27-1 questions

[handejector]

Where are you? If you're in America (having bought a gun imported into the country) then the gun has import proof marks. That ruins its collector's value.

I'll argue with that since I have sold some guns over the years for a premium price because they had foreign proofs.

 

[donadler]

My 27-1

Sadly, no box

 

[flundertaker]

That is not the original box for that gun. I have never seen a factory label that was done in red ink. A gun with target stocks would not fit in a standard box as you have noted. Typically target stocked guns were in display cases in a sleeve. There were no over-sized boxes for target stocked guns that I have ever seen.

A 6 1/2" barrel is not "unusual, it was one of the standard lengths at the time, 3 1/2", 4", 5", 6", 6 1/2" and 8 3/8". I have owned several S&Ws with 6 1/2" barrels of several models. It was not until later that the 6'' was standardized and the 6 1/2" and 5" barrel lengths deleted.

6.5” is one of the least produced -1 model 27. The 3.5” everyone loves is the most produced.

 

[flundertaker]

To heck with the box, let's see that dash-1 ! Only made one year, 1960, and SCSW says they bring a "substantial" premium. ANIB is worth $3500 in 2016.

I’m not sure that’s right. I thought S&W only tracked ship dates, not build date.

 

[tomhenry]

I'll argue with that since I have sold some guns over the years for a premium price because they had foreign proofs.

You were lucky. The vast majority of collectors will eschew a gun marred with non-original markings. Your anecdote doesn't prove the point.

Edited to add: here's my anecdote. I bought a collectable Python off of Gunbroker. I discovered it had proof marks from having been overseas.

I returned it for a refund as it was not in its original configuration.

 

[Doc44]

At least through the 1950s and 1960s, S&W kept track of production by internal factory model number. On a given day, the company would produce so many NT-430s (44 Magnums) or NT-357s (.357 Magnums) or KT-357s (.357 Combat Magnums). The serial number, barrel length and finish were not listed in the manufacturing log. Serial numbers came together when a gun was placed in the vault and eventually shipped and invoiced. The advent of computers may have changed all of this at some point.

Bill

 

[RKmesa]

On the drift of proofmarks, this is my most proofmarked gun. Very little about the exterior of this gun is factory original, and yet I still love it and find it collectible (the proof marks are part of its history).

 

[Hair Trigger]

I’m not sure that’s right. I thought S&W only tracked ship dates, not build date.

While they don't track build dates, the engineering series is tracked by year. The M27-1 started in 1961, with a change of the extractor rod threads from right-hand to left hand thread. The M27-2 started the next year, when the 4th screw (trigger guard) was eliminated.

 

[Doc44]

Engineering Directives were issued on a specific date, but not implemented until the inventory of old parts was exhausted. That is why -1 model variations were shipped in 1962 with a few in 1963.

Bill

 

[bph9]

On the drift of proofmarks, this is my most proofmarked gun. Very little about the exterior of this gun is factory original, and yet I still love it and find it collectible (the proof marks are part of its history).

Nice looking gun, especially the engraved cougar and the turquoise ornaments on the grips. I think a good jeweler could replace the one turquoise ornament that has fallen off the right grip panel.