627 Pre lock 8 rounds

After seeing one of these on Gunbroker, I decided it would be my next Smith. Unfortunately, the only one that's for sale is going for over $2500!
I'm just not so enthralled with the PC 627 V Comps in the black finish, and the barrel design. They also recently came out with a 627 PC in 2 1/2 inch barrel.
It is a bit frustrating to me that you can find a Smith model you like , (627)but cannot get it with either the right finish, barrel length, sights, grips. You'd think you could order from a "menu" the model, with everything from forged parts to barrels, sights, PC work, etc.
I can't be alone in seeing this. If I could get the 627 PC that they currently make in a 5, or 6 inch full underlug, I'd order it directly from the factory. Maybe I can, but if so, it's not well known.
Smith and Wesson should pay attention to the fact that, like Harley Davidson USED TO BE, they are offering up wonderful base products that others are banking on with aftermarket accessories or improvements.
Am I off base here?




'

captainwayne said:

After seeing one of these on Gunbroker, I decided it would be my next Smith. Unfortunately, the only one that's for sale is going for over $2500!
I'm just not so enthralled with the PC 627 V Comps in the black finish, and the barrel design. They also recently came out with a 627 PC in 2 1/2 inch barrel.
It is a bit frustrating to me that you can find a Smith model you like , (627)but cannot get it with either the right finish, barrel length, sights, grips. You'd think you could order from a "menu" the model, with everything from forged parts to barrels, sights, PC work, etc.
I can't be alone in seeing this. If I could get the 627 PC that they currently make in a 5, or 6 inch full underlug, I'd order it directly from the factory. Maybe I can, but if so, it's not well known.
Smith and Wesson should pay attention to the fact that, like Harley Davidson USED TO BE, they are offering up wonderful base products that others are banking on with aftermarket accessories or improvements.
Am I off base here?




'

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR DESIRE. FOR MANY OF US, IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE......

IT WOULD HARKEN BACK TO THE DAYS, WHEN YOU COULD ORDER A NEW AUTOMOBILE, WITH JUST THE FEATURES THAT YOU WANTED---NO MORE, AND NO LESS. THE MOVE AWAY FROM THIS PRACTICE, WAS FUELED BY CORPORATE GREED, AND THE NEED TO WRING THE MAXIMUM PROFIT, OUT OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.......

WHEN YOU WEIGH MAXIMUM PROFITS, AGAINST INCREASED SATISFACTION OF A PORTION OF THE CONSUMER BASE---ITS A NO BRAINER, AS TO THE OUTCOME.......

If they offered a 627 8 shot with a 3 to 4 inch full under lug barrel I would order it tomorrow ! Instead they offer goofy looking slab sides that taper down on the end. Basically make me a 625 JM in 8 shot 357 !

IMO the N frame with 5" full underlug barrel is probably the best combination for full power .44 Magnum loads....

For a .357 Magnum 4" duty length revolver my choice would be either the 7 shot pre MIM 686-4 or Pre IL 686-5 Mountain Gun as the high water mark in .357 S&W evolution.

I’d also love to have a pre lock but couldn’t see it happening, so I capitulated and bought a 627-5. Love it!

Engine49guy said:

IMO the N frame with 5" full underlug barrel is probably the best combination for full power .44 Magnum loads....

For a .357 Magnum 4" duty length revolver my choice would be either the 7 shot pre MIM 686-4 or Pre IL 686-5 Mountain Gun as the high water mark in .357 S&W evolution.

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I AGREE WITH Engine49guy. IMHO--THE PRE-IL M686+ MOUNTAIN GUN, IS THE FINEST ITERATION OF THE S&W, IN .357 MAGNUM......

MINE IS ON THE LEFT, IN THE PIC BELOW.....

Engine49guy said:

IMO the N frame with 5" full underlug barrel is probably the best combination for full power .44 Magnum loads....

For a .357 Magnum 4" duty length revolver my choice would be either the 7 shot pre MIM 686-4 or Pre IL 686-5 Mountain Gun as the high water mark in .357 S&W evolution.

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Agreed. I have a 686 4inch with the lock that was called "super tuned" with hand stoned hammer and trigger. It is a wonderful gun that I haven't had to touch to improve. In SA or DA it's trigger is equal to my 1980 Python.
I still want that 627 with a real barrel.

captainwayne said:

Agreed. I have a 686 4inch with the lock that was called "super tuned" with hand stoned hammer and trigger. It is a wonderful gun that I haven't had to touch to improve. In SA or DA it's trigger is equal to my 1980 Python.
I still want that 627 with a real barrel.

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Not to start a Colt vs. S&W argument, but the crazy amount of money that people will pay for one Python could easily pay for all of these.
The 627PC in the top pic started out like the one on GB that you have referred to. A slab side barrel has been installed at some point in time.
"""I still want that 627 with a real barrel."""
Is the 627 on the left of the bottom pic what you are referring to?? I am considering swapping barrels with the 627 in the top pic. A pre-lock 627 with a standard barrel would be one of a kind.

Dr.Lou said:

I’d also love to have a pre lock but couldn’t see it happening, so I capitulated and bought a 627-5. Love it!

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LOCK, OR NO LOCK---THAT IS A VERY HANDSOME REVOLVER, Dr.Lou.....

captainwayne said:

After seeing one of these on Gunbroker, I decided it would be my next Smith. Unfortunately, the only one that's for sale is going for over $2500!

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I've been watching that auction too. This one needs a little brother but I'm not sure I could slide it past the fun police so I'll probably just watch and cry a little

I shoot with an older guy in matches that shoots a long barrel 627 like that. I tell him how valuable it is, and he just smiles!

Ignatz said:

I shoot with an older guy in matches that shoots a long barrel 627 like that. I tell him how valuable it is, and he just smiles!

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Yeah I kicked around selling it for a bit, even got a very generous unsolicited offer. Then I realized that I'd never see another one and if I wasn't starving it would just be foolish to let it go. So I think I'm in the same boat as that guy LOL!

captainwayne said:

Agreed. I have a 686 4inch with the lock that was called "super tuned" with hand stoned hammer and trigger. It is a wonderful gun that I haven't had to touch to improve. In SA or DA it's trigger is equal to my 1980 Python.
I still want that 627 with a real barrel.

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I AM CURIOUS, captainwayne. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE TERM, "super tuned" BEFORE. IS THAT A SERVICE OFFERED AT THE MOTHERSHIP ? ? ?

I've got a 627-5 pro series that quickly became a favorite revolver. I'd love to have the same with a 3" full underlug, round profile barrel. But...
If we could order revolvers built to order I would imagine not many would be sold with their $3000 price tags.

I fully agree with OP and One Eye Joe’s comment. The objection to their reasoning is usually that real custom would make price ballooning.
Imho there should be , besides any production lines as deemed useful in the search of a market balance between price & quality, a separate workshop with highly dedicated and skilled craftsmen really involved in their job offering personalized and true top notch products. Then , everybody could choose according to personal taste and judgment.
Anyway, here’s my 627 and forgive me if I find it beautiful just as is . Indeed, I don't get my best groups with it, but I think is just myself not being fully adapetd to its features, so that I don’t shoot it yet as it would deserve

Look elsewhere than online auction sites where they garner a nationwide audience. Check out local to you boards.

I always see model 627s on my local boards, all quite reasonably priced compared to what I see people on here paying or saying they seen sell on gunbroker or the like.

Diligence and patience is how to play this game.

Hithev said:

I fully agree with OP and One Eye Joe’s comment. The objection to their reasoning is usually that real custom would make price ballooning.
Imho there should be , besides any production lines as deemed useful in the search of a market balance between price & quality, a separate workshop with highly dedicated and skilled craftsmen really involved in their job offering personalized and true top notch products. Then , everybody could choose according to personal taste and judgment.
Anyway, here’s my 627 and forgive me if I find it beautiful just as is . Indeed, I don't get my best groups with it, but I think is just myself not being fully adapetd to its features, so that I don’t shoot it yet as it would deserve

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I HEAR YOU, Hithev. IMHO, ONE PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF A POOL OF "highly dedicated and skilled craftsmen". THOSE ARE THE OLDER WORKERS, WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHO HAVE ALL RETIRED. VERY LITTLE, IF ANY OF THAT, HAS BEEN PASSED ON.....

THE ADVANTAGES OF CNC MACHINING AND MIM PARTS, HAVE FACILITATED THE ASSEMBLY OF FIREARMS, USING PARTS OF THE EXACT SAME DIMENSIONS, DRAWN RANDOMLY FROM A SERIES OF BINS OF LIKE PARTS, THAT WILL FIT TOGETHER LIKE A PUZZLE, WITHIN ACCEPTABLE TOLERANCES, INTO A FINISHED PRODUCT. SINCE HAND FITTING IS NOT NECESSARY, FOR THE MOST PART, BASIC ASSEMBLY SKILLS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH CAN BE EASILY TAUGHT, TO NEW EMPLOYEES.......

THE PROOF OF THIS STATEMENT LIES IN THE FREQUENT POSTS TO OUR FORUM, LAMENTING THE POOR CONDITION OF A BRAND NEW GUN, AND ASKING "HOW DID A GUN LIKE THIS EVER LEAVE THE FACTORY ? ? ?" THIS IS TRUE OF GUNS FROM THE REGULAR PRODUCTION LINE, AS WELL AS THE HIGHLY TOUTED, "PERFORMANCE CENTER" GUNS. MANY NEW GUNS HAVE EVEN BEEN RETURNED TO THE MOTHERSHIP, MULTIPLE TIMES ! ! !

AS I HAVE STATED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, IN VARIOUS POSTS, "IT APPEARS THAT THE QUALITY CONTROL FUNCTION, AT S&W, IS INCREASINGLY BEING SHIFTED TO THE END CONSUMER." SADLY--THAT MEANS TO US, AS CUSTOMERS......

BTW---DON'T LAMENT. MOST QUALITY FIREARMS WILL SHOOT BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE GUY CAN HOLD THEM. JUST KEEP AT IT. THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ALL OF US......

captainwayne said:

After seeing one of these on Gunbroker, I decided it would be my next Smith. Unfortunately, the only one that's for sale is going for over $2500!
I'm just not so enthralled with the PC 627 V Comps in the black finish, and the barrel design. They also recently came out with a 627 PC in 2 1/2 inch barrel.
It is a bit frustrating to me that you can find a Smith model you like , (627)but cannot get it with either the right finish, barrel length, sights, grips. You'd think you could order from a "menu" the model, with everything from forged parts to barrels, sights, PC work, etc.
I can't be alone in seeing this. If I could get the 627 PC that they currently make in a 5, or 6 inch full underlug, I'd order it directly from the factory. Maybe I can, but if so, it's not well known.
Smith and Wesson should pay attention to the fact that, like Harley Davidson USED TO BE, they are offering up wonderful base products that others are banking on with aftermarket accessories or improvements.
Am I off base here?
'

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Welcome to the new age of manufacturing. If you're old enough, you can remember when you used to be able to order a lot of things just the way you wanted. The one that springs to mind are cars. You had a wide variety of exterior colors, interior colors, engines, transmissions, even gearing. Manufacturers learned that was costing them money - a lot of money. It's a logistic nightmare trying to stock all of those different parts at the assembly point, not to mention costly, and it often resulted in errors in assembly. My father once bought a new 1965 Pontiac Bonneville. In stead of the sticker listed 389 CI engine, it had the 421. Not that he complained...

The point is, if you want a custom configuration, you're going to have to pay for it by going to a gunsmith. Unless you're super lucky and S&W just happens to come out with what you wanted. Don't hold your breath waiting though! Besides, S&W does offer a lot of different models, and is continuously coming out with variations. How many revolvers does Colt offer?

BTW: Harley is hurting for sales and is closing one of their factories, the one in Missouri.

Super Tuned was the phrase in the Gallery of Guns site. Apparently its a Davidson offering. They sell it as hand stoned but refuse to call it a PC! ***.
Still a favorite of mine to shoot for sure

Amazing how someone took off an original barrel to put the new style on
I think 627-3 was the first pc with 8 shots. The barrel I really like is the original 627 full underdog, with the PC VCOMP -3 a close second.