A Rare Bird, 27-1 3 1/2"

[Gun Relics]

I've been looking for a pre-27 3 1/2" to fill a nice gold box I have and stumbled across this. The 27-1 was only made for a short time. The extractor rod was changed from a right hand screw to to a left hand screw in 1960 and the cylinder was stamped with an "L", to show the opposite thread. The model was designated 27-1, then the following year, the trigger guard screw was eliminated and the model was then called the 27-2. This was also around the time when Smith and Wesson stopped stamping the serial number on the cylinder and the extractor shroud.

There was a little scare but the gun lettered. It is one of those rare occasions where two guns left the factory with the same serial number. (I now have two like that).

I don't normally look for dash models but this one was certainly interesting. Still on the hunt for the pre-27 3 1/2 but so is everybody else!

 

[DARE]

Very nice. Congratulations. I think the dash ones are pretty rare and valuable in most models. Like you said, they were only made for a short time.

 

[flundertaker]

If that's S224xxx, I believe it's the 2nd highest SN on the -1 registry. Congrats on the find.

 

[Gun Relics]

If that's S224xxx, I believe it's the 2nd highest SN on the -1 registry. Congrats on the find.

It's 221XXX but it didn't ship until 1962. Who has the -1 registry?

 

[Doc44]

With few exceptions, -1 model variation revolvers shipped in 1962 as it took that long to use up the old parts after the Engineering Directive was issued on December 22, 1959.

Bill

 

[Gun Relics]

With few exceptions, -1 model variation revolvers shipped in 1962 as it took that long to use up the old parts after the Engineering Directive was issued on December 22, 1959.

Bill

Than you Bill, your knowledge and contributions here are truly invaluable.

 

[flundertaker]

It's 221XXX but it didn't ship until 1962. Who has the -1 registry?

It's 221XXX but it didn't ship until 1962. Who has the -1 registry?

I am sure @jcelect will be along shortly to find out more about your -1.

 

[long colt frazier]

I have a nice 5 inch 27-1;-)

 

[Retired W4]

Nice find Gun Relic. I have managed to find a couple K frame -1's, 17-1 and 15-1, but an N frame has eluded me, so far. The no dash (ND) guns bring a little premium, but not like the -1's. Rarity counts in my book.

 

[RKmesa]

I have several 27-1's but none of them are 3.5"ers. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[Truckman]

I have several 27-1's but none of them are 3.5"ers.

We could have guessed the first part, but the last part is a surprise!......Ben

 

[RKmesa]

We could have guessed the first part, but the last part is a surprise!......Ben

... and none of mine are engraved... yet

 

[Truckman]

... and none of mine are engraved... yet

Neither are any of mine, not even the 3 1/2"ers......Ben

 

[Gun Relics]

Just testing the new forum photo hosting. Wowzer!!!!! Welcome to Paradise!!!

 

[jcelect]

It's 221XXX but it didn't ship until 1962. Who has the -1 registry?

I keep a database of the 27-1 guns known to exist. The highest serial number I have is S229947. If the OP will send me his full serial number, I will include it in the database. There are 61 total serial numbers in my database!
jcelect

 

[Gun Relics]

I keep a database of the 27-1 guns known to exist. The highest serial number I have is S229947. If the OP will send me his full serial number, I will include it in the database. There are 61 total serial numbers in my database!
jcelect

Will do. This one shipped December,1962 and is a S221,4XX number.

 

[jcelect]

Gun Relic, thank you for the reply but I need ALL the numbers in your serial number to include it in my database! Please email me the number if you do not want to post it here! [email protected]
Thank you, jcelect

 

[Rusty parrot]

Would just like to add this 27-1 to the conversation.
It was special ordered by H.H. Harris with the red ramp front sight and is currently wearing Curtis Harlow grips. The number matching grips are living in the factory box.

 

[RKmesa]

Would just like to add this 27-1 to the conversation.
It was special ordered by H.H. Harris with the red ramp front sight and is currently wearing Curtis Harlow grips. The number matching grips are living in the factory box.

Beautiful grips on that one!!!

 

[Claymore33]

How many 27-1 3.5 " were made ?

 

[Gun Relics]

How many 27-1 3.5 " were made ?

It's unknown. Somebody would have to count them up from the database. Someone I know who had access to the database took a casual glance and estimated there were at least several hundred. That is not a large number for a 63 year old collectible which explains how so few show up for sale. There are 14 on the in-house database here including mine.

Pre-27's, 3.5" show up every week on GB, many in pristine condition. The demand outstrips the supply, seems everybody wants one thus driving up the prices.

 

[utex88]

This is fascinating; I have a 27-2 3.5 inch with serial number S2294xx! That's before an earlier listed 27-1. Were the serial numbers not sequential?

 

[walter o]

I happen to have a 27 3 1/2 no dash and wondering how scare are they. Serials #S 199963 withe hand ejector threaded rod

 

[Gun Relics]

This is fascinating; I have a 27-2 3.5 inch with serial number S2294xx! That's before an earlier listed 27-1. Were the serial numbers not sequential?

Yes, they are not necessarily sequential. The 27-1 was only produced for a short time. The serial numbers are shared with all the N frame guns. In reality, our two guns could have been made weeks apart.

 

[Gun Relics]

I happen to have a 27 3 1/2 no dash and wondering how scare are they. Serials #S 199963 withe hand ejector threaded rod

I think they are quite scarce too. Unlike the pre-27's they were only made for a few years. All model 27's and pre-27 3.5" are scarce enough to command nearly double the price of what a 6" version would bring.

 

[Retired W4]

"There was a little scare but the gun lettered. It is one of those rare occasions where two guns left the factory with the same serial number. (I now have two like that)."

The duplicate serial numbers issue is interesting as well. I have one of the 90 or so 3rd Model Perfected single shots that the factory assigned duplicate numbers to. They added a "D" prefix to those. Did S&W know there were two 27-1's with the same SN's when they shipped or did that fact come to light later?

 

[Gun Relics]

"There was a little scare but the gun lettered. It is one of those rare occasions where two guns left the factory with the same serial number. (I now have two like that)."

The duplicate serial numbers issue is interesting as well. I have one of the 90 or so 3rd Model Perfected single shots that the factory assigned duplicate numbers to. They added a "D" prefix to those. Did S&W know there were two 27-1's with the same SN's when they shipped or did that fact come to light later?

Interesting, I hadn't considered that. On this one at least they probably did not realize it until both guns were shipped.

On their serial number sequential ledger (shown below) there is a hand written note showing the same serial number with two different "ship to" names and the employee's initials. One was a 27-1 with a 3 1/2" barrel and the other with an 8 3/8 barrel. They were shipped 8 months apart.

Here's a shot of the ledger - mine is 461. barely readable but the two names are Brown Supply and Stephens Marine with dates noted. My assumption is when they went to log in the vendor and ship date on the serial number ledger, they realized there was a duplicate frame already shipped, so they ran a new ledger with a blank for 461 and made the notation. Those numbers to the right of the serial number I assume are vendor numbers.

 

[Capt29]

In actuality, the 4' is more rare then the 3.5". That is if you are counting pre hole guns.

 

[Gun Relics]

In actuality, the 4' is more rare then the 3.5". That is if you are counting pre hole guns.

I bet! I would like to have a 4 ft Model 27-1 but just try to find a box for it.

 

[Truckman]

I bet! I would like to have a 4 ft Model 27-1 but just try to find a box for it.

To paraphrase Chief Martin Brody, "We're gonna need a bigger safe!"......Ben