3.5” 27-2 w/ Odd Serial Number

[CH4]

Picked up another 3.5” 27-2 at the Vegas Bass Pro. Didn’t need a fifth 3.5”, but it was too pretty to leave behind. Other than the homemade red front sight insert, it’s in very nice condition. It’ll be my “shooter.” Came with Pachmayrs that I swapped with Hogue Tulipwood grips. What’s odd is the serial # only has an alpha followed by three numbers: N164. I’ve never seen this before.

 

[first-model]

In 1969, Smith & Wesson shifted the N frames from the S serial number prefix to the N prefix. They started at N1, so it looks like you found a nice early N prefix example.

Mike

 

[22hipower]

The Ns started in 1969 I believe. According to the Standard Catalog the very first one was #1. Appears you have the 164th one built. Kind of neat to have a three digit serial number. As far as not needing another 3.5 inch 27, I don't think you can have too many of them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[CH4]

The Ns started in 1969 I believe. According to the Standard Catalog the very first one was #1. Appears you have the 164th one built. Kind of neat to have a three digit serial number. As far as not needing another 3.5 inch 27, I don't think you can have too many of them.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Thanks, also thought that may be the case, but thought it should have zeros as space fillers, e.g., N0000164 or N1640000.
Thanks for the clarification.

 

[MarkHayden]

Okay, I’ll buy it from you if you insist. Let me know, please. Please…

 

[A10]

What is this "need" of which you speak?

Nice find!

 

[CH4]

What is this "need" of which you speak?

Nice find!

Good point

 

[Doc44]

S&W started with N1 (it is a Model 28-2 that is now fully engraved). N25 is a Model 25-2 and N27 is a Model 27-2. I had N925 in my collection; it is a Model 28-2 that shipped in May 1970.

Bill

 

[Nightowl]

I'm afraid I would have bought it, too!! Sucker that I am for any nice looking old 27!! Especially, 3 1/2!

 

[CH4]

I'm afraid I would have bought it, too!! Sucker that I am for any nice looking old 27!! Especially, 3 1/2!

lol
Fortunately, I am only a sucker for 3.5 inchers these days; unfortunately, they’re usually the most expensive. I’ve found two there in the past 12 months. The one for $900 is a cherry, the one for $1200 is closer to 95%. It’ll be my 3.5” shooter/carry piece.

 

[luvsmiths]

lol
Fortunately, I am only a sucker for 3.5 inchers these days; unfortunately, they’re usually the most expensive. I’ve found two there in the past 12 months. The one for $900 is a cherry, the one for $1200 is closer to 95%. It’ll be my 3.5” shooter/carry piece.

So then, your dollar cost average on model 27s is 1050.00. Not bad.

One more point.

Most people dollar cost average their STOCK holdings. We "Fringe lunatic collectors" (to steal Ralph Tremaines saying), dollar cost average our guns, cause we own MULTIPLES of the same models.

But we're ok. And figuring it MY way, we can all easily justify buying yet ANOTHER one of the same model!

 

[CH4]

^^^^^^
Bravo!

 

[scout II]

Good looking gun you got. Awesome serial number too. I never saw one with 3 numbers. I have a 4K, 5K, and 6K with four numbers in the serial number and they are all model 28's. I thought mine were pretty cool low numbers, but you win.

 

[Truckman]

I like oddball serial numbers...I think my lowest is K782 on a K-22 Masterpiece...I also have an M&P in .32-20 that letters to the San Antonio police chief with S/N K11888, Aces & Eights......Ben

 

[Muley Gil]

I like oddball serial numbers...I think my lowest is K782 on a K-22 Masterpiece...I also have an M&P in .32-20 that letters to the San Antonio police chief with S/N K11888, Aces & Eights......Ben

You have a .32-20 with a "K" in the serial number??? Pictures please.

 

[Sevens]

Good looking gun you got. Awesome serial number too. I never saw one with 3 numbers. I have a 4K, 5K, and 6K with four numbers in the serial number and they are all model 28's. I thought mine were pretty cool low numbers, but you win.

Hmmm…. 4K, 5K and 6K serial prefix Model 28’s?

I thought all the K-prefix and numbered K-prefix guns were in fact, K-frames. Model 28’s are N-frames.

 

[A10]

lol
Fortunately, I am only a sucker for 3.5 inchers these days; unfortunately, they’re usually the most expensive. I’ve found two there in the past 12 months. The one for $900 is a cherry, the one for $1200 is closer to 95%. It’ll be my 3.5” shooter/carry piece.

Both good prices. The only thousand dollar Nframes I've seen around here are lock guns.

 

[Hawg Rider]

That's a beauty! I've got a couple of 3-1/2" bbl. 27-2s but they are 5-digit s/n's from 1970-71. I've never seen one with a serial number that low. Nice find!

 

[Truckman]

You have a .32-20 with a "K" in the serial number??? Pictures please.

My bad, Gil...

I was going on my faulty memory at the end of a very long weekend at the gun show helping out a buddy with his busy endcap of tables...I don't even have to dig out the .32-20 from the safe to verify my mistake...Actually two mistakes...

The letter I have over Roy Jinks' signature is from 2/23/1989 and is addressed to the (then) Chief of Police in San Antonio who was the owner of the gun at that time...That's one mistake...

The serial number is actually 118889 on this Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change...So the Aces & Eights actually exist in order in the S/N, but not as I remembered...It shipped on 9/10/24 to G. Worthington & Co. in Cleveland, Ohio...

Coincidentally that date rang a bell as I proof read what I wrote...I have another Model of 1905 4th Change, this one a target model in .38 Spl, which was shipped on March 26, 1924 to EK Tryon in Philadelphia, another high volume distributor of the time...

It's amazing what a night's sleep and a pot of coffee can do to correct one's memory......Ben

 

[Muley Gil]

My bad, Gil...

I was going on my faulty memory at the end of a very long weekend at the gun show helping out a buddy with his busy endcap of tables...I don't even have to dig out the .32-20 from the safe to verify my mistake...Actually two mistakes...

The letter I have over Roy Jinks' signature is from 2/23/1989 and is addressed to the (then) Chief of Police in San Antonio who was the owner of the gun at that time...That's one mistake...

The serial number is actually 118889 on this Hand Ejector Model of 1905 4th Change...So the Aces & Eights actually exist in order in the S/N, but not as I remembered...It shipped on 9/10/24 to G. Worthington & Co. in Cleveland, Ohio...

Coincidentally that date rang a bell as I proof read what I wrote...I have another Model of 1905 4th Change, this one a target model in .38 Spl, which was shipped on March 26, 1924 to EK Tryon in Philadelphia, another high volume distributor of the time...

It's amazing what a night's sleep and a pot of coffee can do to correct one's memory......Ben

100 years old tomorrow!

I had a target .32-20 once. My old eyeballs couldn't see those tiny sights, so down the road it went. Though it was a scarce gun, the finish was bad, so little collector's value.