Request assistance with ID

[kellswater]

Working on identifying a gun that I inherited. Smith and Wesson, I believe a model 27. I think it is a 4 screw (3 in side plate and one in front of trigger guard). The s/n is S 123469. I do not have the box, but do have an original invoice with serial number - but only description is "357 Magnum." Also, how is barrel length measured? Is it from muzzle to end of forcing cone?

Many thanks for your help!

 

[Muley Gil]

If it is not marked MOD 27, you have a .357 Magnum. Or, some folks call it a pre Model 27. Before S&W assigned model numbers, firearms had names-.357 Magnum, .38 Combat Masterpiece, .32 Regulation Police, etc. .

Barrel are measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.

 

[JP@AK]

With that serial number, I would expect this to be a 5 screw revolver. Is there a screw at the top of the side plate (near the hammer)? If so, the "fifth" screw is hiding under the top of the right stock panel.

 

[kellswater]

With that serial number, I would expect this to be a 5 screw revolver. Is there a screw at the top of the side plate (near the hammer)? If so, the "fifth" screw is hiding under the top of the right stock panel.

Yes, you are correct.

If it is not marked MOD 27, you have a .357 Magnum. Or, some folks call it a pre Model 27. Before S&W assigned model numbers, firearms had names-.357 Magnum, .38 Combat Masterpiece, .32 Regulation Police, etc. .

Barrel are measured from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.

Checked under the yoke and there is nothing stamped.

 

[JP@AK]

Checked under the yoke and there is nothing stamped.

Not surprising. Your revolver was produced in 1955. Model numbers didn't come into use until 1958.

 

[kellswater]

OK, located the information on page 191 of Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson (5th ed). Another question - what determines the difference between a "Registered Magnum" and a "357 Magnum Pre-27"? Is it the presence of the registration certificate? Or does Pre-27 start with guns during 1950 at approx s/n S75000?

Thanks to everyone who as provided information!

 

[JP@AK]

The Registered Magnum revolvers are all pre-war guns, made in the 1930s. The presence of REG xxxx (a varying number of digits) appears on the frame in the yoke cut on each of them. There were also "Non-Registered Magnum" revolvers produced just before the war. Those don't have the REG mark, but are otherwise the same.

S prefix units are all postwar. The S in the serial number indicates the presence of the new sliding hammer block safety that was introduced on the K frame M&P during WWII (late 1944). After the war, the new safety design was incorporated into all the K and N frame revolvers.