I bought my 4 inch Model 27-2 nickel .357 Magnum used, but as new, with the wood presentation case, in June, 1998. Invoice shows I paid $406.41 for it, which included the Brady fee and a 6-1/2% sales tax.
Looks like they were all made in a fairly short window or time span. Mine has S/N of N7607xx, while others above include N763xxx, N755xxx.
Lovely sixguns, among the most beautiful production hand weapons ever made by any one.