I broke out of my usual S&W collection zone today (I pretty much live in the 1896-1961 forum) and ordered a current production revolver: The eight-shot 627 "Blood Work" gun that is again in the catalog after years of absence.

That's not what they call it, of course. It's a Performance Center 627 with a 2-5/8" barrel, similar to the original Blood Work revolver that was actually called -- I think -- the .357 UDR. I guess these are steady sellers, because my LGS placed the order for me and said they were told the gun was back-ordered. I gave them a deposit to keep from slipping further back in the line and told them to call me when they had further news.

So my question to the forum is: In your experience, is backorder status at S&W a short-term thing, or does it go on for months? I'm just trying to calibrate my expectations here. I have a birthday coming up in about eight weeks, and if I can't count on having this on time, I'm going to have to look for something else too, as long is it will arrive closer to the day.

I've wanted one of these for a while and recently decided just to stop waiting.

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David Wilson

Welcome to the 1980 and newer section and you picked a good one to start the with. Many have got them and they just love them. Hope you get it fast and enjoy it at the range.

My local pusher has had seemingly no trouble keeping the PC627 UDR in stock - the 629 variant seems more difficult. That's good and bad news for me - I loved my first new production one, bought thirteen months ago, so much, I bought it a friend last October. What a revolver!

Here are my pair, one in a Lobo Leather holster; both sporting the S&W Accessories #414170000 grips, which fit my hands better:



Be sure to take some lemon wedges to chew on when you take it to the range to shoot. Otherwise, folks will see you smiling like a possum-eatting-poop-out-of-a-hairbrush - and they'll think you're just not 'right'! Seriously - uber-fun! 5starfirearms.com makes a great machined aluminum speedloader and loading plate for it, too - and Ranch Products makes the moonclips for $50/50. Congratulations - and here's to a short wait!

Stainz

I was not aware that this actually happens. Either way, it's one hell of a revolver -- and the first gun I ever bought. No regrets here.

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Calmer than you are.

David, like you, I've been comtemplating getting one of these snubbies. The only thing holding me back was the hope they would make one without the....... Since that appears remote, I'll be making the search for a PC627 one of my top priorities.

That gun would look awesome with a pair of Ahrends retro combats, or a pair of Spegels.

I have a Smith 1911sc bobtail on backorder for some 3 weeks now, so expect somewhat of the same as far as availability.

Wilson, I just checked 4 distributors for inventory. I found one 627 available, the rest were out of stock. Bob!

You'll LOVE it.

As a shameless plug for me, I found my holy grail gun this morning (THANK YOU SCOTT !!!!! ) and just posted my 627 UDR in classifieds. If you don't want to wait...

mine with Spegels Maple grips...

\

ladder13,

Here is one of my PC627 UDR's with Ahrends cocobolo retro targets:



Here is my 627 collection. The Pro sports a Jerry Miculek grip, the UDR below it sports rounded non-fg cocobolo Ahrends, and the retro targets are on the left hand UDR. All feel great - the PC shop ones on the first post's image feel the best - to me.



I just didn't like the OEM Eagle boots - even after I got a properly fitted pair.

Stainz

I got one and had to get it dirty right away.

Well I took it out and ran a few hundred rounds thru it. I ran 150 158gr JHP full power that had Winchester primers that were too hard for my other guns to be reliable with. Every one went off first try, even without the moon clip. I ran some hot 135 SWC same story. I also had some 158 Moly coated SWC loaded hot. All shot comfortable. I also shot some 125 gr JHP that I lost the data on but ran over the chrono at 1400 and change, that was a bit to snappy for fast follow ups.



I had to change my practice routine however, normally I have two IDPA targets set up. I draw, do a Mozambique, re-holster, then draw do a Mozambique, speed loader re-load then another Mozambique, re-holster and repeat until done, with a mix of movement strong hand only etc…
Now I have 2 extra rounds so I throw in a couple extra head shots. I have been carrying this gun around a lot.




It is a fast handling gun with enough weight to keep it from bucking like a bronco. The last few reloads were 38SPL and it felt like I was shooting a 22. ( that could be because of all the full power 357s )

If anybody else is contemplating getting one of these I think you would be very happy with it, I got this one at the S&W shooting sports center. it was in stock.

I did put rubber Crimson Trace grips on it. I like rubber and the laser but wood looks better.

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Shoot fast & live long
Warren

Sweet, sweet wheelgun.

I, too, am waiting on one of these beauties.



Let's hope our wait is short.

I love mine. Still cannot believe I found one of the original blood works guns at a local gun show, especially since i found it on Sunday around noon. A better part of 20,000 people walked buy it over the two day period and people must have balked at the $1300 price tag. I knew better though.
Here is how it looked sitting on the table.

And here it is with the grips replaced with combat grips next to a 627-0

So I'm still waiting for my back-ordered 627-5, but there has been an interesting development. I have continued to buy C&R handguns in the interim, and I use the same LGS to handle the transfers. When I was in there a couple of days ago to pick up an early .38 Regulation Police (thread in the 1896-1961 section) I asked if there was any update on the back order and got a laugh; they tell me their order service doesn't do updates; they know a back-ordered item is available again when it shows up in one of their daily deliveries.

So I sighed and let my eyes roll over the revolver case to see if there were any new items, and -- Holy Cow! -- there was a short-barrel 627-5 PC exactly like the one I had ordered.

So I asked to look at it and within just a couple of minutes knew that this was a model that a serious S&W guy really needed at least two of. And laid down the money.

The gun has the whole package and a couple of extras -- two sets of auxiliary grips, a speedloader -- everything except maybe the fired cartridge case in its envelope, which might have been under the foam. The gun looks unfired, but the range owner said that the consignor was just obsessive about cleaning weapons after a range trip.

My C&R license and CA supplementary certificate don't speed the acquisition process for a gun that is less than 50 years old, so I have to go through the 10-day wait before I can pick this one up. But I will be able to get it a week from tomorrow.

I doubt S&W has terminated production on what appears to be a popular model, so at some point these will begin coming off the assembly line again. At that time I'll be able to pick up the one I ordered, and in the meantime I'll be able to shoot the one I just found.

I didn't look at the date code on the case. The serial number starts CPZ; does anyone know what year that SN prefix was in use? The gun is definitely not one of the original Blood Work guns; it has the IL and was shipped in a plastic case rather than the metal box. Obviously it is from a later production run.

Pictures in a week or so!

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David Wilson

I bought mine NIB in September 2010 and it has the prefix CPF.

Congratulations! You're going to love this gun and, like Stainz, be happy to have two (eventually).

Picked it up today; I'll take some pics and post them over the weekend, but those of you who love this model already know what it looks like.

Turns out the CPZ guns (or at least this one) must date to earlier this year; the date on the cartridge case envelope is in February 2011, so the gun is less than six months old. There is cylinder face discoloration, so it was fired some. But the gun was fanatically maintained, and the bore and chambers are spotless.

If I hadn't had others waiting for me in the car, I would have stayed at the range long enough to try it out. But I'll get back there in the next several days and give it a good test. Watch for a range report!

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David Wilson

quick question regarding this model, what kind of after market grips does it take, n-frame round? l-frame round? thanks.

There are several listed on GunBroker currently, including an original 1 of 300, no lock, that's started @ $2,000.

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

The gun is a round butt N-frame.

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David Wilson

This is not the new one I ordered, as we are still waiting for production to resume in Springfield. This is the used gun I found while I was waiting for the new one to come in.

First, since all these guns look pretty much the same, here's a photo with a distinctive kinder, gentler theme:




With that out of the way, let's go to a close-up:




A lot of stuff came with this gun, including a Hogue monogrip that I didn't bother to photograph since it would just look like a black lump. The larger grips were on the gun when I got it, but my fingers just don't fit the standard finger grooves unless I'm wearing gloves or wrap band-aids around the bases of my fingers. So I put the smaller boot grips on. They feel right.




Funny how subjective impressions work. This gun looks light, so I am always surprised by its weight when I pick it up. I know my other N-frames with longer barrels are heavier, but they don't seem so when I am holding them at arm's length.

Can't wait to get this to the range.

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David Wilson

Great looking gun.
Only the price, has kept me from getting one of these, and it's a bit further down on my want list also.

D.W.,

Re your upcoming range trip... don't forget the lemon pieces... you'll need something to get the smile off your face!

Re your back-ordered PC627. I claimed I needed a duplicate for... home protection, yeah, that was it! The 327 Night Guard I had wanted was only a couple of bucks less - and I had just found out that it was not moonclip ready, like the UDR's... so, I had to buy a 'backup'...

I predict you'll be happy as can be. Congratulations!

Stainz

PS Two different dealers complained yesterday about S&W's current revolver availability vs that of various M&P's - mainly the 15's - like the low end 'Sport' version, available locally for as little as $629! They, as well as 9mm & .45 handguns, seem in abundance.

Any of you folks carry this around for self protection or mostly just range work?

Range and home defense for me. For carry I imagine I would look at something a little lighter.

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David Wilson

Finally! A few minutes at the range for a get-acquainted session.



16 rounds of .38 Special wadcutter at 50 feet, two-hand standing. That may be the tightest 50-foot group I have ever shot with a new gun. What a pleasure to have a revolver that hits where I think I am aiming! I knew at the moment of release that those outside rounds were fliers. I could tell that the center hits were good as the gun went off. I am really pleased!

I shot most of a box of .357 out of it too. My groups were a little looser, though still respectable by old-guy/old-eyes standards. Those boot grips are not ideal for the .357 loads, though the gun's mass keeps them from being too punishing. I'm going to have to find some wider wood with a rounder edge to protect the base of my thumb. I started to develop a blister there for the first time in a long time.

The big smile warning from Stainz was completely appropriate. I could not have been happier with the way this gun performed.

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David Wilson

Congrats! I had to replace the grips as well. I put on these bill Jordan style grips by Herret. Much larger for bear paws like mine.

I carry mine nearly every day.

Of all my handguns, I enjoy shooting this one the most. I replaced the small factory grips for a set of Kim Ahrends Retro Combat round butt grips in cordia wood. I also replaced the relatively fragile factory adjustable rear sight with a Bowen Rough Country adjustable rear sight.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

I'm a fan....seen here with factory Combats, Eagle Heritage, and Ahrends Retro Combats respectively:







...and I agree that they are fine-shooting revolvers; my only complaint was that my gun (new from Budsgunshop) looked like it had rattled around in a toolshed for a while. S&W re-beadblasted on their dime.

--Neill

That must have been aggravating to discover the marred finish when you got it from Bud's and I suspect the "handling marks" occurred after it left the factory. In any case, it's good that Smith & Wesson made it right for you. FWIW, the finish on mine was flawless and I suspect this is the case more often than not.

Looks great now especially when sporting those Ahrends!

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

The gun I bought had barely been in Buds' warehouse 24 hours when I bought it....I'm pretty sure (based on the condition of other guns I've bought from them) that those guys don't hold guns long enough to ding the finish, and I don't think this one ever made it to a retail shelf.

And yeah - love the Ahrends retros -- they are fantastic looking/feeling/shooting grips.

--Neill

Probably considered as blasphemy as far a looks go...Pachmayr K frame Compaqs are my preferred grip for actually carrying and shooting mine.

Even though they are k-frame grips, this particular set fits perfectly...feel great as well...looks, oh well.

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C & L

I don't think they look bad at all, C&L. Do you think if I bought a set of these they'd fit on my 627? Did you have to alter them at all?

Thanks!

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

Steve...I've got three sets of Pachmayr Compaq K-frame round butt grips. Two of the three fit a round butt N-frame just fine. The 3rd set would fit with just a minimal amount of rubber removal.

I've got one set on the 627-PC and the other set is on a 2.5" model 629-5. Set number three is on a roundbutt K-frame.

No guarantee on the fit but I'd say the chances are good. The rubber is forgiving and stretches some...no gaps. I'd say its worth a try.

I've tried some of the newer Pachmayr Compaq grips from a N-frame Night Guard. They work fine but are somewhat "fatter." I sold those.

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C & L

DANG IT!!! I want one SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad!!!!!

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

Thanks for your comments, amigo. I'm going to give it a try!

I love the wood grips, but I carry this revolver quite a bit and, as I'm sure you know, they tend to take a beating in everyday use.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)