N Frame .357 4"

[bdGreen]

Enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I bought a new 27-2 4" blue in 1979. Blue cardboard box, 3Ts. Regrettably, traded it off a couple of years later.

 

[RKmesa]

You're splitting hairs. By pre-27 I just meant before the numbered guns came out. That would include the Registered Magnums.

Although you're technically correct, "pre-27" typically is used by collectors to refer to post-war pre-model number ".357 Magnums" that were later assigned the Model number 27.

Here is my 4" 5-screw pre-27 (a special order, like the other 4" pre-27s, most of which were shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago as noted in the thread linked in post 10, above)





... and my cataloged 4" 27-2:

 

[Doug M.]

That would be a pretty good trick, and once someone has acquired one of each they can try to add one of each configuration. This eight inch, one of 23, is also likely a one of a kind configuration as it has a Baughman ramp front sight (King) and all other known RM Baughman ramps were on shorter barreled revolvers. Might be fun to try to acquire one of each though.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
*
I suspect that the amount of money required would make it less than "fun". It is not something that I follow, but some of the .357 Magnum configurations I have seen are pretty expensive on their own. It does not take long before a few of those revolvers at 5 digit prices mean a staggering amount of cash. I am sure that of our real expert collector members could give a more precise estimate if they cared to, but one we get to "a lot", the incremental difference is likely not important.

 

[jack the toad]

Here’s a quick pic of the 3.5 and 4” M27’s, both -2’s.

 

[lestert357]

.357 Magnum Configurations

Even if a single collector owned every Pre-War Registered and Non-Registered Magnum ever manufactured, he or she would still not be close to having every possible combination of barrel length, sight configuration, and finish. The fact is that many possible configuration combinations were never ordered and thus not manufactured.

 

[Yendor357]

I bought a new/old stock 27-5 from Gun Broker.

I know it’s not really “Collectable”. But it’s a very nice old gun. I got it for a couple hundred less than the new ones.

What characteristics made a -5, a -5? I know no pinned and recessed. But the -4s were also that way….

 

[flundertaker]

That would be a pretty good trick, and once someone has acquired one of each they can try to add one of each configuration. This eight inch, one of 23, is also likely a one of a kind configuration as it has a Baughman ramp front sight (King) and all other known RM Baughman ramps were on shorter barreled revolvers. Might be fun to try to acquire one of each though.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
*
I suspect that the amount of money required would make it less than "fun". It is not something that I follow, but some of the .357 Magnum configurations I have seen are pretty expensive on their own. It does not take long before a few of those revolvers at 5 digit prices mean a staggering amount of cash. I am sure that of our real expert collector members could give a more precise estimate if they cared to, but one we get to "a lot", the incremental difference is likely not important.

The cheley’s (pls forgive my horrible spelling) had the biggest collection of .357 magnums I’ve ever seen. The SWCA magazine recently had an amazing photo spread about their collection. Unreal! I wouldn’t be at all suprised if they owned a RM in each available barrel length.

 

[DR505]

Nice thread!

My first S&W revolver purchase was a 4" Model 27-3 (3 T's) I bought for my first police academy...I think I got it in 1985. Still have box and original stocks for it, and it has a great action. The original stocks are in the box...never felt good in hand.

It is shown here with an older brother, an S-Serial 27-2 with a 3 1/2" barrel. Notice the bluing differences?

 

[Wyatt Burp]

What you said is correct for 27-3's, but S&W added the 4" barrel and dropped the 3-1/2" and 5" barrels in 1979 when they were still building 27-2's.

Here's one in Nickel. Pinned, recessed and shiny!

In the mid 80s I would drive 2 hours to get my son and stop at a little store/gas station in a little farming town that sold a few guns. For a few years I’d drool over a 4” nickel 27-2 just like this one. But $275 was way out of reach. Child support, etc. Then all of a sudden it was $375 then it was gone. I always regretted that one.
EDIT: Also during that time a guy at work had 2 presentation cased N frames in the trunk of his Caddy under golf clubs and other stuff. A 4” blued 29-2 and 6” nickel Model 57-2. They were waaay out of reach at $350 each.