M27 .44 special conversion questions

[PaulFowler]

Hello All,

I’m new to the site and not super-versed in S&W revolvers. (I’ve owned and shot a few over the years, but my focus a shooter and collector was military rifles). That being said, I’ll be picking up a model 27 converted to .44 special in the near future and had a few questions for you guys.
1. Were these converted by re-boring the cylinder or by utilizing a modified .44 mag cylinder? How could I tell the difference?
2. How safe are these conversions when shooting hotter .44 special loads? Not thinking Keith loads, something like 920-1000fps loads.
3. Once I have the pistol, is there a way to figure out who did the conversion?

Thanks in advance for your help and patience for a newbie.

Paul Fowler
3. How

 

[armprairie]

I own a Model 28 Highway Patrolman which had been converted to 44 Special before I bought it in a multi-gun deal. Came from Chicago area dealers that used to do business with the famous HH Harris, but don't know if there was a connection.
It shot very accurately, moreso than the Model 24-3 I had.
Mine was a bored out Highway Patrolman 357 Magnum cylinder.
Concerns:
There is no way to know how safe these guns are without some sort of proof-testing.
The area between the ratchet locating pins and the chambers was very thin on the ratchet. They may space them further out on the big bores, I've never checked to see.
The facets on the ratchet had not been filed correctly and I was getting what is called a wedge fit on a couple chambers.
This was a very popular conversion amongst Skeeter Skelton/Elmer Keith fans a few decades ago, and the workmanship can vary widely. The work might have been done by a professional, or it might have been done by a home hobbyist. It might be a factory 44 Special cylinder or one that has been reamed out. Post pictures of the cylinder after you pick it up, and we may be able to help determine which you have.
I converted mine back to 357 Magnum and sold the 44 barrel and cylinder, generating far more dinero than the gun cost me.
Much more could be said, but I'm already a bit long.

 

[Jeep 1]

Hello All,

I’m new to the site and not super-versed in S&W revolvers. (I’ve owned and shot a few over the years, but my focus a shooter and collector was military rifles). That being said, I’ll be picking up a model 27 converted to .44 special in the near future and had a few questions for you guys.
1. Were these converted by re-boring the cylinder or by utilizing a modified .44 mag cylinder? How could I tell the difference?
2. How safe are these conversions when shooting hotter .44 special loads? Not thinking Keith loads, something like 920-1000fps loads.
3. Once I have the pistol, is there a way to figure out who did the conversion?

Thanks in advance for your help and patience for a newbie.

Paul Fowler
3. How

Welcome to the site and you were asking for opinion, here’s mine I alwayslike the quote “Why? because I can“ doesn’t mean you should.
In my opinion, you can put a V8 500 hp gasoline engine in a lawnmower, but what have you accomplished?
Just go buy a model 29 or a model 24 and be happy. Probably won’t cost you much more to do so if you look around and find the right deal.
Tom

 

[StrawHat]

Having done a similar conversion, I can tell you why I did it.

I wanted a 4”, tapered barrel 45 ACP revolver. This was in the early 80s, long before S&W considered creating such a piece. The number of available revolvers that fit my description was probably less than 100 and all were priced out of my reach. I had a Model 28-2 and an ACP cylinder. Dick Nickle bored and rifled the original barrel for me. I fit everything and had my ideal. And it cost me significant less than buying one.

OP, your revolver was probably built for the same reason, the owner wanted a 44 S&W Special and they were not available, at that time. So, he had it built. Without seeing and handling it, I doubt anyone can tell you about the barrel, cylinder or gunsmith. Good pictures might help.

As for shooting it, factory loads or equivalent should be fine. But, again, without seeing the cylinder, it is anyone’s guess.

Kevin

 

[22hipower]

Welcome to the Forum. We usually see these conversions done on 28-2s not on 27s. You can tell pretty quickly if it still has a M27 barrel as it will be checkered on the barrel rib. Some of these are really well done, some not so much. Is the barrel stamped for 44 special? You probably can't tell much by looking at the cylinder unless an earlier (earlier than 27-2) was used and it has a serial number. Pictures would help a lot, close up sharp ones.

Here's a 28-2 converted to 45 ACP with a 1950 target barrel and cylinder. Some of these conversions are worth less than the original model on which they're built, others given the quality of the work may be worth more. This modified 28-2 5 inch is one I'd pay more for than the original.

No, probably no way to tell who did the work unless the smith stamped it, most I've seen are not stamped.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qmTsMA https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Shotguncoach]

There are some ways that you will be able to make educated assumptions from a close examination.

The obvious one would be a barrel that has a .44 caliber bore but is still marked .357 magnum.

If the barrel is tapered and has original markings that say "44 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG." (with a period at the end but not at the beginning) it could be a well done restamp, an original 1950 Target, or a model 24-3 recent issue barrel. Post pictures after you get it and we'll do a deep dive into that....

Another way to tell is by examining the cylinder. If the chambers are recessed so that the case rim sits flush with the face of the cylinder, it's either a bored out .357 cylinder or an early .44 magnum cylinder that may (or may not) have been trimmed at the other end. The first two attached pictures are of an original .357 recessed cylinder and a recessed .357 cylinder that was very poorly bored out to .44 special. As far as I know, S&W never made a .44 special with recessed chambers. Magnum yes, but Special no.

If the cylinder is not recessed, the next thing you want to look for is a serial number on the face of the cylinder. The original 1950 Target guns had a serial number on the cylinder (3rd picture), and the newer model 24-3 cylinders did not (4th picture). If your 27 is a -3 or later one of these cylinders could have been used for an almost direct swap (fitting would have been required, of course). If you find that you have a non-recessed cylinder that seems to flop around a lot when it's open by having too much rearward travel, that would be an indication that a non-recessed cylinder was swapped into a recessed cylinder frame without changing the lug.

There are lots of little things to look for that will help. Give us a bunch of detailed photographs after you get it and we'll dive down the rabbit hole with you.

Edit: One of my future projects is to convert a 27-3 (non-recessed chambers) to .44 special using model 624 parts.

 

[TJm15.38]

I'm not sure why anybody wants to do these coversions. It makes no sense to me. If you want a .44 revolver, why not just buy one?

 

[STCM(SW)]

I'm not sure why anybody wants to do these coversions. It makes no sense to me. If you want a .44 revolver, why not just buy one?

At some times the revolver was not not available so converting a M28 was a good idea....

 

[Muley Gil]

I have a M27 that was converted to .44 Special back in 1976, 10 years after S&W had dropped that chambering. The .357 cylinder was rechambered and a 6 1/2" factory .44 Special target barrel was installed. The work was done by Walker Arms in Selma, Alabama. It shot wonderfully.

After 30 years later, I had the barrel cut to 5" and a ramp front sight installed. It still shoots great.

It will NEVER be for sale as long as I'm still breathing.

 

[BigMuddy]

I keep considering to have my 6 1/2” 24-3 cut to 5 1/2” but haven’t yet. I would probably use it more if I did.

Dan

 

[StrawHat]

I'm not sure why anybody wants to do these coversions. It makes no sense to me. If you want a .44 revolver, why not just buy one?

As mentioned in my post, the revolver I desired was not made in great numbers. So, buying one was going to be very expensive. 4” ACP revolvers are still fairly scarce, but at least there have been some made.

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

…

Here's a 28-2 converted to 45 ACP with a 1950 target barrel and cylinder. Some of these conversions are worth less than the original model on which they're built, others given the quality of the work may be worth more. This modified 28-2 5 inch is one I'd pay more for than the original.


Jeff
SWCA #1457

Jeff,

Great looking revolver, really like the McGivern bead.

Kevin

 

[PaulFowler]

Thanks

Thanks so much for all of the informative replies! I appreciate it. I’ll get up to the shop in the next couple of days and take a closer more informed look at the pistol. I’ve got checklist of things to look at. I’m not sure why or when the pistol was converted but the guy at the gun shop told me that the older gentleman they got the pistol from said he used the pistol in target competitions.
It looks well done, aside from the white stocks and the cylinder lock-up up is tight. Again, I’m a total amateur about this subject so I appreciate all of the info. I’ll keep you in the loop!

Paul

 

[Retired W4]

I've heard of more 28's being converted than 27's. I can guess why. My 44 Spcl 28-2 is amazingly accurate. Don't know who did the work but they were good. Recessed chambers, and no, a 44 magnum round will not fit.

 

[Doug M.]

I'm not sure why anybody wants to do these coversions. It makes no sense to me. If you want a .44 revolver, why not just buy one?

*
When these conversions came about there were functionally NO .44 Specials available from S&W. The ones that existed were uncommon at best and pricey, at least for the time. A good conversion was well worth it to a certain type of serious shooter. I'll admit, the conversion I had done on a modern N frame to .45 ACP was a poor fiscal choice, but it sure is a good shooter.

 

[PaulFowler]

Hey guys,

I picked up the pistol yesterday. It’s a model 27-2 The barrel is marked “.44 S&W CTG.” and is not checkered like the top strap. The cylinder is recessed and the yoke has a different serial number than the rest of the pistol.
I’ve attached some photos. It is definitely a well-used firearm with considerable wear to the finish but seems solid mechanically. Let me know what you think about the cylinder/barrel as far as how the conversion was done.

Paul

 

[PaulFowler]

Some more photos

 

[AudieMurphy]

fyi that is NOT a serial # on the yoke....But it should match the # on the back of the side plate...they are just production #'s

 

[PaulFowler]

fyi that is NOT a serial # on the yoke....But it should match the # on the back of the side plate...they are just production #'s

Audie, thanks for educating me!

 

[mchom]

Really neat gun!

Appears to be a period correct conversion. Meaning that (I’ll add I was a child at the time so really just repeating what others have stated) in the 60’s or 70’s Gun writer Skeeter Skelton and maybe others were very fond of the .44 special in the N frame. Outside of finding one of the .44 HE variations the next easiest way was to make one.

This helped spur the interest in converting m28’s into .44 spl. And obviously a 27 here and there too. Heck maybe even an RM out there was converted. lol.

And again if I have my facts straight…this prompted S&W to reintroduce the 24-3.

*
When these conversions came about there were functionally NO .44 Specials available from S&W. The ones that existed were uncommon at best and pricey, at least for the time. A good conversion was well worth it to a certain type of serious shooter. I'll admit, the conversion I had done on a modern N frame to .45 ACP was a poor fiscal choice, but it sure is a good shooter.