I've been anxiously awaiting this letter. It arrived last week. It's for my 1977 27-2 6" Full Target Model
It's by far my favorite revolver- honestly, I like it even better than the 3.5" 27-2 - to me, those 6" mid 70's Target Modles are just Masterpieces. They feel like no other in hand - that .500" Hammer & .500" Trigger along of course, with those Tigerwood Stocks are just amazing ergonomically! & that 6" barrel with .357 magnum power really reaches out there. Imo, they're just hard to beat. Yall will probably remember I did a thread about this one with my daughter shooting it. At any rate, I had already learned from Mr. Jinks that this 27-2 was made in November 1977. Well, my birthday is in November- the 27th. But, not in 1977.
I thought how cool would it be if this 27-2 was shipped out on my birthday- well, it was close! It was shipped out on November 28th 1977! Just 1 day after- BUT, the 28th of November in 1997 was a Monday, so I'm saying this went out on my birthday as they probably didn't ship out guns on Sundays lol!
Lol, this is no big deal by any means, just thought it would be fun to share. It didn't go far though..as you can see in the below pic
Thanks for letting me share this...
http://northwest savings bank locations

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Paul

Very Nice ! Yours went out 3 months before mine did, which was Feb 1978. My SN is not long after yours, N4479xx.

My letter says mine shipped in the presentation case, with no cardboard box. Did you get box and papers with yours?

Where in the Blue Ridge of NC do you live?

Very cool! My most recent purchase was a 27 - 2 6" blued unfired in presentation case with tools and paper work. You can't beat those N frames. My serial # is N440670 They are awesome firearms. Congrats!

Paul,

A slight correction if I may. From the letter, your Model 27-2 shipped on 28 November, 1977. No way to be positive of when it was made. They were built and put in storage until shipped, often out of sequence.

Still, a nice revolver.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Thanks man! Yeah, I've got the Presentation Case but, no paper work.
I live in Avery County - it's where Grandfather Mtn is and the next County over going NE is Watauga home of Appalachian State University and the other County beside us going SW is Mitchell County - Mt. Mitchell
But, we also Border Tennessee which I'm 5 minutes from.

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Paul

Still, it went out on my bday 😃
That's my story & I'm stickin to it.

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Paul

Congratulations Birthday Boy...that's a beautiful revolver! My 6" 27-2 is one of my favorites, too...and it's only a couple of months or so younger than yours (s/n N479553). I was able to pick this one up about 10 years ago from a local private seller...his wife bought it for him as a birthday present in 1978! Enjoy!

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	P1000510.jpg (181.6 KB, 50 views)
	Model 27-2002.jpg (143.5 KB, 40 views)

Ha! Thank you! 😊
& oh mercy! That's a real gem you have right there!
That's like straight from Roosevelt Avenue!
Man, I had one before, like that with case intact and all & sold it to an awesome member here,.but I instantly regretted it! I was after a 3.5" & don't get me wrong, I loved the 3.5" but, those 6" full target models are just special imo.
Thanks again sir 🙏

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Paul

Iirc Westfield MA borders Springfield MA and is just a few miles west of the factory.

Not to be argumentative, but to dig a little in to the details of the conversation -- couldn't we also conclude that if we wanted to claim a build date, the best we could do if we had the information (which we do not have) would be to choose the final date on which is was placed in to it's box?

I'm saying that the frame is forged at some point
serial number stamped after that
parts fit
disassembled again for the finish
assembled again -- wood stocks fit
test fired with proof loads

...all of which quite possibly was done in a batch process as opposed to "from start to finish" for one revolver?

For the post 1980 guns with the printed box-end labels, we use the SPEC ORDR code for a Julian date. For later guns we often use the included fired cartridge case envelope.

It would be safe to assume that in these cases, those dates may differ from what a letter request would return as a ship date?

Again, I'm only trying to flesh out some knowledge in this part of the hobby if others can share it.

I know, right! 😃
She didn't travel far

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Paul

I'm "just down the hill" from you in Catawba County. I know the area where you live like the back of my hand, I used to ramble all over Avery, Watauga, and Allegheny Counties.

As you say, not difficult for a post 1982 gun that has a Julian date on the box. But the older guns don't have that piece of information and when it actually rolled off the end of the production line could have been hours, days or even years before it was put in the mail to a dealer.

As an example, I have a M57, it has an "S" prefix serial number about halfway in the series of 1968-1969 manufacture (S319xxx), so I should be able to assume it was made in late 1968 or maybe early 1969. However, the Letter I have for the revolver tells me the ship date was on June of 1970, a year or so past the manufacture range of my SN, as 1970 SN's were in the S330000-333454 range.

Really hard to beat these old revolvers
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Paul

Fantastic grain and color on your stocks also.

No, Westfield does not border Springfield. At one time Camfour was in Springfield.

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Don Mundell

Wonderful guns! This one is an S serial number from March 1969.


Not perfect, but it will do until perfect gets here.

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When words fail, music speaks.

Thank you, sir. I love those stocks

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Paul

Pretty dang close to perfect! That's beautiful

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Paul

Just one question fellas. I see that Roy didn't mention a presentation case. I reckon it's safe to assume that it came with one? I mean, it had a case when I bought it. I reckon Roy just forgot to mention it?

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Paul

I love my guns being lettered.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

That's beautiful Kenny

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Paul

Thank you. I did add the Coke Bottles.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

Here is my 27-2, 8 3/8 barrel, 3T's 1977-78
No letter


Soon to be leaving the stable

It has all the "stuff" I never fired it, nor do I think it was, except maybe at the factory

Attached Images

DSCF1061 (Large).jpg (86.4 KB, 12 views)

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Still Running Against the Wind

Wow. That's the real deal - immaculate.

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Paul

Lord, would I LOVE to have a set of those for mine. But, it'll never happen.

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Paul

Thank you again.

I asked George Dye of Salt Lake Collectibles to find me a really
nice set and he found these for me.

They are like brand new and beautiful. He got them for me back in
March of 2020.

I know everyone likes something different but to me this $73.77
1960 "S" 6.5" S&W is the epitome of .357 Magnums.

It is one of my very favorite revolvers.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.