioned yet?) is the N prefix SNs were on a number of different models, including the 25, 27, 29, 57, 58 and 520. Of these the 27 and 29 were 'probably' the most popular, but without factory data production numbers are just guesses.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Here's another one. The value comes from the quality, not it's rarity.

Attached Images

Nickel 27-2.JPG (42.4 KB, 31 views)

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The best I can with what I got

The Rm and the non RM and the pre 27 as well as the 27-2 where the best of the lot. Here is a 27-2 S prefix.

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DSCN0941 (1).jpg (61.5 KB, 24 views)

I've owned 9 "27s" and only four of them were -2s and only one had a 6" barrel and it was nickel.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

With regards to a remark in a previous post, why is the -2 "the best of the lot"?

The S&W .357 Magnum and the Model 27s have always been considered the flagships of the Smith line.

I am fortunate enough to have five; all 27-2s. The workmanship is superb, fit and finish is outstanding, action is smooth, sighting is precise, accuracy is incredible, and pinned and recessed to boot. All have the unique checkered topstraps & barrel ribs, are in excellent condition and have wood presentation cases.

Here is my lineup of these beauties -

John

6-inch nickeled:


5-inch nickeled:


8 3/8-inch nickeled and blued:


And my pride and joy 3.5-inch blued:

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I agree that the -2's were beautiful pistols. However I do not see where they are any more beautiful than my -5 below. Still hand assembled, checkered top strap and barrel rib, everything as smooth as though it were on bearings. Plus, a gorgeous deep dark blue. While the P&R guns may enjoy added enthusiasm by collectors it adds nothing for a shooter. My 19-3 is a P&R gun but it would make no difference if it wasn't. The grips pictured are not correct but I've always preferred the look of the football grips so I didn't complain. It should have the speedloader cutout grips.

Attached Images

DSCN2175.jpg (93.1 KB, 22 views)

The rare one is the four inch 27-2