This was advertised in our local online classifieds as a 5" 357 Magnum. After a few phone calls, I had it and he was $600 richer. Serial is N1694XX, can anyone provide approximate vintage? Also, it does not have the "3 Ts" is that somewhat rare? All my others do! It was wearing smooth targets that were not original and looked like they may have been modified to fit the gun. Hopefully someone can help me identify the grips as well. I now own a 3.5, a 5", and (2) 6" nickel.

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1973 - Lucky chap!

Thanks! What about the standard trigger and hammer?

I don't think it was that rare, my 5" one from that era had the standard setup.

As does the one I have.

Were most the 5 inchers standard trigger/hammer? Seems kind of silly that my 3.5" would and the 5" would not.

Hello jamesr 14,
Congratulations on your 5 inch 27-2. I have several specimens of this model, the closest to yours being
a 5 inch, S/N N1091XX, shipped May 1973, and bought new by me in June, 1973. It was shipped with std. trigger and hammer and service stocks in a blue box. The one numbered just above yours is an 8-3/8 inch, S/N N2317XX, shipped January, 1976. It came with target trigger and hammer, smooth Gancalo Alves S/W target stocks and a patridge front sight, in a presentation case.
Don't ever bet on S&W - - - either way.
Hope this helps,
teesur.

I really like the model 27 and am on the hunt for a 4" to add to my collection. This 5" is not "collector" grade, but they rarely come up for sale in Idaho. Do you guys think the price was reasonable?

it was 1974 or 1975 when S&W decided all 27s would come full target equipped. A mistake IMO for the 3.5" version. The smooth stocks are unlikely to be original but otherwise yours appears correct for 1973.

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No life story has happy end.

I pulled the smooth stocks off and threw on a set of targets that I had. I figured I would sell them, but they look like they had been hand carved to fit. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures if they have been molested.

They look like K/L frame grips to me.

+1 with teesur and Saxon Pig....

I had two 5" 27-2's delivered within two weeks of each other during that era. One was in the presentation case with all target options, the other in the blue box with a non-target hammer, trigger and magna's.

Over the span of a couple of years it was very common to see both presentation cased and blue boxed 27's configured either all target or not with the 3 1/2" and 5" barrels. I suspect continuing law enforcement orders kept the plain versions in production for a while.

When the transition was made to presentation cases I never saw a 6" or an 8 3/8" delivered in a blue box, just the two shorter barreled guns. None of the other N frames (25's, 57's or 29's) were delivered in any barrel length without the presentation case during that same time frame...

Many people found it strange at the time that the "premium" S&W handgun, the Model 27, didn't have a red ramp or a white outline rear sight blade instead of the Baughman's on the short barrels and the Patridge's on the long ones, except those that were special ordered.

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Terry

When I started the academy for the Sheriff's Dept. we had to purchase our own weapons. I had my eye on a 5" 27-2 in one of the local gun shops. It had the standard, grooved narrow trigger and standard hammer. No red ramp or white outline either.

Wanted that gun bad but I was told (mistakenly) that I had to have a 4" barreled 38/357 revolver. Bought a 28-2 to make the academy staff happy but learned when I got out and on the street that the department would allow any barrel length from 3.5" to 6" if you wanted. Never forgave them for that...LOL!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)