The Long-Barreled Smith & Wesson Thread

[TDC]

Yep, semperfi71 .... They do work great to tighten up barbed wire. They also make great bumper jack handles and you can pound the barrel into the ground to hook your winch cable to when ya get stuck. It usually doesn't bend it too much and sometimes you can just shoot the mud out of the barrel when yer done.

Some say it's a great nose picker too.... but only if ya get a Patridge front blade on it and have large nostrils.... My wife uses one to press raw meat into the meat grinder.... There just ain't no barrel length as useful as the 8 3/8...... I love the 8 3/8 Mags! Been hunting with them for 35 years...

 

[semperfi71]

Jeff Cooper shot one in .44 Magnum. He claimed it tamed the hottest .44 loads available. I agree, full house .44 Magnum reloads in mine are quite comfortable.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

This S prefix 29-2 shipped July '69-

 

[turnerriver]

A nickel M 27 & a M 57, holster is a Lawrence.
Regards,
turnerriver
SWCA 1426

 

[Pilgrim]

please delete

 

[paperboy98]

Finally, a post I can actually respond to! Call it "Barrel Envy" or whatever, but I have always loved the 8 3/8" Smiths. I'm a big guy with big hands and they just feel "right" to me. They also look cool. I have the following, all with 8 3/8" tubes:
16-4
617
25-5
27-2 Nickel
29-2 Blue
29-2 Nickel
629
686
57 Blue
57 Nickle

I love these things. Thanks for the thread.
paperboy98

 

[Gamecock]

This thread is going to cost me money.

Joe

 

[tommy F]

very nice long S&Ws. I have several but no pics at this time.

My 8 3/8s include the following:
Pre M27 modified to SA only from A Behlert
M27-2
M17 modified to SA only from A Behlert
M25-5
M14-3 just received from work friend
all are mint cond

Tommy

 

[rock doc]

My one & only long barrel, a Model 17-4.

 

[rags]

Here's my 27-2

 

[GLL]

 

[semperfi71]

rags24, very nice pics!

GLL, we don't see too many of those REEAALLLYY long barreled ones too often.

 

[GM4spd]

 

[649Guy]

This thread is going to cost me money.

Joe

It already has for me.

Shortly after joining this forum, and subsequently running across this thread, I procured this Model 14-2 from 19 and 66:

I can't take credit for the pics, they were taken by the dealer I purchased this revolver from on Gunbroker...Helluva nice feller from Texas.

The old Smith & Wesson's are like fine artwork in your hand, the blued polish is SO clean and crisp, the metal parts seem to flow into one another seamlessly, and this one I am especially proud of (it's my first 8-3/8-incher, but assuredly NOT my LAST!); she averaged about .500" groups at 23 yards at the indoor range I frequent, and she will live a good, long life, laying on crushed red velvet in my safe, completely cleaned after every range session, and fed a steady diet of 148-grain HBWC's stuffed with 3.2 grains of Win231.

Threads here costing you money...indeed, Sir.

DocZeus

 

[steamloco76]

I'm adding a Model 27-2, 8 3/8ths to my collection. 98% condition in presentation box with all the tools and papers. Picking it up next week. Will post pix when I get it home. It joins a Model 617 (no dash) 8 3/8ths I've had since 1989. I love long barreled Smiths!

 

[GF1]

That 27-2 is killin' me...just like the one I didn't buy and should have 30 years ago. Since you have two...??

 

[donadler]

OK, now ya got me on the hunt for my first 8 3/8 barreled Smith. Gotta finish paying for the 629 first, but in the mean time, I have been looking. (Which always seems to lead to buying somehow!)

Looking at an 8 3/8" nickled Model 57. Seller says it is recessed, but not pinned, early 80's. The book says that in 1982, the 57-1 eliminated the recessed cylinder and pinned barrel. I am assuming that the fact that this gun has one but not the other is probably do to the penchant for Smith to use up what it had on hand, so an older recessed cylinder was used for a newer 57-1 frame and barrel. Does that sound logical to you folks as well? Probably not going to be able to get this one, but every day is a learning experience.

Interested in finding out if my thoughts on this are possible. Thanks.

 

[bobf]

I'll add another one.
647

 

[drjjpdc]

I can't believe that I've never seen this thread. I love 8 3/8" S&W's! Of course being 6'5" and about 350, even an 8 3/8" in my hands looks and feels like a 4"-6" in the average size shooter. Here's a few of mine: a Model 27; 25 & 17. I haven't received it yet but a big 629 is on its' way. I have a 6" 29, but I always wanted a BIG .44 Mag!

 

[steamloco76]

Alright, I got a photo of my new/old baby an 1975-1976 vintage 27-2. Can't wait to get a better photo-this one does not do it justice.

A younger, heavier, stablemate -a 1989 vintage 617