Are Model 27-2s in 5" really more valuable?

[DEF3]

I think they all look good in my opinion. I have a 5"-2, but I do find myself looking at the other barrel lengths quite often. I think my next one would be a 4" followed by a 3" still -2 or earlier.

 

[charlie sherrill]

The Mississippi Highway Patrol was formed in 1937. Their first issued sidearms were 5" Registered Magnums. From the time of the founding of this agency they carried some form of 5" .357 for almost 50 years until they switched to bottom feeders in the mid 80's. I have had several, including a non registered magnum I picked up last year that lettered to their second academy in 1938. They are well balanced, very accurate, and shoot great. My favorite N frame shooter right now is a six shot 627-0 with a 5 1/2" barrel.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Over the years, I needed a blued 4" 27-2 to fill a gap. Found many nickel, but after a good while the 4" showed in high condition with blue, two-piece box and accessories.

I personally like shooting the 6" barrels. I know...one in every crowd.

 

[shovelhead]

You guys are doing your best to make me want to adopt a 5” 27-2 at work, beautiful bluing and stocks but no box. My 27-2 8 3/8” is trying to convince me it needs a friend and I’m trying to ignore it’s crocodile tears!

Seriously though, it’s been in the showcase with no action for about a month so it just might get put in layaway tomorrow. There goes my pay and the Holosun for my Sig Fuse for awhile……

 

[whelenshooter]

I am only interested in 3.5 and 5 inch 27s, especially the 3.5; they just look tough.

I agree; to me a 3.5" Model 27 is the meanest looking handgun Smith & Wesson ever produced... if you take off the target grips and install a set of Magna grips and a Tyler T-Grip so it looks like something a law enforcement officer would use. I'm told this particular barrel length and setup was very popular with FBI agents at the time.

Whelenshooter

 

[whelenshooter]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this... part of the reason the 5-inch Model 27 and pre-Model 27 were/are so popular is because old farts like me grew up reading Skeeter Skelton. The 5-inch N-Frame 357 Magnum was Skeeter's favorite double action 357. He mostly shot it with the Thompson designed 158 grain gas checked lead SWC that had two crimp grooves. One crimp groove was for use with 357 Magnum brass, and the other was so the bullet could be seated out in 38 Special brass with a 357 Magnum level charge of 2400 powder (to be used ONLY in 357 Magnum revolvers). He used the 38 Special brass because it was easy to come by and, for many years after WWII, 357 Magnum brass was hard to come by. I mostly prefer big bore revolvers (41 caliber and up), but I have a beautiful post-WWII/pre-Model 27 with a 5-inch barrel that I covet dearly. A person would pay hell trying to pry it from my hands. I would like to have a 3.5 inch version to add to my collection just because they look so mean, but the five inch gun is a far better compromise for a field gun, especially for the vertically challenged, such as myself (I'm only 5'6" tall). I always thought the 8 3/8 inch S&Ws were silly because they are so hard to carry. I prefer 6.5 inch S&Ws to the 6 inch N-Frame guns because they look better proportioned to me, but they are getting a bit long for me to carry.


Whelenshooter

 

[Rock185]

Yep, Skeeter Skelton was one of my favorite gun writers. And it was his influence that caused me to choose the 5" gun.

I think the 3 1/2" 27-2s and earlier are the ones that tend to sell quickly at a premium..

 

[NavyVet24]

Bought this 5-inch 27-2 made in 1975 for $1K a couple of years ago and thought I got a good deal

 

[lppd4]

Bought this 5-inch 27-2 made in 1975 for $1K a couple of years ago and thought I got a good deal

I think you made a very good deal

 

[AveragEd]

I only own two five-inch S&W revolvers but they are sort of scarce ones (I hate to use the word "rare"), a 686-3 National Match and a 629-3 Classic DX. Personally, I like the handling of five-inch guns the best.

Ed

 

[AC Man]

Ok I keep seeing 3.5" 27-2. How about a pre 27 1952 3.5" box and papers? I don't see them verry often. What is the price point of the later?

 

[SuperMan]

One unfortunate thing about the Model 27 is that when S&W introduced it, basically it was nothing more than a fancy Outdoorsman with a .357 chamber.

I say "unfortunate" in that it is too bad that they didn't lengthen the cylinder to real Magnum length as they finally did with the .44 Magnum. This would have allowed even better ballistics. One can not use a "real" Keith bullet that has the full width driving front band crimped into the correct groove, has to be crimped over the shoulder.

Started off with the Lyman/Thompson 357156 back in 1970 and when I started shooting .357s again a few years ago have gone back to that bullet. Actually like the .38-44 loads in the 1100-1200 fps range vs. the full .357 loads...

Bob