5 Screw N-Frame Identification/Advice

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okiedusm

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Good morning all,

I'd appreciate any info you all may have for this pistol and what I ought to do with her. Dad gave me this gun years ago, and I've carried it around as a woods gun and it was instrumental in developing my marksmanship and trigger control.

It's a 5 Screw N Frame .357 Magnum, Serial #S102346. Barrel length is 3.5" (forcing cone face to muzzle). I'm not sure if it is a Model 27, or Pre-27 based on the stamping inside the yoke.

The gun is complete, and I have the original grips. As you can see, it spent some years being neglected before Dad got it for me.

I'm kicking around the idea of having a holster made to concealed carry this pistol more often, and possibly having it refinished. I'd like to make an informed decision though, whether this is a common, run of the mill shooter/carry grade pistol, or something that should be preserved or treated a little better than a carry gun.

Thanks all for your time and attention.
 

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It's a 357 Magnum, some object to the pre-27 terminology, but I'd call it that too. Probably from 1954 and in the very popular 3.5 inch barrel length. Great old guns although it does look a little neglected. Clean it up, put a little oil on it I bet it will look a lot better. Still tight? Bet it is. Nice, and even better that it was your Dads. It's not what I would call a "a common run of the mill shooter." I wouldn't refinish it though, clean it up, treat it well, it will serve another 70 years or so. And welcome to the Forum which is a great place for information on all things S&W.


Another thought or two on the refinishing issue. The one below, a little earlier than yours (1950, the first year) shipped to the Kansas City PD and probably saw quite a bit of use and maybe a little neglect as well. It was refinished by the factory in 1982. If the factory still did the same work perhaps a refinish would be ok but it doesn't reproduce the original blued finish now. A quality refinish would cost $400 or so and, in my opinion, wouldn't increase the value.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nqvhZ6 https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
 
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Beautiful pistol Jeff! Thanks for the info. I poked around on GB and saw some 27s/Pre-27s listed with things like **Super Rare 3.5"** and such. Was this barrel length fairly common, or were the majority of the guns 4" and longer?
 
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Would you post some pictures of the stocks? There may be a pleasant surprise there if they are targets. Check to see if there is a serial on the back of the right grip panel and if the numbers match the gun.
 
okiedusm said:
Beautiful pistol Jeff! Thanks for the info. I poked around on GB and saw some 27s/Pre-27s listed with things like **Super Rare 3.5"** and such. Was this barrel length fairly common, or were the majority of the guns 4" and longer?
Click to expand...

I don't know that anyone has an accurate breakdown of barrel lengths of those manufactured between 1950 and when model numbers began around 1957. I think the 4 inch might actually be the least produced. But the 3.5 is very much admired, especially by many here, and it and the five inchers are probably sought after the most. Not rare, but certainly desirable. Enjoy it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
22hipower said:
I don't know that anyone has an accurate breakdown of barrel lengths of those manufactured between 1950 and when model numbers began around 1957.
Click to expand...
Doc44 posted elsewhere that 411 4" were shipped, six 3.5" and one 5.5"...I don't remember the number of 5"...5050 .44 Targets were produced in all during that time...I can account for 6 of them right now...:rolleyes:...Ben
 
The 3 1/2 inch .357 Magnum was the catalogued length until 1978 or so, when the 4 inch was standardized. The 4 inch could be special ordered, as I understand, but there were not many so produced.

I've got one in about the same condition as yours, and I cannot bring myself to have it refinished! It is great fun to shoot as it is! Go ahead and get that holster and use it as it was intended. Keep it maintained to minimize further deterioration and it will serve you well, and your kids and grandkids.
 
Truckman said:
Doc44 posted elsewhere that 411 4" were shipped, six 3.5" and one 5.5"...I don't remember the number of 5"...5050 .44 Targets were produced in all during that time...I can account for 6 of them right now...:rolleyes:...Ben
Click to expand...

If only 6 non model marked 3.5" were produced, I'd say that qualifies as "rare". Unless I'm misunderstanding. If it's indeed 1 of only 6, refinishing it should be off the table!
 
After a good external cleaning (WD40 and brown paper bag), I'd dry it off and wax it with two coats of Renaisance Wax or Johnson's wood floor wax. Polish with a soft cotton cloth. Should look a bit better! Great gun. I have four eras of the same gun (1936, 1939, 1955 & 1972) all but one carried by peace officers.
 
okiedusm said:
It's a 5 Screw N Frame .357 Magnum, Serial #S102346. Barrel length is 3.5" (forcing cone face to muzzle). I'm not sure if it is a Model 27, or Pre-27 based on the stamping inside the yoke.

The gun is complete, and I have the original grips. As you can see, it spent some years being neglected before Dad got it for me.

attachment.php


attachment.php
Click to expand...

I Love It!!! And I wish I had one in that condition. If you ever tire of it, please let me know and I'm sure we can figure something out. :) I have a corral here that is home to many 3.5" 357 Magnums. They are great guns.:cool: For ship date reference, SN S101962 is 3.5" 357 that shipped in November 1953 (it got a little scratched up in Germany and someone added some funky, but kind of cool grips)...





...and SN S102509 is a 5" 357 that also shipped in November 1953. Although the Factory did not ship guns in SN order, late 1953 is a pretty good guess. If you want to get closer for a ship date, you would want to get an Historical Letter.
 
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AlHunt said:
If only 6 non model marked 3.5" were produced, I'd say that qualifies as "rare". Unless I'm misunderstanding. If it's indeed 1 of only 6, refinishing it should be off the table!
Click to expand...
I am sorry, I got carried away...The thread concerns a .357 Magnum, and I was referring to the .44 Target version of the Model of 1950...There are indeed many more than six 3.5" .357 5-screws, I own three myself...Sorry for any confusion...:o...Ben
 
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I have to say I like it just the way it is. I would not buff away its history, it’s a handsome old devil. 👍
Don’t let RK get it. Then he would have a well used M28 that I want and then this one too. 😁
 
IMO the 3.5” 27 is the most badass gunfighter revolver of all time. They were very popular with the FBI of the time. I have one but it came with Cokes (or the original owner replaced the Magnas).
 
SS336 said:
I have to say I like it just the way it is. I would not buff away its history, it’s a handsome old devil. 👍
Don’t let RK get it. Then he would have a well used M28 that I want and then this one too. 😁
Click to expand...

Handsome old devil is a good description.
 
Tijeras_Slim said:
IMO the 3.5” 27 is the most badass gunfighter revolver of all time. They were very popular with the FBI of the time. I have one but it came with Cokes (or the original owner replaced the Magnas).
Click to expand...

I think of it as a gunfighter's tool as well, which pivots us nicely to another subject I'd like to pick you guys' brains on, holsters.

I'm a product of the last 15 years of LE and sport shooting training, and seeing the 27 as a gunfighter's tool, I want to carry it appendix IWB. Does anyone know of anyone molding kydex to suit such a purpose?

The weight/bulk of the pistol is not an issue, as my daily rig is a Glock 23 with a light and spare mag, all appendix IWB, and pretty well concealed. I've done some looking around online, and I can't find anyone making an appendix holster for an N frame.

All that being said, I want to thank everyone who's contributed today, it's been very informative and refreshing.
 
SS336 said:
...Don’t let RK get it. Then he would have a well used M28 that I want and then this one too. 😁
Click to expand...

Here's the Model 28 SS is talking about. There is something way cool about a vintage well used N-Frame 357 Magnum. In my opinion - quite photogenic. :):D





... and if I were you, that gun be well-cleaned and waxed (as described above), stocked with some nice grips (keep the originals too) and it would be something that my sons fight over, WHEN I die. Guns that come from your father need to stay in the family.:D One of my favorite guns in my collection is a 1950s H&R single-shot 12 gauge. It is probably worth $100-$200 on the market, but to me it is priceless as it was my dad's when he was a teenager, and the shotgun I learned to shoot (it's so light, that it figuratively knocked me on my butt when I shot it the first time)... The memories it brings when I pull it out of the safe are warm and special - reminding me of a much simpler time. :)
 
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