Advice on Shopping for a 27

[Mstorm]

Have a bunch of gun shows coming up this month in my area and I'd like to go "armed with info". I'm new to S&Ws but have made some acquistions (a 10-5,13-2,19-3 & a 67) but I'd now like to look for:
-- a 27 no-dash with original diamond grips and in at least 90% condition, so I assume this all means 4 screw versions--.
So as to straddle the fence between collector and shooter--but I definitely shoot my guns (so it doesn't need to look like a safe queen but I also don't want one that will always be characterized as "just a shooter"). I've been on gun broker, scanned auction sites and consulted the blue book and am having trouble pinning down what I think should be a target price that is quasi correct for one of these. So, I thought I'd ask you guys, with the criteria above what number would you guys think is a good "shopping price range" to hit the shows with?
Hope the above made sense.

 

[22hipower]

Better plan to attend quite a few shows to find a 27 no dash as you describe. Percentage of condition is very subjective but I'd be looking for more like 95%+ if you want something that won't be characterized as "a shooter."

I found the 6.5 inch below last year at a gun show for $1280 and felt fortunate to get it at that price. If I were looking for a nice no dash 27 in any barrel length I'd expect to pay around $1500 these days. The no dash 27s aren't encountered all that often, at least not where I shop. I've come across two and bought them both (the second being a 8 3/8 for $1200 at the SWCA Symposium two years ago. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nhzMFh https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Masterbuck54]

What barrel length?

I'm not sure what barrel length you are in search of?

Not sure how plentiful the 27ND market will be at the local gun show but I'd continue to search GB along with a few other sites.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Masterbuck54

 

[mchom]

I found a 27 ND 6" original stocks
95%+
It was high if I recall around 1850 or 1900
About 18 mos ago
I'm sure I paid too much
But since I liked and I don't see then all that often I pulled trigger

 

[Retired W4]

This is a 5" 27ND shooter grade I recently acquired. I can't help much with the value. It was a somewhat convoluted trade with my gun show partner. I'll probably sell it for $1300/$1400.

 

[llowry61]

If that is the gun you have to have - you would be looking at least 1500 in my area. My advice would be to buy it when you see it because they aren't that plentiful. Anything south of 15 probably good north of that depends on how bad you want it. May not be a lot of help, but it is the best I can tell you. I don't own a no dash. I have several -2's and I paid anywhere from 700 - 1100 for 95% plus 5 years ago.

 

[rincar]

Go gun shopping with an open mind. You can always upgrade in the future. Pick one with the options that you want.

 

[gmborkovic]

Sir, it is all ways an advantage to go shopping with an extra set eyes.
Like a knowledgeable friend. Who is totally un-biased. He may point out things you missed.

 

[glenncal1]

The no dash requirement slims the market down quite a bit. If you expand your search out to the dash 2's (still P&R) you will find a lot more choices and they are still great guns.

Your choice of barrel length will make a difference in price as well, with the 3.5" and 5" guns going higher than the 6", 6.5" and 8 3/8" generally.
Good luck with your search.

 

[Mstorm]

Thanks for all the input—I should have added that I am looking for a 6" barrel—-from what I could discern from all your comments, around $1500 is kinda the median I should go in with and definitely more than 1K ——that kinda tracks with the Blue book that suggests $1100 for a 95% gun (and they usually seem a bit under actual market prices —so if I could get it at less than $1500 and more than $1100 I'd likely be in the "sweet spot" of a "good deal" —-then the only magic is discerning 95% from 90% condition (((I've never had trouble discerning 95%++, it's the 90-95 that always leaves me wondering since I tend to be far more forgiving to a gun that is nearly MY AGE (I'm 69)

 

[Retired W4]

i don't like the percentage grading system. Too subjective. Best of luck on your hunt.

 

[Nightowl]

I don't think I have ever seen a 27 or 27-1 at a gun show, or anywhere else for that matter! I have an eye for Model 27s, of all varieties and have a number of them from 1935 up to a 627-5. That being said for my experience, you may walk into the next gun show and see one right in front of you. I have run into a number of my guns that way, I didn't know I wanted one until I saw it! But you know what you are looking for!
Good luck in your search!

 

[Vtgw938]

Keep an eye out for revolvers with swapped barrels, at least when coming up with a value.

 

[Retired W4]

The 4 screw ND I posted in #5 above will be going in my case this weekend. SN S200418 had smooth targets on it. The magnas it wears now are very close to that number.

Most people who look at it at the show won't know what it is. Atlanta doesn't seem to have many S&W collectors.

 

[SS57]

I have never seen a 27ND or 27-1 in the wild except for my uncle's 6.5" 27-1. He asked me to care for it when he no longer could. RIP Uncle Johnny. Good luck in your search.

 

[Mstorm]

Retired W4 a question

One of the four screws is buried behind the target grips right?
And to the rest of my new friends: You guys are great. If I get lucky and find one, I'll try to post some pics. Gotta share this story with you guys:
When I was a kid (around 3 or 4) I remember being at a store and walking over to a toy truck I wanted, but at least 10 steps ahead of me another kid grabbed it first and off he went (he hadn't seen me, it simply worked out that he had decided before me to walk over). I stood there shocked and eventually started to tear up. My mom walked over to me and asked what the problem was - so I explained.
She said: "Come with me" and walked me out to the front of the store. She kneeled down and said: "I want you to stop crying and listen very carefully to what I'm going to tell you, and this is important so I don't want you to ever forget it, you ready?"
I said: "Yes"
She said: "Son, some things in this world are yours and some things aren't, if you look carefully and are very patient, the things that are yours will come to you, but you'll have to look and you'll have to wait for them to find you and for you to actually "see" them when they appear. That truck was looking for that little boy, not you and he was smart enough to see it. Yours is still looking for you and eventually you and it will find each other. When you get older you'll come to learn that the world will give you what is yours but you'll have to work hard and be very patient till that time comes and you'll have to be prepared to see it when it arrives. I really want you to remember what I just told you, its important"

 

[Retired W4]

Correct. Three screw to hold the side plate and one in front of the trigger guard. The trigger guard screw puts tension on the cylinder stop.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Mstorm: I'm not sure why you're so focused on a Model 27 (no dash), but since you're relatively new to collecting, don't discount a nice Model 27-2. They are beautifully made, excellent finishes, and the 6" bbl. you are looking for are fairly common. To me, they are mechanically equal to any S&W .357 Magnum- smooth! You can usually find them complete with the original mahogany presentation case and tools. The 27-2s are 3-screw, and are also quite a bit less expensive than .357 Magnums (aka "pre-Model 27") or Model 27s (no dash). Here's my 6" (ca. 1977-78) that I found locally. It has a little wear, but probably 95%, and I paid only $600 a few years ago. If your mind is still made up about a 27 no dash, you can always trade up later on when you locate one. Just a thought.

 

[rockquarry]

If that is the gun you have to have - you would be looking at least 1500 in my area. My advice would be to buy it when you see it because they aren't that plentiful. Anything south of 15 probably good north of that depends on how bad you want it. May not be a lot of help, but it is the best I can tell you. I don't own a no dash. I have several -2's and I paid anywhere from 700 - 1100 for 95% plus 5 years ago.

Very good advice. Don't be afraid to spend a bit more than what someone said a gun's worth is; your want, your money, so make it your gun. You're ahead any way you look at it.

Some guns aren't scarce or rare but they might as well be when you consider how difficult they are to find. That extra two or three hundred dollars that you spent to get a nice specimen will be forgotten anyway. Don't be cheap; you could miss out on some good guns.

 

[Bald1]

You should just PM W4 and work a deal. That's a fine looking example he has.