I have a cosmetically well used but mechanically perfect 5" Model 27-2 with a mint bore and chipped service stocks and someone offered to trade straight across for a reblued British Triplelock converted to .45 ACP with clips. It has nice stocks. I haven't seen it in person yet but if the action's real good would this be a fair, great, or stupid trade? Here they are.

A collector would tell you the 27-2 is the more valuable gun because it has not been refinished or modified, but a shooter looking for a British TL in a more convenient caliber might see the guns as equivalent.

I'd rather have a TL that was converted to .45 Colt than .45 ACP because contemporary .45 ACPs exist in the thousands in the form of 1917s. Why not just get one of them?

But I don't think there is any great disadvantage in making the deal. Are the .455 MkII and .45 ACP ballistics similar? Just wondering if you would have POA/POI inconsistency with the non-original round.

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David Wilson

I could see that as an OK swap, if the 45ACP was what a guy wanted.
But I'm the kind of guy that would want both; and have both.
But given the choice, I'd rather the 5" M-27

I'd do that trade in a New Yark minute! T/Ls are nice, smooth, and fun to shoot or just own.

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Dick Burg

I'd make the trade, probably because I've been looking for one for a while. Don't see too many triple locks around....

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Even older, even crankier....

I would probably do it. The Triple lock is a rare item, no matter what was done to it. I just haven't seen many around that I could afford. I like the idea of it being a 45 ACP shooter. The 27 would be easier to replace, though for all my ignorance in values it may be expensive to replace. But I guess I haven't learned to appreciate the finer points of the 5' model 27.
John

You can always find another Model 27-2; the auction sites are full of them.
You can't always find another Triple Lock.

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John

In a heartbeat !

Larry

But the t-lock is an altered, reblued, .45 ACP...
Not my idea of a particularly desirable gun...
If it was a .44, or original blue, or even a .45 Colt it would be a lot more attractive to me.
But I've got a Commercial 1917 on the way...
Wyatt, Please let us know what you do?

I have no opinion about the Model 27 but the TL would sell in a heartbeat for $1000, maybe $1200 - if it's as good inside as it looks out. I have a few TLs, looking for more.

I would take the triple lock.

If the Triple Lock was original or in a different caliber (like .44 Special or .45 Colt) yes. But I would never trade an original 27-2 (especially a 5-inch) for a shooter gun. That 27-2 will increase in value over the years. The Triple Lock is always going to be just a shooter. Triple lock or not.

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Vaya con Dios

Well Matt?

Hows that ol TL shoot? Extra good I hope.

I once swap'd a Colt Trooper MKIII for a second gen SAA 4 3/4" nickel'd 45
99% orginial finish with box & doc that I carried and used as a shooter.

I'm thinking auto rim cartridges loaded with a good swc

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I could go either way on that one. If the 27 were a 4 or 5 screw (pre 27), I wouldn't trade it. If the TL were in 44 spl, I'd trade in heartbeat.

Well, gang, the guy with the T-lock, who is one of the few guys around here into interesting guns like we are and a very nice guy, backed off a little to persue another trade that he now says probably won't happen. So i might go look at the T-lock. One thing you all should know, any non lock S&W under 50 years old CANNOT come into California, so that means guns like this Model 27-2 is even more desirable here since we all have to fight over the existing supply. But the T-lock is C&R. I had the 27 on sale in a very popular Ca. gun site for $575 with those extra grips pictured and no bites but a few hundred people looked at it. It's a gun I'd only sell in California. We can't lose another one. I was just selling it to buy a 4" 29-2 that I'm getting next week for $675. That's another gun not allowed INTO California. So, I'll try to hook up with the guy and check out the T-lock, maybe get it, sell it, then reimburse myself for the 29-2 purchase. Or just keep it. Who knows. Wheww!! my two typing fingers are tired!
EDIT: looks like the guy's T-lock trade went through with his original idea with some other guy. I think it went towards a Python. but he also bought my 27-2. that's fine because I'd have traded my 27 plus a $100 for the 4" 29-2, which is what is kind of happening anyway. And I just love my 3 1/2" 27-2 I got recently much more than the 5 incher. I had $275 in that Skeeter Skelton type gun, but got it around 1995. But thanks for all the great input. Matt