I'll add another version of the 627-2. I bought mine at Rock Island Auction in April of 2007. The gun is 5" barrel with fluted cylinder, Patridge gold bead front sight(interchangeable), MIM case-colored hammer and trigger and a round butt grip wearing Hogue rubber.

The blue hard case it came in serial number matches the gun...#CCZ7294, product code 148327, spec. ord. 8327. The case also indicates the stock is SB but both the rubber Hogues on the gun and the grip frame are round butt; perhaps the stocks on my gun have been switched.

All exterior markings are laser engraved: Right side of barrel "357 Magnum" in cursive and left side Smith & Wesson in cursive. No checkering on top strap. A poster above asked the OP if the example he was discussing was a Performance Center gun. The OP's answer was no and my specimen is also not PC.

This thread makes it clear why Supica and Nahas expressed confusion about 627-2s. If you have a 627-2, don't assume anyone else has one exactly like yours.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821