Mystery Pre-Model 27 Help Needed

[delta-419]

A year or so ago I got a great deal over the internet on a pre-27 with a 6.5" barrel and after market target grips. When I took the grips off I figured I knew why it was less than $350 or so I thought. As you can see from the photos you never can tell what lies under the grips. The words "Cuba 1957" and "Miami" conjured up visions of a gun that might have a very colorful history. The name Bill Penny is electro penciled on both sides and a holiday season return mail sitcker is on the inside of the grips dated 1996. Out of curiosity I fired off a letter to Bill P. via USPS, it came back undeliverable. The gun was purchased not too far from the address on the mailer. Interesting that the sum of $45 is also engraved on the gun. 1957 dates before Castro. Miami was also the recruiting area for the Bay of Pigs expatriates. I have only reached deadends in my research. Do you guys have some viable ideas on how to proceed?

 

[delta-419]

Additional Photo of the other side of the revolver

 

[CaptMac]

357

I found 7 William Penny's in VA if you go to a website called People Search | White Pages | Find People | FREE! you can bring them up one of them might be a relative.

 

[David LaPell]

I would definitely get that gun lettered by Smith & Wesson. A gun like that be one I would want to know the history of.

 

[DCWilson]

From the SSDI:

William B. Penny, b. 25 May 1934, d. 5 July 2006. Last known address Waynesboro, VA.

If you Google for William or Bill Penny and Waynesboro, there are some hits. Sons or daughters?

 

[jeremyws1]

According to my research, a William B. Penny (born 1934) lived at 257 Bath Ave.

I also found this:

William B. Penny, Jr
368 Forgotten Ln
Waynesboro, VA 22980-8350

It's worth a shot.

 

[moosedog]

I wish I could help, it's very cool gun and well worth what you paid for it.
I have a feeling that this is going to get interesting.

 

[JSR III]

Assuming that he passed in Waynesboro, VA in 2006 as noted in one of the replies, I would next contact the local newspaper for that area and see if it is possible to search their 2006 obits. From that you may find who he was survived by and where they were from as well as the funeral home that handled the service. The funeral home may have records about the family and or a way to contact them. Even if they are reluctant to give out the information due to confidentiality concerns, they may be willing to forward a letter drafted by you to a son or daughter or widow.

 

[j38]

Fascinating possibilities....!!

Jerry

 

[delta-419]

Thanks guys, you have given me a fresh research approach and I will get it lettered. Don't know if S&W shipped any revolvers to Cuba before Castro and before the Gun Control Act of 1968. Or to where it shipped to from the factory. I assume there would not be a reason why they didn't do it. Possibilities are endless. By the way, this gun is a great shooter. I will also followup on the Will Penny Jr. contact. Will let you know how it ends up.

 

[old bear]

Remember that Castro and his cronies were in the hills of Cuba for several years before January 1, 1959, when Batestia (Sp.) and his cronies left the country. So it's possible that your M-27 was destined for Castro. Perhaps if you were to post the serial number someone could give you/us the date it was shipped, that would be a start. Also keep in mind that a number of American businessmen had dealings in Cuba before the revolution, and it was common that Americans often felt the need to go or be armed in Latin American countries at that time. Also remember that the Bay of Pigs invasion did not take place until April 1961, four years after the date on the grips.

As for Bill Penny, a search of the morgue of the Miami papers of that time may prove interesting. Hell, as a last resort try using the freedom of information act with the CIA and ask about Mr. Penny.

Whatever you do PLEASE keep us posted. This is to good to miss.

 

[zywina]

You need to get this gun lettered by Roy Jinks! PRONTO! I love a great gun mystery! I have one myself right know, but it is a Colt, yes I do collect other things than Smiths! I have been helped by so many great guys here on this site as well as our sister site for Colts, good luck Dale Z in Canada

 

[Art Doc]

Yeah, well, history aside I figure Bill Penny is roasting in that special place in Hell reserved for idiots who scratch names and numbers on guns.

 

[Dave T]

Yeah, well, history aside I figure Bill Penny is roasting in that special place in Hell reserved for idiots who scratch names and numbers on guns.

DITTO! He could have at the very least put that stuff under the stocks on the covered part of the frame.

Dave

 

[JSR III]

I agree that the placement could be less conspicious, however, under the stocks would also make it less noticible if the gun went "missing." I believe that is why most prior owners did it in such an obvious place.

I used to think of these type of additions as quite an abomination but now I find them somewhat interesting. We are always searching for guns with provenance and sending for letters to see if our prize was owned by FDR or Wyatt Earp or Patton, but in reality, most S&W's were purchased by regular folks. They are much harder to track down, so when their name or even better their SS # is scratched into the frame, the search can be a little easier.

Anyway, the search of the gun's ancestry is usually more fun than the acquisition.

 

[delta-419]

The target stocks that it currently has cover the engraving by 100%, thats why I didn't have a clue from the sellers photos and no one mentioned it. They have "Made In Italy" stamped on them and are in about the same wear pattern as the gun. However, I am happy with it and after all it is a pre-27. If this guy was a foriegn service officer it would explain the expensive grips that match the wear on the gun.

 

[delta-419]

A photo of the gun with target stocks.

 

[Gary]

Yeah, well, history aside I figure Bill Penny is roasting in that special place in Hell reserved for idiots who scratch names and numbers on guns.

On the other hand it was HIS gun to do whatever he wanted to with. I have a Winchester 07 that was nicely engraved Kentucky State Police on the side of the receiver. It also has what appears to be a police property number written on the receiver in electropencil. It is kind of cheesy but it was the way they did it. I wish that they hadn't thrown away all of the boxes either. I guess no one filled them in on what us collecters would prefer 60-70 years down the road. ;-)

 

[Dave T]

These guns have a unique serial number. I never understood, and still don't understand why that isn't identification enough. Write it down and you can always find/claim your gun.

Dave

 

[Bullet Bob]

Because "they" (police, etc) used to tell us to electropencil all valuables - cameras, guns, etc. People would often also add driver's license numbers or social security numbers. People weren't so worried about collector values back in the day. I almost miss that attitude, when everything seems to be considered so "collectible" now.