27-1 questions

[valbehaved]

Hello, everyone!
I just purchased a beautiful boxed 27-1 with an uncommon 6.5 inch barrel. The gun came with its original box that has a label that is a bit worn but still readable. It specifies T for target stocks and a Baughman front sight and indeed the gun has both - diamond target grips and a Baughman sight. Unfortunately the oversized grips make it very difficult for the gun to fit inside the box and the sides of the box became distorted from having the gun shoved and kept inside all these years. Pictures are attached.
My question is how S&W dealt with this issue? Did they ship the gun with the grips off the gun? Or did they actually force the oversized gun inside the box?
Why not use and oversized box in these situations?
Thank you!

 

[valbehaved]

More pictires

 

[Alk8944]

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.

 

[444 Magnum]

I (we) need to see that 27-1...

 

[valbehaved]

Thank you for your reply. It was my understanding the 6.5 inch barrel was uncommon in 27-1 models.
I am fairly certain that the label is original - the way the numbers on the label are handwritten is exactly the S&W handwriting of the era.
I also know that the gun spent last 60 plus years in Sweden in that particular box as evidenced by the distortion of the box from the oversized stocks. Fakery of S&W labels is pretty much unknown there. There is also water damage to the label - is it possible that the ink changed color as a result of the damage?

 

[Hair Trigger]

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.

 

[Masterbuck54]

Red ink

Yes please post photos of that 27-1!!!

I believe the label to be correct (red ink) as I've seen two boxes for the model 19-1 that had the red ink.

Masterbuck54

 

[Bill Bates]

Back to the label. Is it just my old eyes or is the label on upside down???

It would be great to see some photos of the 27-1. Box or faked box; a 27-1 is a great fine.

 

[Truckman]

I've also seen red ink on S&W labels that have the same writing style as others in blue ink...I may even have one around here......Ben

 

[valbehaved]

It is good to know the red ink labels exist. The label appears to be right side up. Still looking to find out if other forum members had boxed models with oversized grips that were to large for the original box I will take the pictures of the gun next week.
Thank you!

 

[Doc44]

I have also seen and owned a couple of -1 boxes with the label filled out in red ink. I have heard but not verified S&W would ship guns with target stocks separately (not fitted to the revolver) in the same box if the model was normally supplied with Magna stocks. This way the box would not be damaged.

Bill

 

[tomhenry]

I also know that the gun spent last 60 plus years in Sweden

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.

Or, are you in Sweden? Just curious.

 

[valbehaved]

I also just found 2 19-1 boxes online with the same red ink label.

 

[444 Magnum]

Well, if the OP won't...then I will.
Here's my blued 27-1 with a nickel no dash.

 

[22hipower]

Back to the label. Is it just my old eyes or is the label on upside down???

It would be great to see some photos of the 27-1. Box or faked box; a 27-1 is a great fine.

Looks to me as though it is upside down, from the "upside down" it is supposed to be.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[jcelect]

Label

Look just below the bottom left edge of the label and you can see the difference in the "blue box" color which occurred when the original label was pasted on a little lower than the replacement label. Also, ALL original labels on these blue boxes were installed "upside down" to the opening of the lid! This was done to prevent the bottom, w/gun, from hitting the floor when the box was lifted from the shelf! That is most definitely a replaced label! I'm not sure about N frame boxes but in the earlier K frame target guns there were two width boxes used. Magna grips had a narrower box compared to the gun shipped with target grips.
A side note! My database has 62 know serial numbers on guns
"stamped" 27-1. The database shows serial numbers with all the barrel lengths, except, there is no 4" barrel length shown.
jcelect

 

[444 Magnum]

Look just below the bottom left edge of the label and you can see the difference in the "blue box" color which occurred when the original label was pasted on a little lower than the replacement label.

Also, the part of the blue that is torn or missing runs under the label but the label is not damaged on the edge.

 

[valbehaved]

I will post better pictures next week. The label was peeling due to water damage and I reglued it back but most likely upside down by mistake as you have mentioned. It was an original label on the box though. Here is the picture of the label before it peeled off.

 

[RKmesa]

Box and label look right to me. And yes, S&W did "fit" target gripped model 27s in the same boxes that it shipped magna stocked ones. That is particularlly true with the 3.5" guns. The boxes only had to get the gun to its destination. That the boxes continued to hold up with all of the use that some of them got is amazing to me...

Congrats!!!

 

[handejector]

I have also seen and owned a couple of -1 boxes with the label filled out in red ink. I have heard but not verified S&W would ship guns with target stocks separately (not fitted to the revolver) in the same box if the model was normally supplied with Magna stocks. This way the box would not be damaged.

Bill

I have had quite a few boxes with red ink on the labels. Maybe a red pen is all Mabel could find one week.
I know for a fact some guns were shipped with the grips off the gun and wrapped in brown tissue.