I have become intrigued lately by 3 1/2 inch N frames. I remember reading that Smith made some K frames this way and perhaps some Model 27s? . . . what about M29s? Would these just be a custom affair?

I have become intrigued lately by 3 1/2 inch N frames. I remember reading that Smith made some K frames this way and perhaps some Model 27s? . . . what about M29s? Would these just be a custom affair?

Hi, welcome to the forum. All of us revolver guys love the 27 with the 3.5" barrel..Most of the other N frames were offered with a 3 or 4 inch barrel. There was a few offered with the 2.5" barrel I am not familiar with any other N frame with a 3.5" barrel...

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M.J.Hanna

So none from the Factory in .44?

not that I am aware of. The only factory length 44's I know of is 2.5" and 3" The book does not show any special runs of a 3.5" 44 mag or special

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M.J.Hanna

Thanks. I suppose there are custom ones out there, cut down from a four inch (or longer)gun. hmmmmm . . .

Only have one 3.5 incher, this 27-2

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Sure you did

I am new to the forum also but I want to chime in here. My local gun store owner has a 3.5 inch barrel for a model 29. It looks like it came from the factory, roll marks are in the right place, the front sight looks factory, barrel crown, etc. He called the Smith and Wesson factory and they wanted him to send it in to them for inspection but he hasn't yet. It's an older barrel with a lazy & on it. It is definately 3.5 inch as I measured it. I tried to buy it but he wouldn't sell. I hope he sends it to the factory so we can find out if it is authentic. If it isn't it is the best non factory job I have ever seen.

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SWCA #2421

he doesn't need to send the gun, just the serial# and a check. they will send him a letter of description and ship date.

They are beauties, aren't they!

This is one of S&W's Special revolvers.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

I think he's saying that the dealer has only a 3 1/2 inch barrel, not a 3 1/2 inch barrelled gun.

thanks tom, i gotta stop that "speed readin" stuff.

I got some more information last night. It seems the man who owned the gun bought it new back in the late 60's or early 70's. He sent it back to the factory to have a 6.5 inch barrel put on it and of course they returned the short barrel. He is going to see if he can get the serial number and get more information from the factory.

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SWCA #2421

Awhile back I realized that a 3 1/2"-3 1/4"
N frame is the best looking handgun ever
made.

My all time favorite is a factory 3 1/4" 29
with fixed sights and a round butt.
Unbelievable.

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OK, dumb question here. When measuring the barrel, do you include the threaded area?

Yes. Measure from the muzzle to the forcing cone (part closest to the cylinder).

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Formerly know as Lucky Derby

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gaucho1:
Awhile back I realized that a 3 1/2"-3 1/4"
N frame is the best looking handgun ever
made.

My all time favorite is a factory 3 1/4" 29
with fixed sights and a round butt.
Unbelievable.

[As I have only recently come to this conclusion, I had to go and buy one to see if they feel as good as they look - only another week until it gets here (27-2 with 3.5" and smooth targets - my first P&R!). From what I hear around here, I won't be disappointed. But I'm still wondering of the best way to make a 27/29 (i.e., a 3.5" M29). Would it be better to have a longer bbl. to cut up so as to center the 'rollmarks', or just hack a half inch off a four-incher (this in itself would be heresay).
/QUOTE]

Here's my 27-2 3.5 inch and I love the looks of this N frame.

That's beautiful! Hey, does anybody know when they changed the barrel logo from the so-called 'lazy &' to the one like fiymo has in the pic above? Also, when did the 3-line to 4-line address change occur?

Somebody liked 3.5 inch N's enough to
have this HD cut down.
Work was done in the 50's the Smith is
about a 1946 vintage.
Still have not shot it....

Bubba
I am sure you will enjoy your new 27.
I am a .45acp fan and will be posting some pictures of a few custom 25s I have found.

The fixed sight 29 is special because of the
factory round butt and the very clean look.
Doc44 has it and it is posted in various threads.

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Here is my 3.5" mod. 27. One like it was the first center fire revolver that I ever shot, when I was a young fellow of 16 yrs., in 1948. The old range officer on the Columbus Police Pistol Range, invited me to shoot his mod. 27 3.5" revolver, which he loaded a couple of cylinders full of .38sp. rounds. the last cyl. he loded the last two rounds with hot .357 mag. rounds. You can imagine my supprise when the first .357 went off. I thought shure I had died and went to heaven. I swore that day to own my own Mod. 27 just like that one, and finally did find, and bought one many years later, and of all my S&W revolvers it is still my favorite.
Chubbo

I actually like the proportions on the 4 inch better. It's nice to have just a little bit of barrel sticking past the extractor rod housing.

But I can understand liking the 3.5 inch better too.

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Regulate Banks, not guns

Did a search and found the Ampersand thread. Can't remember where I was reading about the 3-line vs. 4-line Address business. Xfuzz - nice! and Gaucho1 - can't wait to see your M25s. I did run across Doc44s fixed sighted M29 - it's beautiful. So, where does one search for 'beater' guns to customize? I guess gun shows and pawn shops - any other sources? I went through the OldTownStation website; everything is too close to 4 digits ($)for me. An old HE .44 spl or a M1917 that is rusty and in fair to good shape might be fun to tranform. Know of any Brazilian 1917s? I rarely see M29s in this condition. I wouldn't have any compunction about having a 6" or 8 3/8" cut down (I only like 4" or less; no offense to anyone who wants to lug that much steel around).

I've got a 3.5" barrel on my 29-2, and it's got the modern ampersand.

I got the barrel from a local gunsmith who was an S&W warranty station in the 70's and 80's. He got the barrel brand new from the factory with a bunch of other leftover stuff they were getting rid of or didn't want. I happened to see it in his shop and talked him into selling it to me. Since the barrel was new, I had to find a new condition 29-2 to install it on, which took a while. 29-2's are so desirable now that it almost seems like sacrilege to alter one like this, but the end result was well worth it. I love this gun and it's the only one I know of, though I've seen mention a couple of times of others having the 3.5" barrels loose.

Here's a pic of mine, with Ahrends combat grips. I carry it in a 5 Shot custom holster with crocodile trim:

IMHO, the handling characteristics of the 3 1/4"-3 1/2" N frames is incredible . . . especially appreciated in handgun matches where speed AND accuracy is paramount.

I've won many a match with this baby . . . what a great swinging gun between targets when shooting fast and double action-style!!!

My best memory? Beating all 35+ competitors at a special, 18-target steel match about ten years ago. At the buzzer, the competitors had to LOAD their centerfire handgun (any type) and knock down all 18 steel plates and poppers first to take the pot. Distances were about 10-35 yards. ONE manditory reload so the Glock guys would have to at least load a second mag for the last shot!

I had to shoot real fast and perfectly for all 18 shots, plus reload as fast as the 1911 guys . . . IF I didn't miss even once. I DIDN'T MISS . . . and my reloads were so fast that I beat the nearest competitor by over two seconds. Sweet handling little 3 1/4" N frame indeed!

I do dig the looks of the 3.5 inch 27. Best looking handgun ever IMHO.

Tom Turner,
You keep showing picts of that sweet 25. I may have to break down and buy/make one like that.
Great story too. I have 2 similar tales. I did not win the match but I did come in real close with humble stock guns against comp gun$$. Once with my old 686 (wish I had that back) and once with my Kahr bottom feeder.

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Happyhunter loves the outdoors and is thankful God made it. Praise the Lord!!

Not dumb at all. The measurement is from the rear of the forcing cone to the muzzle.
You ain't gonna learn unless you ask questions-welcome

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Forum consigliere

Not to hijack this thread (which I'm enjoying reading) but I have a 27-3 with a 4" barrel. Does anyone know why Smith decided to add the extra 1/2 inch?

Would not you add another 1/2" if you could

Actually, on a handgun I wouldn't. IMHO, the most beautiful proportions, and best overall "combat-type" handling revolvers have:

3 1/4"-3 1/3" barrels on the N frames . . .
(shown this time in "rubbers" before a match)


and 3" barrels on the K frames . . .




Both shoot just as accurately as my 4" 686 did . . . and handled better too when shooting double action style. Ditto even on my 646 Performance Center racegun in .40S&W w/ a 4" barrel. I traded both of 'em off . . . but will NEVER trade the above two guns!



Quicker from the holster, fast swinging back onto the next target in double action matches . . . those top two proved to me the benefits in a perfectly proportioned ways of those top two pictured!

T.

Finally got my M27! You guys were right . . . it is every bit as perfectly proportional as described herein. The checkered top strap is cool too. Now if I can just figure out how to post a picture.

This might do it.

Looking at the Standard Catalogue of S&W and comparing the Serial No. it looks like it was made in 1968. It has the old style 'lazy' ampersand on the left side and in the address and the more upright, modern style on the rt side of the barrel in the caliber marking.

Super fine gun Bubba.
Thanks for the pictures.

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Congrats, that looks really good. Like the knife too.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Awesome guns........