Anyone else think we need a newer thread on these fine wheel guns? Here is a short M27-8, blued, wearing Fitz'. A M627Pro is still on the want list; maybe someday.
There have only been 6 different configurations of carbon steel, 8 shot, 357 Magnum Smith and Wesson revolvers ever produced. Here is one of each, all 6 with the same serial number but different prefixes.
What a great idea these were. We can thank Lew Horton for commissioning a Distributor Exclusive 8 shot, 357 Magnum back in 1996. I like serial numbers. At the time I tried to get #357, unfortunately Lew was only make 300 revolvers and had no intentions of any more. So I had #27 shipped to me instead. It is in the upper left of this photo.
Just a month or so after getting that first 8 shooter, I got the call telling me that this was the fastest selling Distributor Exclusive EVER and did I still want #357. So the revolver in the upper right of that picture is #357.
As we all know by now, this firearm went on to become a cataloged Performance Center offering and has been in constant production for just under 20 years now.
One of my favorites is the 627 Heavy Hunter. It does not matter how hot the load is, between the HUGE barrel and the Mag-Na-Porting this baby stays on target.
My 627 Pinto shipped with the unfluted stainless cylinder. The 2nd black cylinder has been re-chambered for 9x23 Winchester. Since rimless cartridges head space on the moon clip, the revolver can chamber and fire 9x23, 38 Super, 38 ACP, 9x21.5, 356TSW, 9x21, 9x19, 380ACP and more that I can not think of at the moment.
Then we have the Scandium 327s. Scandium is the greatest thing to happen to N-frames since stainless steel. This strong alloy takes a big N-frame down to the weight of a 4" K-frame or less.
One of my favorite conversation pieces. These are at each end of my bookshelf in my study. One is a unfired since leaving the factory pinned and recessed, 6 shot, Model 27 and the other is a unfired since leaving the factory 8 shot Model 27.
