27-2 4" nickel questions?

[firefighterjohn]

A nice 27-2 4" nickel with wood stocks, box and paperwork might be coming into my LGS. I currently don't have a 27 or a nickel finished S&W. I like the fact it's a 4" model but would prefer a blued model over nickel.

• Is 27-2 4" nickel common or rare?
• Is nickel harder to clean than blued or SS?
• What is significance if serial number starts with an S?
• GB has some 27-2 nickel models from $1300 and up. They worth that much?
• Is a nickel model harder to sell than a blued one if I ever needed to?

A few years ago, I passed on a 19-3 4" nickel that had some flaking.

Any thoughts or experiences you have would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Engine49guy]

Most of the 4" nickel 27's I see pop up are late dash two and early dash three.
The advantage of nickel over blue is it protects the steel underneath better than blue and looks prettier, disadvantage is if you breach the nickel moisture can get under there and cause it to peel flake and bubble.
Blued guns with finish issues are easier to clean up.

A P&R 27-2 would be worth more than a 27-3.
In older model numbers nickel was a minority so can bring a premium but I wouldn't put a premium on a late production 4" because they seem to have made as many 4" as blue guns but the blued 27-2's don't seem to pop up as often as nickel so maybe more.

A lnib 4" nickel 27-2 should easily bring $1300 and quite a bit more to the buyer that really wants one.

 

[firefighterjohn]

Thanks for all the insight Engine49guy. You gave me a LOT to think about if I can take a look at it.

... as blue guns but the blued 27-2's don't seem to pop up as often as nickel so maybe more.

A lnib 4" nickel 27-2 should easily bring $1300 and quite a bit more to the buyer that really wants one.

I'd have to decide if I'd really want it over a blued 27-2 which I'd really rather have. Something about that deep blue shine...

Thanks again!

 

[Patrick L]

Funny, I bought my 8 3/8" nickel 27-2 specifically because it was nickel. I too did not own a nickel gun and wanted the glitz!

 

[Dvus]

I prefer the nickel. Easier to clean, harder to scratch, and just looks oh so sexy if taken care of. Put some dark wood on it and it just doesn't get any better.

 

[22hipower]

[*]What is significance if serial number starts with an S?

Four inch 27-2s are not all that easy to find, there may be more nickel ones than blue, assuming I remember some previous threads here correctly.

The significance of an S sn means that it was built before the Gun Control Act of 1968 which caused S&W to change from S prefixes to N. Many of us here prefer the S sn, no better, just older, and will pay a premium to get one. An S sn 27-2 four inch nickel in high condition with box/papers would be, in my opinion, a very good deal at $1300. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[pharmer]

I got this one maybe a dozen years ago from a very nervous, sweaty handed dentist at the Orlando show. Was in a crumpled paper bag, like a sandwich left over from lunch. I've only seen 1 blue one in person. Joe

 

[Nightowl]

Four inch nickel 27-2s seem much more common than blues ones. The four inch barrel became the standard in 1978 when Smith standardized their barrel lengths to 4,6 and 8 3/8s and the 3 1/2, five and 6 1/2 went away. The Pinned and recessed went away around 1982 with the dash 3 designation, so the 4 inch P&R was only around for around four years.
If the serial number begins with an S a four inch 27 would have been a special order from the factory and worth quite a bit more that the 27-2. But it would have shipped standard with standard hammer trigger and Magna stocks in a cardboard box. The 27-2 full target with wood presentation case was not standard until late in 1975.

lI hope you are waiting for it when it arrives, money in hand!! We also want to see pictures!

If you want a four inch 27-2, then take this opportunity. A blue one may not show up for you for quite a long time.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hey John, its a meager $1300! Heck thats a bar bill and dinner for four people. An S prefix is a P&R gun with all the goodies, plus nickel. Dont pass it up or you will kick yourself repeatedly.

 

[stansdds]

S&W's nickel finish is pretty darned good. There is no underlying copper intermediate layer with S&W factory nickel finishes, so lifting and flaking are greatly reduced, especially when exposed to common gun solvents. The nickel finish is also well polished and that makes cleaning easier than a comparable blued finish. The nickel also provides better corrosion protection than a blued finish.

 

[LPD256]

I bought this one recently. A nice blue example from 1980. Expensive but very nice.

 

[bdGreen]

Something to feast your eyes on.

enjoy,

bdGreen

Tap on image to enlarge.

 

[Hawg Rider]

The Model 27-2 is a descendent of the famed .357 Magnums that were first introduced in 1935 (Registered Magnum, Non-Registered Magnum, etc.), which many of us feel are some of the finest revolvers ever manufactured. I own a few, and they are outstanding handguns. I have been looking for a 5" model to add to my modest collection, but they are as scarce as hen's teeth around here. And to be honest, I've never even seen a 4" Model 27 at any local gun stores or gun shows! If that 4" nickel Model 27-2 shows up at your gun shop, especially if it's an earlier S serial number with matching stocks and box, I would jump on it if the price is reasonable. I have a few nickel S&W revolvers in various calibers, and I think they're just as easy to clean as the blued models. You won't be disappointed, and if down the road you want to pass it on, you'll have no trouble getting your money back with interest!

 

[Engine49guy]

Alot of good information in this thread,
I forgot to address the "S" Serial but it has been detailed above.
The way I look at it is basicly the S serial prefix changes to an N prefix almost about the time that they transitioned to the non diamond stocks.
In general five and four screw guns bring a premium over 3 screw guns,
Three screw 27-2's are found in both S serial and N serial prefix.
S serial 27-2s with original diamond stocks will bring a premium over an S serial with non diamonds and those will bring a slight premium over a 1970's era N serial.

On a side note there was a small run of five screw 4" pre model 27's made right around the time the new four inch 44 Magnum is introduced and those fetch a huge premium.

There are several threads on the five screw four inch pre 27's on the forum.

 

[CH4]

At anything less than $1500 for a 4” nickel 27-2, with goodies, I’d likely injure myself reaching for my wallet.

 

[27 Man]

I bought my 4” 27-2 about 3 years ago. No box, papers or tools. Gun appeared unfired. I paid $1000 and was glad to get it.

 

[lrb1200]

Acquired this blue 4" 27-2 some years ago.

Paid in the "bought to early" category.

That category is in the rear view mirror
for what it would bring today.

 

[firefighterjohn]

Four inch 27-2s are not all that easy to find, there may be more nickel ones than blue, assuming I remember some previous threads here correctly.

The significance of an S sn means that it was built before the Gun Control Act of 1968 which caused S&W to change from S prefixes to N. Many of us here prefer the S sn, no better, just older, and will pay a premium to get one. An S sn 27-2 four inch nickel in high condition with box/papers would be, in my opinion, a very good deal at $1300. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Thanks for the "S" info Jeff, I didn't know what the significance was. I hope it's still there to review when they open back up tomorrow.

 

[firefighterjohn]

I got this one maybe a dozen years ago from a very nervous, sweaty handed dentist at the Orlando show. Was in a crumpled paper bag, like a sandwich left over from lunch. I've only seen 1 blue one in person. Joe

Wow, that's a nice looking one you have pharmer. Your story about a very nervous sweaty handed dentist reminds me of the nervous new dentist Tim Conway when he's working on Harvey Korman as his first ever patient: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IUSM4EKcRI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IUSM4EKcRI[/ame]

 

[firefighterjohn]

Four inch nickel 27-2s seem much more common than blues ones. The four inch barrel became the standard in 1978 when Smith standardized their barrel lengths to 4,6 and 8 3/8s and the 3 1/2, five and 6 1/2 went away. The Pinned and recessed went away around 1982 with the dash 3 designation, so the 4 inch P&R was only around for around four years.
If the serial number begins with an S a four inch 27 would have been a special order from the factory and worth quite a bit more that the 27-2. But it would have shipped standard with standard hammer trigger and Magna stocks in a cardboard box. The 27-2 full target with wood presentation case was not standard until late in 1975.

lI hope you are waiting for it when it arrives, money in hand!! We also want to see pictures!

If you want a four inch 27-2, then take this opportunity. A blue one may not show up for you for quite a long time.

Thanks for all the info NightOwl. Yes, I will seriously consider this since I've never seen a 4" 27-2 available in ANY finish at a LGS or show.