27-2 with non-pinned frame???

[SLT223]

Sorry no pics, but this gun is stamped 27-2, N4xx,xxx so mid 1970's?, has an 8" barrel with a red ramp front sight, and the cylinder is most definitely recessed. The front sight does not appear to be replaced. I jnow it should have a patridge blade, but if it's unoriginal the work was done exceedingly well as you cannot see the pin. As stated in the title this gun which should have a pinned barrel, does not. What am I looking at here? A factory frame replacement from the early 1980's? Never seen a rec cylinder and unpinned barrel on any gun other than early 80's transitional 629's.

What's the story on this 27-2?

[DR505]

Could you post some photos?

[H Richard]

Does it look re-blued? Could the pin have been polished flat and blended into the frame when re-blued?

[samandglove1]

Originally Posted by H Richard

Does it look re-blued? Could the pin have been polished flat and blended into the frame when re-blued?

Exactly what I was thinking.

[SLT223]

It does not appear to be reblued. All the stamping are deep and crisp. There is no sign whatsoever of a pin ever having been present or the frame ever having been drilled for one. All pinned barrel frames I have ever seen would have required welding, grinding, and polishing to make it as seamless as this one. The frame appears to be perfect and unmolested. If the gun has been worked on, it's the best finish work I've seen.

All I can think of is the frame was stamped 27-2, left unfinished, and assembled into a gun during the 27-3 generation with a crush fit barrel and a left over recessed cylinder? But this is the only example I've seen like this, and I've seen more than couple 27's at this point.

[ejjeff]

Although it may not be relevant i have a model 28-2 with a recessed cyl and non pinned barrel S/N N9510xx. Looking at available info it appears to be a rather late s/n to have a recessed cyl.and Just throwing this out there for what its worth. Again S&W sometimes surprises.

[murphydog]

It is too early (per the SN) to have an unpinned barrel. The only way to end the speculation may be a factory letter, but if it originally shipped in the mid-1970s it may not solve the mystery.

[27 Man]

Interesting. I have a blue, three inch model 13-2, sn 9D0xxx, that has recessed chambers and no pin in the barrel. I suspect the gun is unfired and has the box. Must be what they call a transitional model. It shipped in 1981.

[Tom_R]

This is somewhat common, as well the factory may not have had pinned barrels available at the time of assembly, if this is when the 27s were being transitioned.

There are also several instances of pinned barrels, but non-recessed cylinders where they normally would have.

[wbraswell]

When changes were being made, there will be guns without all the changes, just like the post war transitionals.

[Doc44]

The only logical way to explain this situation is the 27-2 was made and shipped much later than its serial number would suggest (1978). While uncommon, it would not be the first time this has happened.

Bill

[SLT223]

Originally Posted by Doc44

The only logical way to explain this situation is the 27-2 was made and shipped much later than its serial number would suggest (1978). While uncommon, it would not be the first time this has happened.

Bill

Agreed. Thats pretty much the thought I expressed above. Seems a good while for a stamped frame to be unfinished, but I know some 629-1 frames sat around for about a decade before being built into finished guns.