Model 27-2 Question

[spelasr]

I was at my local Gun Show which rolls through town 3 times a year (At Least) and,

I happened to purchase my first Model 27. It is a 1978, 27-2 Nickel with a 5" Barrel, SN is N494974. In my excitement I may have overlooked a few important things as I discovered when I got it home. You know they are never really clean when you buy them so first thing I do when I get it home is start cleaning.

Everything is fine and functioning. The one exception that I found is, the barrel has no Roll Markings. That's right, no Smith & Wesson, on the left and no .357 Magnum on the right. The barrel appears to be proper and everything lines up to included the top strap checkering.

I know that sometimes S&W has made errors like forgetting a dash in the number or some other weird stuff but forgetting the roll Marks or is it possibly an aftermarket barrel. I may have been Duped, lol.

Pictures to follow once it is cleaned and presentable.

Thanks in advance.

 

[spelasr]

Pictures for help

Pics in the hopes that one of the S&W folks here that have much more knowledge than I can tell me something.

 

[Nframe_is_no1]

I have heard on this forum of guns that were mismarked with the wrong model number. I've even seen a couple that missed being marked with a model number. I've also heard of the model 25-2s that were incorrectly marked model of 1950 instead of 1955, but this is a new one for me. I hope it doesn't turn out out to be a refinish. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will come along.

 

[usm1rifle]

That IS an odd one, the experts should be along to give you an opinion.

 

[msinc]

If somebody made that barrel....they sure did a heck of a good job!!! Also very rare to see a 27 with a red ramp front sight but that don't mean it aint right either. Maybe have it lettered??? I have a pretty good collection of guns and usually when you see something that is not the way it should be "by some book" that says otherwise...it might be some employees gun. There is always a chance it could be a switchero on the barrel and they polished off the lettering so it wasn't readily apparent, but I don't know what other gun had that type checkering on the rib. If it was off another 27 why polish of the engraving???
I have in my collection a Winchester Model 12 20 ga. with a straight stock, english walnut, milled solid rib and the matching english walnut "Tournament" grade forend. The year it was made Winchester had long dropped the Tournament grade Model 12 and they produced very few guns with english walnut...but here it is. The rest of the story, it belonged to a former employee that had it made in the custom shop. The big question, is it worth any more??? No not really, provinence or not.

 

[spelasr]

Great Story msinc. I have seen many different things with S&W like forgetting the dash is a 29-? but never a barrel with no roll marks. It is interesting for sure. I hope some of the experts here have some information.

 

[Florida Guy]

Hard to tell from your pics, but the red insert looks incorrect.

 

[bananaman]

Is this gun meant to be a shooter? Granted it might not be correct, but if it shoots well, would be no big deal to me. I have no idea what you paid but it sure LOOKS like a BEAUTY! Let us know what you find out! Bob

 

[old bear]

Ya, the roll marks are sure missing, and the red insert does appear to be somewhat undersized. Yet the barrel appears to be well aligned with the frame, and to my untrained eye I don't see any signs of a refinish. I think that one may well have been assembled and inspected on a Monday after a LONG weekend. Do remember that the M-27-2's were the only .357 Magnum revolver that was offered with a 5" barrel, during the time your was produced.

I don't know what you paid, but that is a good looking example of a top of the line revolver no matter what.

 

[spelasr]

Yes, the Red Ramp insert is not correct and it is the wrong color to include not completely filling the cutout for it. I plan of fixing that myself but my concern is the barrel with no roll marks. I will say that it appears for all other aspects to be completely correct.

 

[Dennis The B]

Do the cylinder head, and the base of the grip frame have the letter "N" stamped on them? Can you provide some closeups of the S&W logo and trademarks? It would add to solving this mystery. Thanks.

 

[muddocktor]

I happen to own a 5" nickel 27-2 myself and looking at your pics, I see no sign at all of the roll marks being polished off of the barrel. Looking at the roll marks on my barrel, you should be able to measure a difference in the barrel width if they did polish off the roll marks. I will list some barrel widths from my 27-2 for you and if yours is off by more than a few thousandths of an inch I would say that they were polished off. If they are close to mine, then you happened to get a barrel that wasn't rollmarked. The barrel contour and the checkering on the rib look to be S&W to me. BTW, mine is a 1973 built 27-2 with an N168xxx serial number.

The measurements are as follows, from left to right side.

Width at muzzle - .606 inches
1" from muzzle - .628 inches
2" from muzzle - .653 inches
3" from muzzle - .659 inches
at barrel/frame junction - .787 inches


EDIT: I measured this with my dial calipers.

mudd

 

[spelasr]

More pics as requested

Here are some pictures of the markings requested to aid in the mystery. I have also been informed that competition shooters would often have the barrels changed for better accuracy, Hmmmm. Interesting indeed. I truly appreciate all the help.

 

[spelasr]

Muddocktor,
Thank you for all the excellent information. I do not happen to have dial calipers, :-( but, I will get them measured for sure. I know someone who has one. Great information but, you are correct. I have seen re-finished revolvers and everything about this one looks correct except the missing Roll Marks and the Red Ramp Insert. If someone did change the barrel, it was one heck of a job.

 

[muddocktor]

Yeah, that's for sure. And yes, the red ramp isn't correct, but you know that. It looks like the previous owner did as I also did and brought it into a gun shop and had them add it to the original front sight. I also did this back in the early 80's to mine as it helped me keep a better sight picture. But I think the gunsmith that did mine did it more like a true S&W red ramp, but used the same type plastic filler. Mine is the same color as yours, but the gunsmith cut mine a little deeper than the one on your front sight.

 

[spelasr]

More Pics

As requested pictures of the Roll Marks that do exist

 

[spelasr]

Ive already ordered the Casting Resin to fix the front insert myself with red, and yellow pigment to try and match the S&W color. The reason it does not look deep enough, it's not filled in all the way, I think. I like the red insert myself, especially as I get older. That is not really a problem to me. I am more interested in figuring out the mystery of the missing Roll Marks and upon closer inspection, they have surely not been sanded off. Too much material would have to be removed for that and the barrel would be much thinner.

 

[spelasr]

Yeah, Iggy. I can live with it for myself and for the $725.00 investment it's fine but, the Mystery is just driving me nuts, lol. You know how it is when you overlooked the smallest thing and then discover that something just isn't right, lol.

 

[ibewbull]

Photos finally

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/170834-unusual-29-2-a.html

Best I can find at this time is one side marked.

My only odd ball has German Proofs and re import ones to USA.

The 1 st pic is with numbered and modified grips.
2nd pic with J scott knock off ivory.
Then I found some Grasshorn stags.
Simply Rugged Cumberland IWB Holster the last two pics.
Carries as easily as my 1911
I have not carried it much. Just about the land we have.
Maybe on cycle trips later.

 

[muddocktor]

I think it looks damn good without the roll marks on the barrel myself. And the nickel is in great shape too. I love the way the 5" 27s handle too; they feel "just right" to me. And you can look forward to a lifetime of fun with that pistol too. I'm owning mine going on 41 years now and it still shoots good. But I do think I will send it in to S&W to give it a tuneup as I figure I have somewhere between 20k-30k rounds through it. I have a little endshake (not too bad though) and my forcing cone is showing a little erosion and I would like for S&W to bring it back as close to new specs as possible.

EDIT: BTW, heare are couple of pics of my old 27-2 for you: