Here is a post abut this subject from one of our esteem members made many years ago.
A couple of years back I researched the M27 barrel lengths re: number of “years offered” in S&W documents (Annual catalogs, All Model Circulars, Price lists). For Postwar manufacturing, the Model 27 and Pre-M27 was offered in the following barrel lengths for the following number of years.
6” barrel = 1946-1994 48 yrs
8.375” barrel = 1949-1991 46yrs
3.5” barrel = 1946-1979 34yrs
5” barrel = 1946-1979 34yrs
6.5” barrel = 1946-1968 23yrs
4” barrel = 1980-1991 12yrs
Notes:
1 – Prior to cataloging the 4”, special orders accounted for all the 4” production.
2 – Model 27 sales (in general) were very sluggish after the Model 19 was introduced.
3 – Model 27 4” guns were cataloged the first time in 1980, the same year the L frame was introduced.
4 – Duty usage of the 4” M27 was probably slow as compared to the (lower cost) M28 Highway Patrolman after 1954.
5 – All Nickel 4” models noted to date have been around 1980 production of the M27-2, all with TT/TH/TS/WO/RR
6 – The years cataloged may not correlate to actual production numbers, but it speaks to the general availability and orderability.
7 – The above is for standard production guns, it does not cover any commemorative or re-issue special editions. Both the 3.5” and 5” were reintroduced at least once.
9 – In 1969 S&W changed to the N serial prefix as a requirement of the 1968 Gun Control Act.
From my experience the4" P&R 27 was the most difficult, by far, to find when I put the set of barrel lengths together!
jcelect SWCA#LM723
