i will freely admit to being totally addicted to the small-frame snubbies, but i will concede that the 27s are indeed the coolest! i honestly believe that anyone who is even remotely interested in s&ws owes it to themselves to own at least one of the generations of them. i have shifted through a few, but currently have two that are here to stay. a sweet nickle 27-2:



and, what i consider to be the ultimate barrel length, a 5 inch -2 in blue:

No question the 27 is cool. But the coolest? What makes a Smith revolver that is functionally and structurally the same as about every other S&W revolver cooler than the rest? Is a checkered topstrap all it takes? IMHO it takes more than that. I think there is another model that has it beat. I submit Exhibit A.

I can't disagree with the OP's premise. My first handgun was a 27 no dash, 6.5", given me by my dad for Christmas in 1966. The gun was manufactured in '58 and dad bought it a year or two later, but didn't use it much before giving it to me. Over the next several years that gun accounted for six deer, numerous gophers, and countless paper targets, cans, rocks and stumps (at very long range!). I still have it, but it resides in honored retirement.





The grips are not original to the gun. It came with magnas. I have big hands and wanted target grips, but anyone who was around in the late 60s and interested in guns will probably recall that S&W stuff, guns and accessories, were all pretty hard to come by. I found this old pair of Targets in a pawn shop, they were really beat, but I traded the magnas and $5 for them, then refinished them back then.

Later I became a devotee of the 19/66 as my favorite frame and best handling gun. I swear that the 2.5" 19/66s have a zen that is unique, and I can shoot them extremely well, but I love N-frames, and the 27 has a special place in my heart.

Oh....gone are the "good ole days" of the incredible bluing on S&W's...well, any firearm really. Such a sad thing! Gorgeous guns.

The 27 is definitively a great and cool gun.
I made the mistake to sell a 3.5" many years ago.
Don't think to do it again with my new to me 5" !

These are two of my favorite Smiffs

I have two of them, one in 5" and aone in 8 3/8"... Yes they are cool but all these pictures make me want to go buy a 3 1/2 " now...

Just recently bought my first 27-2. I'm looking for another! They look good and feel good in my hand. Great to see so many 27's.

Attached Images

100_3104.jpg (71.0 KB, 91 views)

Wellllll They DO take Right Nice Pictures




SOMETIMES WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM A FORUM FRIEND

THANK YOU DAVID



















AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL STAY STILL FOR A " GROUP " SHOT














AND THEY DO SHOOT GREAT!!!

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Nice Sal! Great collection and photos...love it! Bob

Skeeter Skelton's favorite...5" with Herrett's Roper stocks.
Bob

I had a pre-27 made in early 50's in 3.5", was reblued, but was super cool gun, but, like an idiot, i sold it....

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ernie shipman

Quit Sal! You're making me HUNGRY!

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RIP Shipmate

The "S" prefix was before the Gun Control Act of 1968 when they became N prefix. The "S" is more desirable for that, and other reasons.

Great Guns.........Love my 3..........Would love to dress up with a bowtie and shoot a Model A or T with one though.

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S&W Accumulator

OK, here's another...6" 27-2 with custom Herrett's stocks.
Bob

The Model 27 was the first firearm I ever purchased new. It was a 6" in a nice presentation case. That was over three decades ago. It was the start of a life long passion for the wheel gun with the checkered top strap. I still own that revolver. It is in the photo below and the top right revolver in the old group photo. Since that day long ago more have been added.





I probably have more than my fair share.....but not as many as I want



















It is not just the 6 shooters, I have grown fond of the 8 shot model 27/327/627 family of revolvers as well















This last image is a pair of unfired 3 1/2" model 27s. One six shot and one eight shot. They make nice bookends.



I am going to have to get busy and photograph the rest of them.

So, do you like 27's, Sal?

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Even older, even crankier....

That black & alloy JM; very nice. Gloss black background with the dull alloy cylinder and barrel really looks trick. Please tell me where the fancy S&W grips came from on the engraved blue gun and are they conversion (rnd to sq) thanks

A little Model 27 trivia. I have every season of "Kojak" on DVD. (Yes, I know I am a big TV nerd).

From Season Three on, Detective Stavros carries a Model 27 with a 3.5 in barrel. It is shown prominently in Season Three at least twice and, so far, in Season 4 it could qualify for a screen credit.

This is the 75th ammiversary 357Magnum.

Those are the grips supplied by the factory. That is a square butt revolver

So many great pictures & information! For sale, unfinished projects to fund the purchase of a Model 27!

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M1917, J-, K-, L-, N- & 1911

Gents,

I too share your abiding love of the Model 27. After my Model 28-2 (1975), I wanted another N-Frame .357 Magnum.

In early April, I spied this ANIB Model 27-2 (1980) lying in a corner of the case at my LGS. I traded my custom 1967-vintage Model 58 for the 27-2.

I am a Model 19 freak, so 'upgunning' to the Model 27/28 was a delightful departure from the norm.

I wanted my 27/28 to be 'Fighting Revolvers', so I got some 'extra' hammers/triggers from my gunsmith and others. I sent the triggers off to Mag-Na-Port for their 'Combat Trigger' modification. It helps with the DA shooting and affords a better trigger reach (read: manipulation).

The wood are the Miculek grips. They are the ONLY grip besides the Spegels (to come later) that fit my hand well. They afford a quick, high-grip to the gun when grabbed.

The 27-2 had been sitting in the box for some 30 years. It had some slight tarnishing from the S&W wax paper. I took FLITZ in my fingers and gently rubbed her down with the several applications of the paste. The amount of brown crud that came off of the barrel, frame and cylinder made me cringe. She came out well...

I modified the gun somwhat from her original state. The modifications were done on the premise that she could be given back to her original equipage quickly and without undue fanfare.

My local gunsmith (B. BURRIS handle here on the forum) did the following mods:

--Torpedo Tube chamfer
--11-degree forcing cone chamfer
--Duty Action Job (8.9lbs DA and 3.5lbs SA)
--Changed out the hammer (from the .500" TH to the .400 semi TH)
--Changed out the trigger (from the .500" TT to the Mag-Na-Port Combat Trigger)
--Trued-up the insides with a Kratex file
--Installed the SDM 'New Style' Tumb Latches

Upon receiving it on 1 June, I knocked out the R/R and installed the Meprolight front Tritium blade. The 5-minute job makes it an all-weather/night capable defensive revolver.

The last step for the brace of these N-Frame warriors is to send the Highway Patrolman into ToolTech Gunsmithing to have a Tritium vial installed into the front sight. ToolTech is the sub-contractor for Tijicon (they did the LE Berettas back in the day).

I do love my Combat Magnum, but the N-Frame .357s have a mystique about them. They, like the Model 58 scream, "All Business". They are one of the classiest guns to come out of Springfield.

Mr ditrina, that Nickle n Ivory 27 has to be the prettiest gun EVER!! All the revolvers in this thread rock, but DAYUM....just gorgeous sir!!Mike

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45.acp-why shoot twice.

Here's another short 27-2. This one wears grips by our own Kurac.

Jerry

Here is mine 1978, 5" barrel, Mint, came with wooden box, all tools and papers. I am third owner, first owner shot it once, second never did. Can someone tell me what type of grips I have?

Blued 27-2 8 3/8", and 27-2 4-inch Nickel.

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Copyright MCMLXII ©

What model is it?

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Existimo ergo sum armis

I think my nickel 27-2 6 1/2 isthe most beautiful pistol I've ever seen. I like to take it out and just hold it and look at it. I love shooting it but I hate cleaning the face of the cylinder thinking I'm going to be too rough on the finish. It is truly a beautiful Smith as are all the ones pictured on this thread.

It is the .44 Hand Ejector First Model AKA New Century AKA Triplelock. It is so cool it needed three names to go along with its three locking points.

Now I know what I'm looking for next!!!

I have the twin to this with Herrett's Ropers.

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Elmer Keith is my hero.

amen to that brother ......if I wasn't married -I'd sleep with mine

The top strap checkering is cool, but I don't like the cylinder window gap or the tapered barrel. Being a .38/.357 makes it heavier than the other N frames, too (I admit, that's stretching it a bit...). Too big for a .357, I always thought.

I had a 4" 27-2 in nickel but traded it off. Mine was a transition model with the recessed cylinder but no pinned barrel, and that bothered me! The nickel was beautiful, much better than my 19-4's (traded that one for a 2.5" 66-1). I will eventually get a 4" 29-2 to replace it, and that's why I kept the presentation case. It did shoot great, but I don't miss it yet - I got a BSS Python to replace it.

Attached Images

S&W 27-2 .357 Magnum N887502.jpg (80.7 KB, 74 views)

Well, I didn't miss it until I pulled up it's picture...

"I probably have more than my fair share.....but not as many as I want."

Exactly.

I can't match some of the other awesome pictures on this thread, but I will agree that 27s are the coolest S&W and I would take it a step further and say the coolest revolver (sorry Snakes)...
Here's my rather meager collection:

The 3 1/2 inch barrel is just double tough. I admit I do miss my 5-inch 27 I owned but the short gun has great balance and I plan on testing the limits of this gun's accuracy come warm weather.

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Vaya con Dios

Good Lord ya'll do some beautiful pics of some beautiful revolvers ...

But, didn't we do this just a few months ago ?

My pics just plain sxxx...uhm, are less than stellar , but here they are anyway...again ...

All the 27-2 standard barrel lengths: 3 1/2", 4", 5", 6", 6 1/2" and 8 3/8”








And the "less cool" siblings: 28-2 4", another 28-2 4" and 28-2 6"





And, of course, the twin b****** stepchildren: 520 and another 520

You're trying to get me to argue, aren't you? Not doing a very good job.

I love my 27-2 5"



I really miss my nickle 4" ( one of those "if I knew then what I know now" kinda things)

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SFC, US Army, Retired

I've posted this pic of my 5" 27-2 in other threads, but don't want to be left out of this incredible collection of other BEAUTIFUL examples of Smith & Wesson class.

Looking at these great pics inspires me on my next aquisition, a 3.5" model 27.

I only have one, but it's a good one.

De Oppresso Liber

I agree with the general consensus. Especially about the 5" barrel being the best balance.

Here's mine. 1964-65 vintage with original grips.

David

Just added my second one A 1959 5" - I know wrong grips for the period:



L]

My one and only, but it would be nice to change that!

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Peter
S&WCA #2620

I would have to say that the 27-2 and all of its progenitors in .357 magnum could be the "coolest" Smith's around. After the dash two, the Karma was gone for the 27.

I don't know. I have a 4" 27-3 that is a very sweet shooting gun and a tack driver.



This gun can be in my holster anytime.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Its wrong just to say its the N frame in 357mag (model 27 & 28 only). All the N frames rock in any caliber. When i grab a revolver i want to feel the weight and the meat of the handgun in my hand. I don't want any thin, skinny light weight. The 357mag's & 44mag's are ok but that N frame in 41mag rocks too. Heck they all rock....

Why are they the coolest? Because a 27-3 was my first cop gun! Even though not a P/R 27, it shoots good.