This gun went from the most beautiful gun that I had ever seen to a big dissapointment in a matter of hours. After posting pictures of it, ejcon sent me a message and pointed out that the ampersand on the barrel was wrong for a 1951 gun. I confirmed this with Doc44. Thanks to both of you guys!

Anyway, the gun appears to have an early 1970's barrel. The work was so well done, that it's hard to believe. I was pretty upset about it, but I did negotiate a credit with the seller who had advertised it as used, like new. I don't believe that he was aware of the barrel swap.

My brother wants it as a nice shooter, so I'm probably gonna trade him the gun plus a few bucks for a NIB 3" 24-3.

Thanks to everyone that commented on the other thread.

Still a nice gun! I am glad you worked a trade with your brother. Skip48

Thank you.

This deal really makes me sick. It is such a pretty gun and the mechanics are excellant. My brother bought the 3" 24-3 cheap, so I'm not giving him a lot of money and I'm keeping the magna grips. He views this gun as a shooter now, so he's got other grips he can use. He thought about getting a correct barrel for it until he realized that the older barrels had serial numbers.

Oh well. I made out o.k. and I'm excited about the 24-3. I just received my NIB 24-3 with a 6 1/2" barrel tonight. I already have a LNIB 24-3 with a 4" barrel. His 3" model will complete the set.

Hello Blackdeuce
I would not have let the barrel switch bother me if the seller made it right with me, you can't beat a good old Five screw gun. Looking at it, make's me think that it may have been returned to S&W and had it's original barrel switched out for the one it is wearing now, and had a Factory re-blue job done to it while it was there as it all Matches and looks far too good to be "a Buba job" and that Hammer it has looks later than the gun perhaps that was changed and fitted at the factory as well, as Target Hammers or semi Target hammer's were not out yet in 1951 time span.. Five screw Pre-27's don't grow on Tree's and they certainly can not repeat the higher quality of them in these newer guns, therefore I would have kept it and enjoyed shooting it, But that's just me as i have learned to adore pre-model stamped S&W's over anything made with a model number stamped into it...

blackdeuce - is it me or the angle of the picture on the grips.....
the top of the left grip panel looks like the earlier style "high shoulder" and the top of the right magna panel looks like later model/standard??

This is one where you really have to believe the seller made an honest mistake. It sure would have fooled me.

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You're shy a few manners.

I still have the option of keeping the gun and giving my brother cash for the 24-3. I just ordered another pre-27 yesterday that I believe is 100% original except for the grips. I was going to use my nice Kurac grips or the diamond magna grips off of the other pre-27 as my brother said that I could keep them.

The newly purchashed pre-27 isn't as pristine, but it looks really nice with a little honest muzzle wear and a couple of small marks.

I didn't think that the re-blue, etc. was done by S&W because there are no stampings to indicate it. There are hardly any stampings under the grips. The changes had to be made after the early 70's due to the age of the barrel and unless the seller was lying to me, it had to be done in the early to mid 70's. He owned the gun for about 35 years and he was not aware of the changes. Somebody did a dang nice job with it, but I don't know who.

Looking at the grips, they both appear to be the same. One of them is numbered to the gun. I think they match.

I don't believe the seller knew about this. He bought it from the widow of a fireman about 35 years ago. I'm sure the widow had no idea.

The gun is so nice that I'm tempted to keep it even though it isn't right. My brother is willing to give me $500 without the grips. I think that's pretty fair.

I think your Brother is getting a BEAUTIFUL deal

So, you think I should keep it? I figure the diamond magnas are worth $100, so I'm getting $600 for it. That's all I have in it.

It's your decision but I wish I had a safe full of $600 "Shooters" like that
Do you like to Shoot?
I'd be proud to have that at the range and be able to Mentor friends and young shooters with a vintage classic like that ........and never have to worry about hurting it

I do like to shoot, but I tend to buy nice guns that I'm afraid of damaging.

You're right, though. There wouldn't be many nicer looking guns at the range. Maybe I should keep it.

Not that my .02 matters but I sure would like to have it regardless if it's all original or not.

Krusr

I'd sure hang on to that one. For that price you got a deal. It's a beauty.

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Eccentric old coot

Keep it!

If you aren't totally into it and won't wind up shooting it, and your brother WILL love it as is and shoot it, enjoy it etc.......

Then I say give it up!

Hello Blackdeuce
Don't Alway's count on any Factory stampings indicating a Factory refinish,as I had a .44 Hand eject Forth Variation that was sent back to the factory in the Mid 1980's that had No Factory re-work stamps on it, but I Know it was Factory refinished & Changed from the satin style standard bluing to the high Polished style bluing, as it's Previous owner handed me the work order where it was done by S&W without any re-work stamps on it what so ever. Most refinishers out there can not get the level of Deep Black shine nor crisp finish work that the factory can{With the exception of one that I know of being Ford's in Florida} But to me that Gun of your's Screams "a Factory re-finish".... Now, once they ceased using the Carbonna Bluing process in the early 1990's time span when Leir-Sigler took over, we never really saw that older famous Deep Black rich Looking factory bluing again so I would say your gun was Probably done in the 1970's- to Late 1980's time span at the Factory. I would hang onto it if it were me and it looked as nice as your does, Buy your Brother's gun outright and save your self "Swapper's Remorse" down the road....

Dang, you guys are making me think I should keep it.

It's only money, right?

Make your brother happy. He will enjoy shooting
it.

Well, I just won another gun. I think I better let my brother have the pre-27. I did get a replacement pre-27, so I don't feel so bad about giving this one up.

This is the newer one. It appears to be all original except for the grips. Serial numbers on the barrel, cylinder, and grip strap all match.

About 6 mos ago I bought a 1955 pre-27 w/ a 3 1/2" barrel in 90+% condition for $450. Oh joy I thought. Turned out to have a ring in the bore. Didn't affect function and no visible bulge, but knowing it was there, I sold it to a forum member with full disclosure. I get the feeling folks didn't pay too much attention at the reloading bench 30+ years ago, with a lot of barrels either replaced or gun traded off as a result. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

And evidently folks didn't pay too much attention to whether or not a hole appeared in the target before shootong the next round! There always has to be at least two problems to get a bulged barrel.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Sell your brother the new one and keep the reblued one. It'll be easier to carry, hopefully in a nice lined holster fitted to the gun.

If all you want is a safe queen, sell the brother the more practical gun. This advice is probably worth more than you paid for it. (Ask your brother.)

The long barrel doesn't add enough velocity to make its bulk worthwhile. I've never been tempted to buy either the 3.5-inch barrel or this 8.3-inch one. This gun is best worn with barrels of five, six, or 6.5-inches. But some disagreee, or those oddball lengths would not have been made or sought even now by some.

Oh: I wish that my brothers were more interested in guns!