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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 10-29-2008, 08:28 AM
Lou_NC Lou_NC is offline
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I own a few Smiths and have been following this Forum for some time, but haven't really understood the difference(s) between the model 27 and 28. Seems to me that folks drool all over 27's but I don't hear much mention of praise for 28's. They're both N-frame .357's, right?

The reason I ask is that a fellow gun club member has two 28's for sale, supposedly LNIB, one in four inch and one in six inch. I don't own an N frame and was thinking of checking them out.

Is the 28 "as good" as the 27? What would I be giving up in an N frame with a 28?

Thanks,
Lou
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Old 10-29-2008, 08:28 AM
Lou_NC Lou_NC is offline
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I own a few Smiths and have been following this Forum for some time, but haven't really understood the difference(s) between the model 27 and 28. Seems to me that folks drool all over 27's but I don't hear much mention of praise for 28's. They're both N-frame .357's, right?

The reason I ask is that a fellow gun club member has two 28's for sale, supposedly LNIB, one in four inch and one in six inch. I don't own an N frame and was thinking of checking them out.

Is the 28 "as good" as the 27? What would I be giving up in an N frame with a 28?

Thanks,
Lou
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  #3  
Old 10-29-2008, 08:30 AM
Erik F Erik F is offline
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The 27 has more vivid bluing, as well as some nice checkering on the topstrap. Essentially, it's a "nicer" gun, but only cosmetically.

The 28 is more of a "workhorse" gun. Both are excellent choices.
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Old 10-29-2008, 08:32 AM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lou_NC:


Is the 28 "as good" as the 27? What would I be giving up in an N frame with a 28?

Thanks,
Lou
Every bit as good. Same gun. It just doesn't have the high polish and checkering of the 27.
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Old 10-29-2008, 08:40 AM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Finish, checkering, and about $100-150 more for a 27 vice a comparable 28.

As for shooting, not much; the real difference will be how well the individual revos were cared for. If they're taken care of, a 28 should perform about the same as a 27; the 27 may have come from the factory with more work on the trigger works.

28s were developed as a lower-cost version of the 27, generally for police or security sales, but were always available for general sales as well. Mechanically, they're pretty much the same under the finish, but the 27s may have had a little more attention by the fitters prior to shipping.

I've got 28s and a 27; the 28s are excellent weapons in their own right, and as far as function goes, 28s need not take a back seat to a 27. The 27 does have the high polish & checkering, and usualy shipped with nicer stocks than 28s. If cosmetic appeal is your thing, go for a 27.
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Old 10-29-2008, 09:02 AM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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I have a Model 27. The Model 28 is just as good. I've owned a Model 28 in the past. Both are as good as it gets in .357 Magnum.
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Old 10-29-2008, 09:27 AM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Funny that you mention that the 28 doesn't get as much talk here. The Model 28 seems to have developed a cult following on this forum.

<------------Model 28 Cult member
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Old 10-29-2008, 09:51 AM
Andy Taylor Andy Taylor is offline
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Everything already said is correct. Here is a little background:

The .357 Magnum (M27) was the first gun ever chambered in .357 magnum (cartridge) It was S&W's premium gun. Rich deep bluing, a checkered topstrap, overall a very finely finished product, that also functioned very well as a law enforcement weapon. Almost twenty years later it was still the only .357 magnum around. Many LE agencies wanted the gun, but could not afford the premium price tag. About this same time Colt launched their first .357. S&W decided that a lower priced utilitarian version was in order and the Highway Patrolman (M28) was born. The Combat Magnum (M19) also came into being in this general time frame as well as a smaller, lighter alternative to the big N frame .357 magnums.
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Old 10-29-2008, 10:13 AM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Also barrel length is only 4" and 6" for the M28, the M27 was avaiable in 3 1/2", 4" (rare), 5", 6", 8 3/8" and maybe others.
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Old 10-29-2008, 10:13 AM
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And I am finding that 27s seem to be CHEAPER than 28s due to this "cult following"!
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Old 10-29-2008, 12:25 PM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Quote:
Originally posted by toroflow1:
And I am finding that 27s seem to be CHEAPER than 28s due to this "cult following"!
In some instances, this seems to be the the case.
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Old 10-29-2008, 12:51 PM
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Thanks, everyone! Very educational (as always for this forum)!

Lou
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Old 10-29-2008, 12:59 PM
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Hey, I just thought of another question. Is there such a thing as a 627, and 628?

I know S&W made a 625 and 629, just wondering if they ever came out with SS versions of the 27 and 28?

Thanks,
Lou
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Old 10-29-2008, 01:23 PM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Quote:
What's the difference between a 27 & 28?

These days, about a hundred bucks
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Old 10-29-2008, 02:07 PM
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lou_NC:
Hey, I just thought of another question. Is there such a thing as a 627, and 628?

I know S&W made a 625 and 629, just wondering if they ever came out with SS versions of the 27 and 28?

Thanks,
Lou
There is a 627, but no 628 model was ever made, to my knowledge.
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  #16  
Old 10-29-2008, 07:41 PM
shawn mccarver shawn mccarver is offline
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What's the difference between a 27 & 28? What's the difference between a 27 & 28?  
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lou_NC:
I own a few Smiths and have been following this Forum for some time, but haven't really understood the difference(s) between the model 27 and 28. Seems to me that folks drool all over 27's but I don't hear much mention of praise for 28's. They're both N-frame .357's, right?

The reason I ask is that a fellow gun club member has two 28's for sale, supposedly LNIB, one in four inch and one in six inch. I don't own an N frame and was thinking of checking them out.

Is the 28 "as good" as the 27? What would I be giving up in an N frame with a 28?

Thanks,
Lou
They are the same gun machanically, but the 27 is finished to a higher degree and has more polishing and the checkered top strap, while the 28 has a matte finish and sandblasted top strap.

If those things are not important to you, then the 28 is just as good in all other respects.
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Old 10-29-2008, 08:52 PM
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I don't think that there's a lot in common between the 27 and the 627 except that they're both N-frames. The 27 is a blued, 6-shot revolver. The 627 is stainless and, in it's current configuration, is an 8-shooter. There are several Performance Center variations of the basic 627. I fired a 627 recently, for the first time. It's a nice gun. Personally, I prefer my 686s to the 627 and I suspect that's because the slightly smaller frame of the 686 fits my hand just a bit better.
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  #18  
Old 10-30-2008, 02:38 PM
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27's & 28's? What More could a guy ask for? 19's,66's,29's....But a 28 is a Helluva great start....And if you only had ONE .38/.357, you'd have ONE of THE Best!...Great Revolver, the 28!
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Old 10-30-2008, 08:11 PM
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Love the 27 and the 28 in all barrel lengths...although a 5" feels perfect to me and only comes on the 27. I do have a lovely "hybrid" 28 in 4" that had been polished and high luster blued in a past life...I worked it over inside and out and use it for steel plates...best 357 I ever shot IMHO...here it is...
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Tags
357 magnum, 627, 629, cartridge, checkering, colt, highway patrolman, m19, m27, m28, model 19, model 27, model 28, model 625, n-frame, patrolman, performance center

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