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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 07-23-2009, 02:41 PM
Patriot09 Patriot09 is offline
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Default Stainless Steel 27-2

Can anyone help me out with some info. I acquired a near mint S&W .357 model 27-2, 3.5 in barrel, Stainless Steel, not nickle plated, pistol. Serial number is N102703, under the grip on the left side reads G7 & 12829, and on the right side it has the letter J in a triangle and the letter K in a circle... Any info plus frame size would be excellent...

Thanks
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:07 PM
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Look on the face of the cylinder on under the left grip for a letter "N"
It's nickel..........
I am sure it is a beautiful gun that you will cherish forever!
Peter
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:17 PM
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Welcome to the forum!


This has come up here before. I believe that exactly one M-27 was made in stainless steel, and it was a 5 or 6" gun.

If you don't believe that yours looks like nickel, then I doubt that yours is nickel either. I'd bet good coin that it is some sort of industrial chrome or after market finish.
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:18 PM
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If it really looks like stainless steel, it has likely been refinished with a hard chrome or matt stainless finish. There were no stainless 27-2's produced. If it's just shiney, then it's likely factory nickel. If in fact factory, there will be a N stamped on frame and cylinder.
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:22 PM
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Armoloy is a matte gray finish that looks, and weras, a lot like stainless. It doesn't add any appreciable thickness to the base metal and is impervious to almost everything. I don't know of any method to check if the finish is Armoloy as it bonds to the metal once applied.
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Old 07-23-2009, 06:36 PM
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Thanks for the input so far... I assumed Stainless because it is a matte finish and doesn't have any bright shine to it. However I put a magnet to it and it definately isn't stainless. The face of the cylinder has a number 2 on it. The only N on the gun is in the serial number and in Wesson "of course".. A relative got this gun in Pensacola when he was a cop back in the 70's.
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Old 07-23-2009, 06:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patriot09 View Post
Thanks for the input so far... I assumed Stainless because it is a matte finish and doesn't have any bright shine to it. However I put a magnet to it and it definately isn't stainless. The face of the cylinder has a number 2 on it. The only N on the gun is in the serial number and in Wesson "of course".. A relative got this gun in Pensacola when he was a cop back in the 70's.
If it doesn't have an "N" stamped on the back of the cylinder or on the grip frame. I would be willing to bet even money that it is a hard-chrome refinish.
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Old 07-23-2009, 08:24 PM
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"I put a magnet to it and it definately isn't stainless".

The stainless steels used in firearms are magnetic, just like carbon steel.
A magnet will stick to them both.

I suspect you have a hard chrome plated S&W. Hard chrome plating was very popular in the south, especially in the days before stainless guns.
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Old 07-23-2009, 09:58 PM
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Armolloy or one other finish (Robar?) I can't remember were very popular in the wet climes. Joe
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Old 07-24-2009, 12:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dfariswheel View Post
"I put a magnet to it and it definately isn't stainless".

The stainless steels used in firearms are magnetic, just like carbon steel.
A magnet will stick to them both.

I suspect you have a hard chrome plated S&W. Hard chrome plating was very popular in the south, especially in the days before stainless guns.
Well 316 & 304 SS isn't magnetic.. I haven't looked at what ss grade firearms are made with... It definately looks more like stainless than nickle.. All the info is very welcomed!! If you look at the pic I attached a few replies back this pistol doesn't appear to be plated.... Thanks
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Old 07-24-2009, 12:10 AM
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Looks a lot like this Robar NP3 finish on my diamondback


Here's hard chrome matte with a polished cyl on a 586 pimp gun
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Old 07-24-2009, 12:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patriot09 View Post
Well 316 & 304 SS isn't magnetic.. I haven't looked at what ss grade firearms are made with... It definately looks more like stainless than nickle.. All the info is very welcomed!! If you look at the pic I attached a few replies back this pistol doesn't appear to be plated.... Thanks
The stainless S&W uses is mildly magnetic.
Try a moderately strong magnet on a carbon S&W, and then try the same magnet on a stainless S&W. The "pull" is noticeably less on the stainless.
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Old 07-24-2009, 09:23 AM
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Whatever the finish is on the gun, I would love to have it here in my house!
Great gun you got there no matter what! I would take it in a heartbeat!
Peter
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Old 07-24-2009, 11:40 AM
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I was always under the impression that the stainless in S&W's was non-magnetic, so I went down and used a magnet on both a Mod. 60 and a 686, and yes it stuck to both! Guess you are never too old to learn something.
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Old 07-24-2009, 01:48 PM
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I would guess the 27-2 started out as a blue revolver and (like others have said) has been refinished with some type of finish that mimics stainless. Are the hammer and trigger case hardened, or have they been refinished too?

Bill
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Old 07-24-2009, 02:40 PM
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I talked with the Historian at S&W and this 1973 27-2 was only manufactured in Blue and Nickle.. So this is an aftermarket finish of some kind... After a little cleaning and the rosewood combat gribs I have on order I'm sure I'll treasure this beauty for some time... Thanks for all the responses... Great forum here!!
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Old 07-25-2009, 12:03 AM
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If the gun had this finish on it back in the 70's, I would lean towards saying it is Armoloy. I don't think Robar was around yet and the various hard chrome finishes available at that time all looked like Craftsman tools.
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Old 07-25-2009, 12:16 AM
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I believe that Smith uses 416 series stainless. Magnets will stick to it, and Smith's.
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Old 07-25-2009, 01:49 AM
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Very nice looking gun in my opinon.
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Old 07-25-2009, 04:31 AM
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Had an Armaloy Blackhawk 45 back around 1979, great finish on a tough gun. Looked a lot like the finish on your 27-2.

Shoot it and carry it with pride, great revolver.
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