I can certainly appreciate that!
I will NEVER part with my 5” Model 27 (no dash). First run after the Registered Magnums I believe and probably better than 90%. Aside from the usual cylinder mark, it only has a tiny amount of finish loss (less than 1/2 mm and only about 25% around on the very front edge of the barrel). Unfortunately it’s on the left side, not the bottom.
I rarely fire it anymore and when I do it is always either a very light Magnum load or .38s.
I LOVE the rich, deep blue gloss finish. I got it in 1983 and STUPIDLY carried it (thankfully in a shoulder holster) for a few years. I was young and dumb and just didn’t realize what I had.
It might really wind up being worth something if/when whomever I leave it to decides they can part with it somewhere down the line. In fact I’m of the age where I have needed to make those kind of decisions.
I’ve got a good sized collection of handguns and I wouldn’t shed a tear over the sale of most of them…except my S&Ws. Actually, those are the only ones specifically called out in my will. Right now the Model 27 is going to my son while my other two Smiths (Model 65-4 and Model 15-5, both 4”), are going to my daughter. I’ve tried repeatedly to impress upon my son the value of that Model 27, at least to me, but even at 41 years old I just don’t think he gets it, while my daughter is probably more likely to hold on to hers for the sentimental value if nothing else. So, I really think I’m going to change that so that she gets them all…ahh, the decisions (others would call petty) that we Smith owners/lovers have to make!
Raf
There are a few I would never sell but if I absolutely had to narrow it down to 1, there is no question it is my 686-3. It can do everything I would need it to if it absolutely had to. This one is extra special because I got it as a birth year gun and it ended up being 1989 not 1988 as advertised. I was annoyed at the seller until I looked inside the grips and realized it was made on my Dad's Birthday July 8th. I'd say that made up for the year being off.
