627-0 Unexpected find

[jc2721]

Great guns folks. I enjoyed your pics. I "unexpectedly" bought a 627-0 yesterday. It is in like new condition. If it was fired, it was not fired much. Will attach some pictures and appreciate anything you can tell me about it including value and prospect for higher future value. A friend asked me about buying it and I'm trying to decide if I should sell or hold. FWIW, I paid top dollar because it is a complete set, box, unopened tool kit, papers and a nice set of target grips. I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to share.

All of my "friends" also want to buy the nicest guns I own. I USED to sell them rather than have people begging me for them but I've finally learned to say NO, politely. What sealed that deal for me was that they NEVER sell me their guns (or my old guns, for that matter).

Keep it. Promise it to him in your will, if that's what it will take to get him off of your back, but keep your guns.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

So many beautiful S&W 357's; so little time and money.

 

[sodacan]

A very nice revolver, but at 50 ounces empty, it's a beast during long range sessions. I sold mine for that reason alone, but nonetheless it's a beauty. Enjoy it.

 

[murphydog]

Great guns folks. I enjoyed your pics. I "unexpectedly" bought a 627-0 yesterday. It is in like new condition. If it was fired, it was not fired much. Will attach some pictures and appreciate anything you can tell me about it including value and prospect for higher future value. A friend asked me about buying it and I'm trying to decide if I should sell or hold. FWIW, I paid top dollar because it is a complete set, box, unopened tool kit, papers and a nice set of target grips. I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to share.

If you keep it unfired it will likely continue to increase in value - the usual "do I shoot it" dilemma.

I would guess this set to be worth $1500-1700. Hope that is about what you spent.

 

[MrMoose]

If you keep it unfired it will likely continue to increase in value - the usual "do I shoot it" dilemma.

I would guess this set to be worth $1500-1700. Hope that is about what you spent.

Yes, I'm in that price range. Good to know I didn't start out "in too deep" . As long as I own it 627 will remain unfired. Planning to build or buy a nice tabletop display box someday soon. Thanks...

 

[Nightowl]

There were approximately 278 627's model of 1989 made before they updated to the 627-0 model of 1989. There were 4998 627-0s made, according to an article by Rex Halfpenny, to me the resident expert on the 627s. I have seen quite a few 627-0s for sale over the years, and each sighting seems to cost a hundred dollars more than the last one, at least. I think Murphydog is pretty much right on. Many have been shot, and they are not making any more of them. Good catch!!

 

[StrawHat]

So there is a difference between a no dash and a -0? Have to admit, I was under the assumption the order would have gone; no dash, -1 not, no dash, -0, -1.

Kevin

 

[S&WIowegan]

So there is a difference between a no dash and a -0? Have to admit, I was under the assumption the order would have gone; no dash, -1 not, no dash, -0, -1.

Kevin

Only S&W could tell you why they did dash 0 because I haven't seen anything like it. The 625s start at dash 2 and I've never heard why. Only Roy Jinks could tell us why(if he feels like it).

 

[MrMoose]

I bought an eBook that provides some information on the topic:

So there is a difference between a no dash and a -0? Have to admit, I was under the assumption the order would have gone; no dash, -1 not, no dash, -0, -1.

Kevin

"Engineering and production changes:
627 1989 Introduction as Special Production 6-shot 278 Manufactured
627-0 1989 Longer cylinder stop Notch- 4998 Manufactured.
627-1 1993 New rear sight leaf, Drill and Tap frame
1997 Prototype 8-shot w/standard hammer nose firing pin
627-2 1998 New frame design CNC - 8-shot w/floating firing pin/ flat hammer face
627-PC 1997, the Mod. 627 became a Performance Center model only
627-3 1998 New Frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud /eliminate serrated tangs/change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin/change to MIM trigger/ Perf Center
627-4 2002 .38 Super Introduced at SHOT Show with internal key lock
627-5 2002 .357 Magnum with Internal key lock"

Excerpt From
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson
Jim Supica & Richard Nahas
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson on Apple Books
This material may be protected by copyright.

 

[StrawHat]

...Only S&W could tell you why they did dash 0 ...

Probably one of those secret handshake, decoder ring type of situation.

Kevin

 

[colt_saa]

Only S&W could tell you why they did dash 0 because I haven't seen anything like it.

When product code 101024 was introduced as the very first stainless steel version of the Model 27, no one realized that a small .357 chamber in an unfluted N-frame cylinder would have so much mass that the stop notches would be getting prematurely peened

So production of product code 101024 was halted after only 278 revolvers were manufactured.

The fix to this problem was to go to longer/deeper stop notches and matching bolts. Since this was such an early engineering revision, Smith & Wesson decided to use -0. BTW, this change was one of the steps that became the Endurance package

Product code 101024 had a total run of 5276. Knowing that 278 of those are the no dash revolvers, the remaining 4998 guns were spread across the -0, -1 and -2 revisions

By far the most common example of product code 101024 falls into the -0 engineering revision. The least common example is the -2 revision

It is unknown where the no dash and the -1 fall since Smith & Wesson does not keep good records as to when engineering revisions occur

Here is my -1. This revision introduced the Drilled and tapped frame

So all we are missing in this thread is an example of the no dash revolver to give us the Full House

 

[CH4]

When product code 101024 was introduced as the very first stainless steel version of the Model 27, no one realized that a small .357 chamber in an unfluted N-frame cylinder would have so much mass that the stop notches would be getting prematurely peened

So production of product code 101024 was halted after only 278 revolvers were manufactured.

The fix to this problem was to go to longer/deeper stop notches and matching bolts. Since this was such an early engineering revision, Smith & Wesson decided to use -0. BTW, this change was one of the steps that became the Endurance package

Product code 101024 had a total run of 5276. Knowing that 278 of those are the no dash revolvers, the remaining 4998 guns were spread across the -0, -1 and -2 revisions

By far the most common example of product code 101024 falls into the -0 engineering revision. The least common example is the -2 revision like seen in rubiranch's posting above.

It is unknown where the no dash and the -1 fall since Smith & Wesson does not keep good records as to when engineering revisions occur

Here is my -1. This revision introduced the Drilled and tapped frame

So all we are missing in this thread is an example of the no dash revolver to give us the Full House

Just to confirm, the -1 doesn't have a checkered top strap?

 

[colt_saa]

Just to confirm, the -1 doesn't have a checkered top strap?

The -1 example of product code 101024 does have file cut checkering

The bad thing about a closeup, is I can see the checkering needs to be cleaned better