Why do most 6" M27's have Patridge's?

[Abbynormal]

I've never understood this. The Baughman ramp style was the dominant type in the 50's thru the 80's, but yet the Patridge was standard on only the M17 and M27.

Most 6" M27"s have Patridge target style, but everyone I've talked to would have preferred a red ramp Baughman style.

 

[colt_saa]

I would say that most 6 1/2" or 8 3/8" model 27s got the Patridge sight for use as a target revolver. The 6" model 27s are probably more 60/40.

 

[Abbynormal]

I've NEVER seen a 6" or 8-3/8" M27 with anything other than a Patridge except for post sale custom modifications.

I have seen a FEW 6-1/2" with Baughmans and RR

 

[Fredo Batali]

My six-inch 27-2 has a Baughman ramp front sight. It was also wearing target stocks when I acquired it. Serial number dates it to 1974. From what I understand the Partridge front sight and "Magna" stocks were standard until 1975, however you could special order sights, stocks, hammers, and triggers. I'm sure someone with more knowledge than I, will chime in. Here is a photo of mine after I got it home and cleaned up.

De Oppresso Liber

 

[colt_saa]

I've NEVER seen a 6" or 8-3/8" M27 with anything other than a Patridge except for post sale custom modifications.

I have seen a FEW 6-1/2" with Baughmans and RR

I have just posted two of mine. I have others as well, just not photographed yet

 

[jtcarm]

Yep, pretty much anything over 5" was considered target. except on the M-28. Even the 6" M-19s had post fronts (or at least the majority.)

I've come to hate ramps and like a post sight picture much better.

 

[Elliot45]

I called S&W a few weeks ago and the reply was that the partridge sight is preferred by target shooters.

 

[Warren Sear]

Be careful; sometimes a partridge sight will fly off...

 

[BUFF]

I have always thought that the guns with barrels longer than 5 inches were likely primarily used as target and hunting revolvers, where fast draw wasn't a high priority. The guns with barrels of 5 inches and less were seen more as holster, defense and 'targets of urgency/opportunity' guns, where a fast draw would be more likely a consideration. A patridge blade getting hung up in a shoulder holster during the draw would seem less harmful in a match or while hunting than in a self-defense draw from concealment.

Eyes and tastes evolve. I see now a lot more patridge front blades with colored dots and squares on 4 inch barrels than I have seen in years past.

 

[pownal55]

When it comes to a good sight picture the Patridge with it's vertical sight face offers the least amount of glare and reflection. I don't think there were many "fast draw" shooting competitions when these guns were designed.

 

[JimC]

My 6" 27-2 has an original to it, red insert ramp FS.

 

[jtcarm]

Be careful; sometimes a partridge sight will fly off...

Not if you mount it with a pear tree

 

[thomasinaz]

Here ya go, a 6" 27-2 with factory red ramp front sight.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Are the red ramp sight blades pinned into the ramps on the 6" Guns?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Be careful; sometimes a partridge sight will fly off...

But we do know where it'll go? Straight to the pear tree.

 

[Engine49guy]

I prefer the Baughman blade on revolvers tthat I will holster carry, That being said I would love to find a Model 27 Patridge ramp assembly to swap onto a short barrel 5 screw pre 27 I have in case anyone has one in their parts box.


Here is a pair of .357's that both serial to 1966, both also have "proud" pinned ramps with yellow FS blade inserts, wide TT/TH combos and diamond GA's.



the 6" Combat Magnums occasionally appear with Baughman ramps as well.

 

[BigBill]

All my m28's (3) have the slanted black front sight. My blued m27-2 has the slanted front sight with the red insert. My m27-2 in nickel has the partridge front sight. I do prefer the angled front sight with the red insert.
But I'm not going to change them and interfer with the value or the originality of the revolver.

I guess I'll be shoulder holstering the ruger security six in 357 / 6" barrel but I just seen these hitting $750 on the auction sights.

I'd rather ccw something that's cheaper yet reliable. Bill

 

[BigBill]

Not if you mount it with a pear tree

not if you staple it's feet down?

 

[JSR III]

IIRC, Frank Baughman of the FBI was responsible for the design of the Baughman front sight as it was less likely to hang up when drawn in a self defense situation. Typically, LEO's preferred a shorter barrel for ease of sitting in a vehicle and the Patridge front sight tended to hang up when drawn.

The Patridge front sight had always been the preference for target work and the original S&W target guns had 10" barrels to give the shooter a longer sight picture. The tall post style front sight was easier to line up in the rear sight window when doing slow accurate target work.

When drawing, the shooter is more interested in a quick sight alignment in order to get the shot off before the bad guy.

But remember, S&W was in the business to make money and they would build just about anything that a customer was willing to pay for.

 

[Walter Rego]

My 27-2 from 1978 with a 5" barrel has a Patridge front sight. Judging by the many 5" Model 27's shown on this forum, the Patridge sight was much less common than the Baughman.