Model 27 Discrepancy

[Nathan King]

This may be a simple question to answer for some of the avid collectors here; I know just enough to be dangerous. I have a friend with a 6” nickel plated Model 27 that he purchased new in 1983 right after he turned 21. The thing that has me confused is that everything about it points to a manufacture date of 1980. It has an N7XXXXX serial number which, to my knowledge, is a range only found on N frame revolvers from 1980. Also, an ’83 model would not be pinned and recessed as his Model 27 is since that practice ceased in ’82. That leaves only one possibility: the time between manufacture and the dealer receiving the product plus the time the product sat in inventory at the dealer was three years. Is that common?

 

[Flint Ridge]

Three years is not a record. Seems like there were plenty over the years that sat awaiting being brought into the world. In the 80's might not been too much of a draw for a 6" nickel revolver. Others will be along too.

 

[fyimo]

Yes the 27-2 he has probably wasn't sent to a dealer until 1983 because sales were probably slow for nickel 357 revolvers during those years. That time frame was when a lot of new buyers wanted semi auto pistols instead. Also Nickel revolvers weren't that popular during that time frame as stainless was the new hot revolvers and the L frame 686 was a hot 357 revolver from the time it hit the market.

 

[mkk41]

Seems like gun dealers and distributors as well as the factory warehouse did not 'rotate their stock' like ya do with beer and other consumables.