Hi everyone

I've just joined the forum and I just bought my first revolver which is a 627-0. I have read a small amount on them and was wondering if anyone knew some more like how many -0 models were made. I had a choice of a 686 or the 627-0. Same money second hand. Have I made the right choice.

Thanks

Welcome. I don't know how many were made, but you certainly made the right choice. For the same money, the 627-0 is the best choice every time.

Best regards, Bob

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SWCA #2785
OGCA #35078

If both guns are in comparable condition the 627-0 is worth at least twice as much. The seller doesn't know what he had in the 627-0. If the 686 was a -4 3" then I would have picked the 686.

WELCOME!

Forum member "mokuloa" is pretty much the go to guy on all things 627, if he doesn't see this thread(or other members with more info) send him a PM.

Here's mine while we wait.

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Sure you did

That is one tidy looking pistol right there.

627-0 is a remarkably accurate revolver.

All the attributes of the original 27 with modern upgrades - barrel, stainless, unfluted cylinder.

I bought mine in 89.

Yes, you made the right call.

Limited production from the gun-a-month club of the late 80's.

Limited production from the gun-a-month club of the late 80's.[/QUOTE]

What do you mean?

Sweeeeeeet!

I think production was around 5,000. Here's mine.

625 smith is yours a -0. Why is the fore sight different or are they interchangeable?

I know there was 5276 made within the model of 627 with the 276 being the first ones with no dash. S&W discovered the heavier cylinder was creating excess wear and corrected it releasing the -0 revision. Then -1 & -2 but I'm wondering how many -0 models were made.

625 smith is yours a -0. Why is the fore sight different or are they interchangeable?

What do you mean?[/QUOTE]

S&W made many special runs in 88 ~ 90, commonly called gun-of-the-month club.

I changed the front sight to a patridge front sight. I purchased my 627 used and the revolver came with night sights. The colored insert was replaced with the front night sight. The patridge front sight had to be drilled for the front sight pin.

Many thanks to Jenseyboo for reaching out to me and alerting me to this thread. I responded to him via PM and thought I would check this thread out. It has been awhile since I posted anything so to keep the interest alive here is a quick review of my favorite S&W model, the 627.

While the stainless 627 is roll stamped Model of 1989 on the barrel, it was officially “introduced” at the Las Vegas Shot Show in January 1990. S&W “Special Products Bulletin” 1991 lists 101024 as being introduced October 1989 with a MSRP of $530.00. The New Product Introduction sales sheet (undated) stated that the Model 627 would be available in November 1989.

Five years later the Model 27 was discontinued, reflecting consumer demand for stainless steel, big bores, and the success of the new L-Frame introduced in 1980. Perhaps due to the successful introduction of the L-Frame, the stainless steel N-frame .357 was never published in any of the annual Smith & Wesson catalogs during this period.

About six years of its introduction, the Smith & Wesson factory quietly discontinued the (non-PC) 627. The model designation was kept alive by the Performance Center, where it evolved to become a special purpose platform upon which for over five years they built limited run editions. (referred to above as gun of the month-which were limited runs sold exclusively to one distributor).

In 2002 the Performance Center introduced the 627-5, which became a stocked inventory item with ready availability in a number of configurations and currently available today.

Besides being made from stainless instead of carbon steel, there were a number of other obvious physical differences between the 627 and its pedigreed parent.

1. Unfluted cylinder, never offered on a 27
2. Full underlug, more in common in appearance to the 586 and 686 then to the 27
3. New barrel length of 5.5 inches, not offered since prewar
4. Heavy barrel (no taper), never offered on a 27
5. Round butt, never before offered on a 27
6. Wood, finger groove combat grips (27-6 came with Hogue rubber combat grips)
7. Heavy 50-ounces (compared to 44 ounces for 6-inch M-27)

That said there were some similarities that Model 27 fans appreciated:
1 Finely checkered top strap, barrel rib, and rear sight leaf
2 Hammer mounted firing pin
3 Forged hammer and trigger (retained on PC models)
4 Red ramp insert front sight
5 Familiar (pre-CNC) machined frame

The 627, like many S&Ws of the period, went through a number of engineering changes:
Model # Production # of Years Engineering Change
627 1989 <1 Stainless steel introduction
627-0 1989 – 1993 <5 Longer stop notches
627-1 1993 <1* Drilled and tapped top strap
627-PC 1997 – 1998 <2 Performance Center (PC) old frame, 8-shot
627-2 1998 – 2002 <5 Not PC, new CNC Frame, 6-shot
627-3 1999 – 2002 <4 PC, new frame, 8-shot
627-4 2002 <1 PC, internal lock, .38 Super, 8-shot
627-5 2003 – Current 8+ PC, internal local, .357 Magnum, 8-shot, available in several configurations.

The factory used the same product code (101024) for the 627, 627-0, and the 627-1, so while we know there were only 278 of the no dash models, I believe the 5000 production number includes the dash 0 and dash 1 variations, maybe even some "transitional" dash 2s.

In closing, an interesting side note is the 627 was not the first stainless steel N frame .357. That honor belongs to the 27SS, billed as “the only gun of its kind in existence.” This unique and presumably true stainless copy of the Model 27 was built and advertised concurrent with the Smith & Wesson 50th Anniversary .357 Magnum Revolvers first offered in 1986. The 27SS was built by Smith & Wesson for the International Shooter Development Fund to be auctioned together with a unique five-inch blue Model 27, intricately engraved and gold inlaid by master engraver Paul R. Piquette, as a fund-raiser for the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team to prepare for the 1988 Olympics.

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Thank you so much for this info Mokuloa and thankyou Ladder13 for putting me on to Mokuloa. Some very good information. If anyone is ever able to find out exactly how many of the 5000 were -0 models then please PM me as I would much like to know.

Thanks again for your help.

Makuloa,

Is that the gun that resides at Hoffmans in Newington Ct?

Bob

I believe that is the first 629 ever made, also heavily engraved and it was a fundraiser sale when made (Nra/Ila?)

I share mokuloa's enthusiasm for 627s and have managed to accumulate most of the engineering variations.

I have a 627-0, 627-2, 627PC, 627-3 PC, a 627-4 and two 627-5s. I have never had the opportunity to buy a 627 or 627-1. My dash 4 and 2 dash5s were bought used and already customized for competition shooting. The dash 4 is chambered in 38 Super and the dash 5s are357 Magnum. I run .38 Short Colt ammunition in the dash 5s for fast reloads with moonclips. These are great guns!

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Thinking about it, you are correct. It is the 629.
Beautiful piece.

Bob

The 27SS is in a private collection.
The first 627-PC 8-shot, hand built prototype, is also in a private collection.
Sadly neither is mine. ;-(
Thought I'd share a pic of the 627 no dash, from S&W product literature, note the small cylinder stop notches. I need one of these....

Attached Images

627 S&W PR photo.jpg (53.5 KB, 177 views)

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I think the winning bid was $50,000.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

As most of us who collect S&W know, the S&W factory is not in the business of catering to collectors, their business is selling guns. To that end they do not track production numbers and most of their production models over the years have serial numbers mixed in with other models.

I have been tracking the model 627 serial numbers in a personal data base for 10 years. To date I have 87 627s with product code 101024. ( I do not count the numerous 627s I have seen for sale where the serial is not given or only a partial is given.) Most of them are in the BEKXXX serial range, with a few BEFXXXX and BFPXXXX on either side, and one BKFXXXX (this gun is marked 627-0 AND 627-1, and is WISHO/German proofed). Just looking at the range between the lowest number and the highest serial number I have recorded within the common BEK range is 4,486. I cannot say for sure all of these are 627s, but it leads one to think the 5000 number is a pretty safe estimate.

In my records is a copy of factory memo from Smith & Wesson Vice President of Sporting Goods Sales, D.E. Shorb, to "All Smith & Wesson Sporting Goods Dealers" announcing the Limited Edition Model 627 Classic Hunter." It is dated October 16, 1989. It says "There will be 3,500 Model 627 distributed in the U.S. and Canada, and another 1,000 will be shipped overseas." It is probably this memo that gives rise to the generally accepted truth that 5,000 were made. I do not think we are going to ever see anything more concrete.

Anyone with a 627 no dash, dash 0, or dash 1 is invited to share that number with me via PM for my confidential data base (if you have not already done so).

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Just joined the forum. Many years ago I was a soldier stationed in Germany. I bought an 627-0 in a Rod and Gun Club on Frankfurt Airbase. I still have and I will keep it. The number is BKF 5158 marked 627-0.

Greetings.

I am a little late to this party, but better late than never. Here’s my 627-0, ser# BFP 8091.

Here’s my small sampling of 627s, a -0 and -5.

Attached Images

	72841AC4-BEB3-4CF7-91C3-C5F85F48ACFD.jpg (68.1 KB, 82 views)
	C11D7771-B97D-4144-A246-1ABD50816168.jpg (69.4 KB, 79 views)
	25B81BF7-A185-4437-81E4-0437D2EEEA1A.jpg (84.5 KB, 47 views)

I‘m new to this forum too and a brand new 627-0 owner too. I can‘t hold it in my hands yet, it‘ll arrive next week. BTW: I‘m from germany.

But I already know the serial number, it‘s BPR2460, not yet mentioned in this thread. ;-)

Like a long absent buddy it is really nice to see this thread circle back. Thank you for posting serial numbers as well.

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627-0, S/N BEK4873