Horseapple
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These appear to be very similar and cannot understand why both were produced.
Major differences between the Model 27 and the Model 29.
- Thread starter Horseapple
- Start date
Well . . . one was chambered for the .357 Magnum and the other for the .44 Magnum. Why would this be confusing? Guns for both cartridges were in demand. 
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Model 27 is a .357 Magnum, the Model 29 is a .44 Magnum. Both use the same frame ("N" frame), but the M27 has a tapered barrel, the M29 has a straight, heavy barrel.
Are you by chance meaning the difference between the M27 and M28? They are essentially the same gun, but the M28 is a "budget model" intended as a lower cost gun when purchased by an individual police officer or in bulk by departments, for law enforcement use. The M28 has less of a polished finish and fewer available options than the M27. I forget the price difference, but it was significant enough for police departments to save quite a bit when buying a group of them, and by an individual officer, when the M27 was a significant portion of a weekly or monthly salary.
You would be amazed at the similarities of many of S&W's revolvers and wonder why so many different models were produced when one might be "enough".
The K-22 Masterpiece models are a case in point, and guns like the M64 and M65. You could argue, why make a .38 Special, when you could just build a .357 Magnum and be able to shoot both rounds from the same gun.
Are you by chance meaning the difference between the M27 and M28? They are essentially the same gun, but the M28 is a "budget model" intended as a lower cost gun when purchased by an individual police officer or in bulk by departments, for law enforcement use. The M28 has less of a polished finish and fewer available options than the M27. I forget the price difference, but it was significant enough for police departments to save quite a bit when buying a group of them, and by an individual officer, when the M27 was a significant portion of a weekly or monthly salary.
You would be amazed at the similarities of many of S&W's revolvers and wonder why so many different models were produced when one might be "enough".
The K-22 Masterpiece models are a case in point, and guns like the M64 and M65. You could argue, why make a .38 Special, when you could just build a .357 Magnum and be able to shoot both rounds from the same gun.
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In 1965, the difference in the MSRP was $120 for the Model 27 and $85 for the Model 28. A significant difference. When buying in bulk, it could amount to thousands of dollars - $3,500 on the purchase of 100 units.
hkcavalier
US Veteran
The reason S&W started making the 29 is because it was really hard on the thumbs pushing .44 Magnum cartridges into a 27 cylinder. Not to mention a mite hard on the forcing cone.
hkcavalier is right - I tried it and I got lead shavings from the getgo! 
Seriously, the best reply is:
The list of similar models of S&W guns is endless - which is what makes this Forum exceedingly interesting.
Seriously, the best reply is:
The list of similar models of S&W guns is endless - which is what makes this Forum exceedingly interesting.
old tanker
Well-known member
Horseapple
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error corrected
Thanks for the info. Any of you boys ever hear of the Dale Carnegie Course? You can answer a simple question without the sarcasm. I was not aware revolvers were caliber specific. Or is that a true statement?
Thanks for the info. Any of you boys ever hear of the Dale Carnegie Course? You can answer a simple question without the sarcasm. I was not aware revolvers were caliber specific. Or is that a true statement?
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Horseapple
There was no sarcasm intended by any of us. Sorry you took it that way.
The fact is, this is a fun loving group of guys. Banter is part of our enjoyment of one another. You are welcome join in with that any time.
There was no sarcasm intended by any of us. Sorry you took it that way.
The fact is, this is a fun loving group of guys. Banter is part of our enjoyment of one another. You are welcome join in with that any time.
cd228
Well-known member
FWIW S&W Models are caliber specific, in that A model 27 is a.357 magnum and you will not see a model 27 in .44 caliber (Usually, there have been special variants). Frame Sizes are not usually caliber specific. For example, the models 22 (.45 ACP),24 (.44 SPC),27(.357), 28(.357), 29(.44 MAG) are N frame revolvers.
On the other hand, Ruger uses the same model name for revolvers with the same frame size regardless of caliber. For example the Ruger GP100 can be had in .22, .357,.327, .44 SPC , etc.
Colt would do similar in the past, for the Colt Diamond back used to be available in .22 and .38
One other thing that separated the Model 27 is that it was the only pistol that had very fine checkering on the top strap and top of the barrel.
The biggest difference to me, besides the obvious, is the checkered top strap and barrel rib. Next would be tapered barrel, patridge front sight. Don’t think many model 29’s came with those features.
Oh,yea, just go with the flow. Most everybody here is good people that will help you.
Oh,yea, just go with the flow. Most everybody here is good people that will help you.
Jack Flash
SWCA Member
The OP has a point. You could argue some of the answers were not strictly speaking "sarcastic", but at best they were condescending. We're better than that.
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old tanker
Well-known member
Tankers are known for their subtlety
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Pd_C_r1l4&t=8s[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Pd_C_r1l4&t=8s[/ame]
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If the comments in -THIS- thread offend the OP or any other person reading them, get the hell off the internet or grow some skin. The first sour post was post #8. Mine is pretty sour also. I won’t lose sleep over it.
Sheesh.
Sheesh.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
BIG HOLE vs little hole
What is that "BIG HOLE" on the left, Tanker? certainly isn't a M29, with a fixed sight frame. looks like a M58. Still a Big Hole. As far as that goes, what's the "little hole" on the right, a M520?
Horseapple, we're a fun-lovin' bunch and light sarcasm is just having a bit of fun. However, their veiled point is well-taken, most handgun models ARE caliber specific. Don't mistake type for model. A 1911, for example, comes in several calibers and levels of "dress", and each one has a different model number, although they are ALL 1911 type pistols. Same goes for the wheel guns, 'revolver' is a type, not a model.
However, there are a lot of different models that are the same caliber; for instance, the M13, M19, M65, M66, M27, M28 are all .357 Magnum. Frame types can be similar or not, and configuration differs between the models. Another thing is, some model guns can shoot two similar, but differently named caliber cartridges, such as a model specified for .357 Magnum
can also shoot .38 Special cartridges.
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old tanker
Well-known member
Actually neither of them are an N frame, the .44 Special on the left is a Taurus M445 and the .38 Special on the right is a S&W Model 10. Just the handiest picture of the muzzle end a 44 and a 38 side by side. (They just happen to both be K frame size)
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Hair Trigger
US Veteran
That's what threw me, I was assuming both were S&W and both were N frame. Sorta scary to look at the business end of those guys, and seeing the cylinders full.
Horseapple, I like your screen name. Now you need an avatar!
Here's a nice 5" blue 27-2 that came to me a few months ago. I'm a .44 guy but enjoy shooting full house .357's with my 4" and 6" Model 28 and 3.5", 5", and 6.5" Model 27's. If you are considering N frame models with a narrow-profile barrel, check out the Model 24-3 .44 Special and the 629 Mountain Gun .44 Magnum. Second photo is my .44 Special 24-3 followed by my .44 Mag 629-2 Mountain Revolver (predating the "Mountain Gun").
Here's a nice 5" blue 27-2 that came to me a few months ago. I'm a .44 guy but enjoy shooting full house .357's with my 4" and 6" Model 28 and 3.5", 5", and 6.5" Model 27's. If you are considering N frame models with a narrow-profile barrel, check out the Model 24-3 .44 Special and the 629 Mountain Gun .44 Magnum. Second photo is my .44 Special 24-3 followed by my .44 Mag 629-2 Mountain Revolver (predating the "Mountain Gun").
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