627-0 Summary
Many thanks to Jenseyboo for reaching out to me and alerting me to this thread. I responded to him via PM and thought I would check this thread out. It has been awhile since I posted anything so to keep the interest alive here is a quick review of my favorite S&W model, the 627.
While the stainless 627 is roll stamped Model of 1989 on the barrel, it was officially “introduced” at the Las Vegas Shot Show in January 1990. S&W “Special Products Bulletin” 1991 lists 101024 as being introduced October 1989 with a MSRP of $530.00. The New Product Introduction sales sheet (undated) stated that the Model 627 would be available in November 1989.
Five years later the Model 27 was discontinued, reflecting consumer demand for stainless steel, big bores, and the success of the new L-Frame introduced in 1980. Perhaps due to the successful introduction of the L-Frame, the stainless steel N-frame .357 was never published in any of the annual Smith & Wesson catalogs during this period.
About six years of its introduction, the Smith & Wesson factory quietly discontinued the (non-PC) 627. The model designation was kept alive by the Performance Center, where it evolved to become a special purpose platform upon which for over five years they built limited run editions. (referred to above as gun of the month-which were limited runs sold exclusively to one distributor).
In 2002 the Performance Center introduced the 627-5, which became a stocked inventory item with ready availability in a number of configurations and currently available today.
Besides being made from stainless instead of carbon steel, there were a number of other obvious physical differences between the 627 and its pedigreed parent.
1. Unfluted cylinder, never offered on a 27
2. Full underlug, more in common in appearance to the 586 and 686 then to the 27
3. New barrel length of 5.5 inches, not offered since prewar
4. Heavy barrel (no taper), never offered on a 27
5. Round butt, never before offered on a 27
6. Wood, finger groove combat grips (27-6 came with Hogue rubber combat grips)
7. Heavy 50-ounces (compared to 44 ounces for 6-inch M-27)
That said there were some similarities that Model 27 fans appreciated:
1 Finely checkered top strap, barrel rib, and rear sight leaf
2 Hammer mounted firing pin
3 Forged hammer and trigger (retained on PC models)
4 Red ramp insert front sight
5 Familiar (pre-CNC) machined frame
The 627, like many S&Ws of the period, went through a number of engineering changes:
Model # Production # of Years Engineering Change
627 1989 <1 Stainless steel introduction
627-0 1989 – 1993 <5 Longer stop notches
627-1 1993 <1* Drilled and tapped top strap
627-PC 1997 – 1998 <2 Performance Center (PC) old frame, 8-shot
627-2 1998 – 2002 <5 Not PC, new CNC Frame, 6-shot
627-3 1999 – 2002 <4 PC, new frame, 8-shot
627-4 2002 <1 PC, internal lock, .38 Super, 8-shot
627-5 2003 – Current 8+ PC, internal local, .357 Magnum, 8-shot, available in several configurations.
The factory used the same product code (101024) for the 627, 627-0, and the 627-1, so while we know there were only 278 of the no dash models, I believe the 5000 production number includes the dash 0 and dash 1 variations, maybe even some "transitional" dash 2s.
In closing, an interesting side note is the 627 was not the first stainless steel N frame .357. That honor belongs to the 27SS, billed as “the only gun of its kind in existence.” This unique and presumably true stainless copy of the Model 27 was built and advertised concurrent with the Smith & Wesson 50th Anniversary .357 Magnum Revolvers first offered in 1986. The 27SS was built by Smith & Wesson for the International Shooter Development Fund to be auctioned together with a unique five-inch blue Model 27, intricately engraved and gold inlaid by master engraver Paul R. Piquette, as a fund-raiser for the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team to prepare for the 1988 Olympics.
