I got my "Grail" M27-2, 3 1/2" - photos!

[tom turner]

I've always been a sucker for the Cadillac Model 27 N-frames, and have wanted a 3 1/2" barreled version in nice shape.

Thanks to fellow forum member and Georgian "ssgmac," I now have a nice one. Heck . . . it is TOO nice, for I wanted a nice looking SHOOTER . . . and this one is danged near perfect, including a beautiful pair of Magnas that number to the gun! Oh well . . . I know . . . life is tough!

Any-hoo . . .

I just finished building a light box to photograph table top items tonight, with the first goal to photograph a few angles of the 27-2.

Here's my new baby . . . and boy is she purdy!!!

And that fine checkered top strap and back sight assembly of the M27 . . . ahhhhh . . .

Thanks again, ssgmac, and I hope you are able to use the proceeds to fund that special grail gun YOU are looking for!

T.

 

[michael thornton]

tom that is sweet, im still on the hunt for a 31/2 inch 27 i have found a 4 inch 2 5inch and a 6, my day will come

 

[bdGreen]

That is one helluva nice looking gun, Tom.

You did good on the pictures. Very professional looking.

bdGreen

 

[bluetopper]

That one pegs the meter in all categories.

Congrats!

 

[j38]

Way to go, Tom! Beautiful Model 27-2, and excellent shots of a gun that's hard to photograph. I assume you do still plan to shoot it?

Jerry

 

[tom turner]

Gee . . . I don't know if I can shoot this revolver or not. I might wait a while to decide. It is just so nice . . .

Then again, around handguns I have about the same amount of self-restraint as Tiger has around Waffle House waitresses.

I don't know . . . what do you guys and gals think? It HAS been shot a little in its lifetime, but not much . . . and there's nary a nick on it . . .

T.

 

[2hawk]

Whoa!

That's obviously got you in it's spell, just look at those pics!

I dunno, is there such a thing as too nice to shoot? I guess that one would be pretty close...

I think you have what some of my friends would call a gold plated problem. Well, maybe nickel, in this case

 

[BobB257]

Tom,
cant help you on your quandry. I like to use things but that is very nice.

What type of camera did you use to get the focus so close for the lettering and details on the gun pictures. The light box works very well.

 

[SJ]

It was made to be shot!!!!!

 

[DCWilson]

Tom, congratulations on that one! The gun, the photography, the enthusiasm ... everything's great.

Well, one thing is not great -- your hesitation to shoot it. Do you really want to save it so someone else can shoot it after you're out of the picture? That does not compute.

I'm not saying turn it into an everyday shooter, but you've got to send at least a few bullets downrange in order to complete the experence. After that, clean it well and put it up as a museum piece if you are so inclined. But don't let it languish unused!

What a great gun. I would have had a hard time resisting that one if the opportunity had come my way.

 

[Hunt200]

Tom that is awesome, I would shoot it a bit and enjoy it. The pictures also came out great!! What type of lights did you use? I have been fooling around with a light box I made with my son and we use reveal blubs, they seem to give the best light.

 

[acl864]

....................

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Tom...fine looking 27! It looks flawless in the pics. You obviously did a great job with your light box as the pics are superb.

To shoot or not to shoot...only you can decide. I had some "no-shooters" but tired of the anguish and torment of having to make the decision to shoot/don't shoot. I think that's called procrastination (so my wife says.)

I sold and traded them away. I'm enjoying your dilemma.

 

[bmhiii]

Tom,

Very nice revolver and great pics. I'm envious.

I would take it out for a ride a few times for sure.

 

[Art Doc]

Would you marry Miss America and sleep on the couch?

 

[gunnut44]

VERY NICE! I seen it for sale and was very tempted, glad you got it and has a good home to appreciate the finest S&W ever made. That has got to be the best looking gun ever made imo. I had a nickel one a few years ago and still regret letting it go. Here are my two and am proud of them my pics don't look nearly as nice as yours but here they are.

 

[fyimo]

Great gun and great photography

 

[ditrina]

Beautiful, Tom.......... Just Beautiful............

 

[Smile]

Beautiful.
Simply beautiful.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Wow! beautiful 27,great pictures.

 

[FirebirdV8]

If it was unfired I would have a hard time shooting it. Since yours has been fired, there isn't any harm in shooting it every now and then. Just clean it up nicely after each session and be careful with it and it will remain like it is.
Whatever you decide, you have a very nice 27-2. Enjoy your new gun.

 

[tom turner]

Tom,
cant help you on your quandry. I like to use things but that is very nice.

What type of camera did you use to get the focus so close for the lettering and details on the gun pictures. The light box works very well.

The camera is a Canon t1i, marketed in Europe as the 500D. The lens is the basic kit lens that comes with the camera, the EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS. I'm saving for the fantastic Canon 100mm macro lens, but this one will do for now.

Since macro (close up) photography yields such small depths of field that will be sharply in focus, I set the camera in the Av mode, then set the aperture number quite high, in this case f22. This setting gives a much greater depth of field than a lower f-stop number.

THE RULE OF THIRDS FOR DEPTH OF FIELD SHARPNESS . . .
A lens will have "acceptable sharpness" from your point of focus, in a zone extending in a ratio of 1/3 closer and 2/3rds further than this focus point. So:

1. Choose a high f-stop number for maximum depth of field.
2. Find the nearest part of the photo that MUST be sharp and MANUALLY focus on it, then rotate the focal ring to . . .
3. Focus on the furthest part of the photo that MUST be sharp and focus. Now . . .
4. Rotate the focus ring to an imaginary spot that's 1/3 of the way between that near and far focal point.
5. If your "depth of field" is sufficient . . . the entire key area will be in focus sufficiently!
6. Keep in mind, the entire object in macro will not be sharp, but that key area will . . . if the aperture was set for maximum depth of field and you are within that range!

These basic rules are true for any camera and lens when getting maximum results of sharp depths of field.

Also, and hugely important . . . one MUST use a tripod. Further, to avoid any camera vibration which blurs photos, you MUST at least put the camera on "timer" mode so you aren't touching the camera when the shutter goes off.

For SLR-type cameras, including digital ones, better results also come when you lock the mirror up, after doing the steps above, before you trip the shutter. I was in a rush and skipped this step but the photos are still acceptable for my early test of the light box. I just know they can be better in time.


Hope this helps, Tom

 

[tom turner]

Tom that is awesome, I would shoot it a bit and enjoy it. The pictures also came out great!! What type of lights did you use? I have been fooling around with a light box I made with my son and we use reveal blubs, they seem to give the best light.

Hi,

I went to Home Depot and got a couple of 10.5" reflector "Brooder Clamp Lights."

The bulbs were GE 26 watt "Daylight" (6500K) florescent "light bulbs" which claim to have the output of a conventional 100watt bulb. Compact florescents don't heat up much . . . and I like that a LOT!!!

I considered the slightly bluer "Reveal" florescent bulbs, but they didn't provide the light color on the "Reveal" package. However, both will give identical final results when White Balance adjustments are set correctly.

 

[cush]

Would you marry Miss America and sleep on the couch?

Tom, I've got to agree with Dr. Pig on this one. Here's a hypothetical story for you to ponder: You go out to get the mail this afternoon and get hit by a car. Distraught as your wife is, she has the good sense to call a big time firearms buyer (like Dury's Guns for example) to buy your collection. Some slob from Maine (like me) sees your grail 27-2 on Dury's website buys it for a truck gun to throw in the glove box as he pounds his truck down the dirt roads of northern Maine in search of whitetails. The month before he shot 150 rounds of full power 158gr. .357 loads to make sure the gun "shot good." In the middle of February he remembers that he left your gun in the glove box and goes out to retrieve it just before midnight...

The point of my story is this; if you don't shoot it someone else will. Enjoy it!!!!!!

 

[Sportsterguy]

Congrats Tom on a Beauty!!!!!! Shoot that baby and take care of it like the rest of your revolvers afterwards. It's your though. You have to try a cylinder through it to see if it's accurate

My 3.5" 27-2 is shooter grade and I shoot the heck out of it.

 

[deanodog]

That is a true beauty. Shoot it but be extra careful with it. Don't leave it to someone else to shoot and enjoy YOUR grail gun.

 

[ENGINE18]

Beautifu! My absolutely favorite S&W model. (and still my gail!)

 

[boykinlp]

That is S..W..E..E..T..

 

[bellevance]

Gorgeous, Tom. Congratulations!

About shooting it, man, I know just what you mean. I just picked up a NIB 25-2 (I am aware that you have a fondness for these, too), and I have not been able to bring myself to shoot it yet. It's too perfect! Still, I AM gonna shoot it. I think. Some day.

 

[sandspur6]

I'd shoot it, but not a lot. You are one lucky sonuvagun.