I picked up this S&W model 27 for a few hundred in a private sale. I don't know too much about S&W revolvers.

From what I have found online, I have a pinned and recessed Model 27-2? The grips are fairly beat up and I don't know if they are original.

Any more information from someone more knowledgeable would be great. I'd like to know what I have.

Attached Images

	S&W 27.jpg (48.1 KB, 199 views)
	model 2722.jpg (36.9 KB, 157 views)
	model 27222.jpg (46.3 KB, 162 views)

Welcome to the Forum.

Turn yourself into the police. If you paid a "few hundred", you stole it! Judging by the grips, it was carried by a right handed person. If you remove the grips and give us the serial number on the butt, we can give you a fairly close shipping date.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It’s a 5” model, highly sought after in the current market.

If you can post the serial number from the bottom of the grip frame (the stocks need to be removed to see it) we can tell you its approximate age. Nice find!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Since the 27-2 has the standard hammer and trigger, it most likely shipped with walnut Magna stocks and pre-dates late 1975 when the target hammer and trigger were made standard on this model. A serial number would certainly help estimate the shipping date.

Bill

I would also say before 1975 because after that they all had Target features.

Interesting it has white outline rear sight but no red insert front sight. Usually a set. Maybe rear blade replaced.

Everyone knows I love all things 27.

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No life story has happy end.

"few" hundred? Excellent deal! You can't suppose the model series: you need check it on the frame, near the yoke, opening the cylinder. There you will find the model series after the model number: 27 dash # . Usually you will find the serial number too, even the main site is on the butt, under the grips.
The 5" barrel is uncommon and one of the most desired.
The presentation smooth grips need a good refinishing job, but don't try without having learned the correct procedures. I hate the roughly varnished stocks.

While you aren't a new member by date, you have very few posts here, so I have zero idea of how much you know about S&W revolvers, so my info will be a little more basic.

In 1935, S&W released upon the world the first ever .357 Magnum revolver in the largest revolver frame they made at that time. The evolution of that gun is the Model 27.

It is an N-frame revolver and one of -the- finest platforms for shooting and enjoying the .357 Magnum cartridge.

The most popular S&W revolver frame size is the smaller, K-frame, a wonderful medium sized frame. But for shooting the relatively stout .357 Magnum, the N-frame is just wonderful.

Your revolver was the flagship model for S&W, it got extra finish work on the top and the gloss bluing was the finest they offered. Yours is a fantastic gun, but it isn't any manner of rare, S&W made many.

Thank you for all the fast replies and information! Yea, I had a feeling paying $300 was a steal. Couldn't say no.

Opening the cylinder and reading the frame it states: N217xxx
Mod 27-2

As I don't want to try and restore the grips on my own. Is there any reputable I could send the grips to for refinishing?

Holy moly.

Man you got a heck of a deal, I paid quadruple that for my 27-2, albeit mine has a wood presentation box and its an ex-DPS gun, but for $300 I'd give up all that!

wow

Congrats!

Probably shipped late 74 to early 75.

Bill

It would re-sell on your local armslist for a thousand bucks within 2 hours , so yes, you did good .

Lewis

The stocks are likely factory replacements; the gun probably had the smaller N frame Magna or service stocks on it originally, with flat bottoms and no uncheckered diamond around the stock screw. The cost of refinishing the Target stocks on it will probably be fairly close to that of a correct pair of these, or for that matter a replacement set of the larger stocks.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220