Model 27 Classic picture please?

[Patrick L]

Anybody got a new 27 Classic handy they could snap a quick pic of the topstrap checkering? I'm told it's pretty God awful compared to the originals, but I have never actually seen one in person.

[professor chaos]

How's this?

[Sevens]

Great first post, Professor!

[03hemi]

Looks pretty awful to me?
S&W should be ashamed to put something like that out?

[CH4]

I agree
To my eyes it's a pretty pathetic attempt at trying to replicate the appearance of a real 27, 627, 627-0 and 627-1. They should have left it alone. Real 27s also have checkered barrel ribs that match the top strap and rear sight tang.

[Sevens]

Could we not also make the argument that S&W is generally making poor attempts to re-create the older guns we love so much anyway, across the board?

Of all the models I find curious, nothing seems more silly than their "classic" series where they make a fake copy of an old flagship model and put an ILS on it. I just don't know what the target market is.

Apologies if this offends anyone. The fact is that there are plenty originals out there to be found and loved, and they are worth the asking price. The new ones make little sense to me.

[S-W4EVER]

The checkering on my new 27-9 Classic looks nothing like that on my old 27-2.

[Hair Trigger]

Originally Posted by Sevens

Could we not also make the argument that S&W is generally making poor attempts to re-create the older guns we love so much anyway, across the board?

Of all the models I find curious, nothing seems more silly than their "classic" series where they make a fake copy of an old flagship model and put an ILS on it. I just don't know what the target market is.

Apologies if this offends anyone. The fact is that there are plenty originals out there to be found and loved, and they are worth the asking price. The new ones make little sense to me.

I'm glad you said that, so I didn't have to.

[Shark Bait]

Here is my shooter grade pre-model 27 for comparison.

[Patrick L]

Sorry I'm late checking back. Thank you for the pictures.

Yes, its definitely not as nice. Maybe God awful was a bit extreme, but definitely not what I would call "checkering." It looks like a chessboard grid just laser engraved or something like that. I have two old 27-2s, I'll stick with that!

Thanks again!

[UncleEd]

I've never quite understood
the whoop-de-do about the
Model 27's checkering as
opposed to the Model 28's
plain look.

Call me a rube but I think
the checkering was very
much a useless embellishment.

[Sevens]

Certainly a minority opinion.

[Patrick L]

It certainly was a useless embellishment. BUT, there are times in life when you just want the bling.

For most of my life, I never could afford a 27. Or perhaps I should say justify. There were bills to pay, the mortgage, braces, etc. I owned 2 different 28s, and they were fine, serviceable revolvers that served me well.

At this stage of my life, I want the glitz!! So I now own two 27s. A 6 inch blue and a SHINY long tom! After all, I deserve them!

But they shoot no better than those mundane 28s did all those years ago.

[professor chaos]

Originally Posted by Patrick L

Sorry I'm late checking back. Thank you for the pictures.

Yes, its definitely not as nice. Maybe God awful was a bit extreme, but definitely not what I would call "checkering." It looks like a chessboard grid just laser engraved or something like that. I have two old 27-2s, I'll stick with that!

Thanks again!

I'll agree with most here, the original checkering was much nicer looking. Heck, it was real checkering.

That said, this meets my needs nicely. I'm not a Smith & Wesson collector, and if I was, I'd probably still be happy with this one that I can shoot and carry guilt free. I'd hate to put wear on a collectible revolver.

Anyone want a picture of the hammer and firing pin? Or would that get people too riled up?

[rom141]

So this thread looked like a good place to say this. As a relatively new "collector" (previously just a "shooter") I have been struggling with the same arguments I see here about the vintage revolvers versus the new "classics". It all started for me with the acquisition of both a pre-27 and then a pre-29, both of which were in such good shape and made me smile just to hold them that I began to question whether I should ever shoot them. I went looking for shooter versions of the models, only to encounter two problems. 1 - in the current market even well used versions of these vintage revolvers are hard to find and if you do track one down they are still pretty expensive. 2 - well, they are used, and they show it. I am a bit of an OCD I guess when it comes to the artistic nature of owning and USING these guns, so while a well worn pre-27 or 29-2 may fit the bill for just getting the range effect, I still wanted something that is pleasing to the eye and fun to show off. So I ended up buying both a "classic" 27 and a "classic "29". Needless to say I was originally very disappointed for a lot of the same reasons already stated here and in a LOT of other posts on this board. BUT, after a lot of reading and excellent advice from way more experienced and smarter people than me here, I found some compromises that in the end really worked out. An S&W is an S&W, and if you take the time (and yes, albeit a little money as well) to tweak the new "classics", they can fulfill a very much needed gap in the "I don't want to shoot my vintage, but I need the thrill of shooting my vintage" problem. At the advice of very sage posters here on this board I made grip changes, trigger improvements, and other minor adjustments that in the end gave me the same thrill to shoot a very fine action and very good looking revolver just like I was shooting the vintage, but all the while it is safely tucked away in the the safe. Just my two cents...

[Hair Trigger]

Originally Posted by UncleEd

I've never quite understood
the whoop-de-do about the
Model 27's checkering as
opposed to the Model 28's
plain look.

Call me a rube but I think
the checkering was very
much a useless embellishment.

It's the difference between a 1957 Chevy BelAir (M28) and a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.(M27)

[damienph]

I have two 28-2 Highway Patrolman, a 4” and a 6”. They are fine revolvers. I also have a 27-9 that is also a fine revolver. All three are very accurate.

I agree that the checkering and bluing on my 27-9 isn’t as nice as an older model 27 or a registered magnum however it didn’t cost nearly as much as one of them either.

I did replace the new grips with an older pair of Targets.

[damienph]

My 27-9 with my two 28-2s.

As it came NIB.

[crazyphil]

I used to have this model 27 but in a moment of temporary insanity
I sold it. Kinda wish I still had it.

[CH4]

Originally Posted by UncleEd

I've never quite understood
the whoop-de-do about the
Model 27's checkering as
opposed to the Model 28's
plain look.

Call me a rube but I think
the checkering was very
much a useless embellishment.

Get a rope!

[The Norseman]

The S&W Classic/Replica 27 Tapered barrel
357Mag is on my list.

I like that Tapered barrel, it reminds me
of my Mountain Guns.

I’ve seen two now. Very well made. But at
$1300 I’ll pass for now. Wish I would have
bought the one I seen several years ago
at around $800.

Anyway, I’ll be patient.

[jdlii]

This one I carry and shoot. It was a service revolver for a Cleveland, OH detective before I acquired it and added the elk stag grips from Big Mountain Man.