I Got Incredibly Lucky Today (627-PC)

[girvin02]

I've been on the lookout for an 8-shot 627 for quite some time.
Yesterday, my vigilance paid off, big time. I saw a gun listed in a local gun message board (classified section) that got my attention. The title, "Smith & Wesson Model 627-PC 8-Shot - $795" raised my adrenaline. As luck would have it, the thread had only been view 2 times before I clicked. There was no picture, so I frantically speed-read the ad. A few words jumped out, like 5" barrel, Performance Center, purchased in 2000. I've never dialed a phone number so fast in my life.

Long story short, I picked it up this evening. It came with original black plastic case, documents, 30 moon clips & a plain black patridge front sight.

The seller claimed that the black front sight was the original. All of the ones I've seen online have had a gold bead. Also, he claimed that the Hogue grip was original, but I've never seen one of these with this grip. Can someone confirm or deny these things for me? I looked it up in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition, and it does mention a Hogue grip, but nothing about the sight. It also mentions that it was a Lew Horton limited edition gun. I feel like I just hit the jackpot!

Forgot to mention, Product Code on box is 170089.

 

[jcs266]

Nice! What a great score, hope it serves you well. Those Hogue grips are awesome.

PS: That pic just inspired me to get a set of those Hogue's for my 4" 686! Thanks! Found them on the bay.

 

[bangbig]

You stole that! How did I not see that ad?!?!?!?

Mine had the gold bead front sight. Same grips as yours.

 

[colt_saa]

At that price, I would have jumped on it as well

I have seen grips substituted when the supply chain was backed up.

Product Code 170089 was originally introduced in 1997 as a Lew Horton exclusive run of only 300 pieces, the revolver shipped with rosewood colored Altomonte finger groove grips as seen on the revolver in the top right of this photo and you are correct that the gold bead is the standard front sight. They shipped in the black Docksil cases with a big round Performance Center sticker on the top of it

When I first saw this revolver at SHOT in January 1997, I had to have one

I tried to get serial number 357 shipped to me. I like serial numbers. The original serial number prefix for these was RJM

I was told this was a run of 300 and that was all there would ever be. So the revolver in the top left is serial number 27 instead, it arrived in June.

In August Lew called and asked if I still wanted number 357. It turns out this was the fastest selling Exclusive in Lew Horton history and they were doing another 300 pieces. So that one in the top right of the photo is serial number 357 and it arrived in September. Number 357 remains unfired since leaving the factory

This design became so popular that it turned into a cataloged item and has spawned off nearly 2 dozen variations over the decades.

If you look close, my number 27 has 3 dot adjustable Tritium night sights on it I also put Hogue wood on mine, I do not like the feel of the Altomonte finger groove grips

What 4 digit number is under the "SPEC ORD" heading?

 

[girvin02]

What 4 digit number is under the "SPEC ORD" heading?

7267

Thank you for providing so much information! Much appreciated.

 

[colt_saa]

7267

Thank you for providing so much information! Much appreciated.

Your revolver was manufactured on September 23rd of 1997

I bet that serial number is between 300 and 600

That would put it in the 2nd batch from Lew Horton

 

[girvin02]

RJM0661

Thanks again.

 

[mokuloa]

More on 627-PC

Incredible find, price and lucky purchase. Right under my nose too! I absolutely love these high cap revolvers. I have many including four RJMs now and have been watching and researching PC 627s for more then the past decade, assembling a lot of information, some of which I'll share here. The 627-PC as pictured in S&W original sales flier wears the Hogue grips as seen on your gun. So do all of mine. So I believe your grips are correct to the gun, but the front sight is not as mentioned above. All of mine came in generic black Doskocil cases that have a small rectangular Performance Center foil label stuck on the top. Letter from Earl Minot at Lew Horton points out 1,454 were produced between 1997 and 2000, which spans both the 627-PC (Old frame) and the 627-3 (new CNC frame) in the following serial numbers: CNC0001 - CNC 0125, EHT0001 - EHT0099, RJM0001 - RJM1083, and SHS0001 - SHS0147.

 

[Shark Bait]

Congratulations on a fantastic score! Well done!

 

[girvin02]

This one also came in the generic Doskocil case, with rectangular PC sticker on top. The case has seen better days, the label is very worn. Good to know that the grips are original. I have the correct front sight, but think I will keep the fiber optic one on for now - it is quite functional. Thanks for the additional info. Can you believe I was actually the second person to call on this gun? The first caller didn't commit to buy it, sight unseen, as I did.

 

[Ethang]

So you are the one that got that... When I saw the ad it was sale pending, and I know the owner so this one hurts double bad. Good score.

 

[girvin02]

Thanks Ethang, and sorry to "rub salt in your wound" by starting this thread. Bart seems like a real nice guy. I explained to him that I'd been looking for an 8-shot 627 for sometime, but that they were usually out of my price range. I'm guessing he must have realized he underpriced it - his phone must have been blowing up within minutes of posting that ad.

 

[Ethang]

salt in the wound is correct. Congrats though. Had I saw the ad before you our roles would be reversed right now...

 

[PNY UP]

Nice grab!

 

[td2torri]

Mine has a unfluted cylinder and PMA0042 or so serial number.
The firing pin retaining pin is under the rear sight.
Was it a special run for Europe or it is in the very first lot made?

 

[slickracer]

I have one of those and shoot it frequently. If you're looking to sell the patridge front sight, I would be interested. I prefer an all-black site versus a gold bead.

 

[hkcavalier]

I have gotten this lucky a couple times with guns, but not with a 627...nice score!

 

[girvin02]

I took the gun apart, last night, and gave it a much needed cleaning. While doing so, I noticed something interesting. It does not have a ball detent in the front of the crane, like other PC Guns I've seen. The sales brochure that Mokuloa posted above notes a ball detent lockup. What gives?

 

[bananaman]

Great looking gun you happened on! Bob

 

[PNY UP]

I took the gun apart, last night, and gave it a much needed cleaning. While doing so, I noticed something interesting. It does not have a ball detent in the front of the crane, like other PC Guns I've seen. The sales brochure that Mokuloa posted above notes a ball detent lockup. What gives?

The -PC frames didn't have the ball detent. My 6/1/2" -PC doesn't have it either.