Need some help/advice with a pinto 27 *update 5/18* Now with letter!

[blue70chevelle]

LGS has A Pinto gun for sale. I was unable to handle it due to the store volume and I had no cash on me.

Gun was labeled as such;
Model 27 Highway Patrolman
6.5" Barrel
Two Tone
$699

The gun was blue frame with nickel barrel and cylinder. Had not original combat grips. I couldn't tell if it was a 27 or a pre-27. Gun definitely had a 6" barrel, they had it listed as 6.5", is that right?
I don't know if it had the box, papers, tools.

Has anyone seen a 27 pinto in that barrel length? What about the price?
I wanna jump on it, but I need some advice here first.
Thanks

I picked the gun up today. Scroll down for pics

See last post for Roy Jinks letter I received today

 

[amazingflapjack]

Suggest you take 3 deep breaths through your nose, then thoroughly check out the gun.

 

[Doug M.]

At some point, maybe the late 70s, they transitioned to the 6" from 6.5" length, so you need to know the model and s/n. Also, a 27 is NOT the HP. The hP is an M28, which was made only in 4" and 6" except for a few special orders.

 

[Art Doc]

You keep calling it a model 27 but you also call it a Highway Patrolman. The HP was the Model 28 not 27.

If it is a 27-2 they were available in both 6 & 6.5" barrel lengths but the longer one is pretty rarely seen.

If it is a 27, and the 2-tone is original, it's a steal at that price. If it's not original, and the barrel is 6" then the price is too high, IMO.

If it's a 6.5" gun it is worth a premium.

You need to figure out for sure what you are looking at. If it's a Model 28 Highway Patrolman then the odds are 100,000 to 1 against being original. A 27 could be original. Ask the shop if they will refund the money if you letter it after purchase and it's not original.

 

[nipster]

It's probably a frankengun, worth maybe $400-500 or so, maybe

If the barrel says Highway Patrolman, it's definetly a frankengun, and has been re-barreled if it's marked 27-2. Check the topstrap, it should be checkered, if it's checkered up to where the barrel starts, but smooth the rest of the way, it's a 27 that someone threw a re-finished (nickel even?) model 28 barrel on and nickeled the cylinder

At any rate, it's a frankengun, no premium, in fact, I would pay less for it because of all the mismatched and refinished parts.

 

[fyimo]

It's probably a frankengun, worth maybe $400-500 or so, maybe

If the barrel says Highway Patrolman, it's definetly a frankengun, and has been re-barreled if it's marked 27-2. Check the topstrap, it should be checkered, if it's checkered up to where the barrel starts, but smooth the rest of the way, it's a 27 that someone threw a re-finished (nickel even?) model 28 barrel on and nickeled the cylinder

At any rate, it's a frankengun, no premium, in fact, I would pay less for it because of all the mismatched and refinished parts.

I agree with this statement 100% as the Model 28 is the Highway Patrolman and the Model 27-2 is it's beautiful sister with a high luster blue and steel top strap checkering. Most of the Model 27-2 came with target grips and most of the Model 28's came with magna grips.

Nickel 27-2 with top strap checkering.

 

[weatherby]

Gee didn't think you had any guns with targets Art...

 

[blue70chevelle]

I honestly believe it's a Model 27. I havent gotten to see the other side yet to see if it says Highway Patrolman on it. I think the store has no clue what they have actually. I just needed to know what to look for before hand.
Thanks guys, I'll let you know how I make out.

 

[fyimo]

Gee didn't think you had any guns with targets Art...

Very funny I'm not a fan of Magnas so most everything I own has some form of target grips smooth or regular, Combat grips, or some of Kurac's custom grips.

 

[Florida Guy]

Sounds like a Heinz 57 to me.

 

[nipster]

Anyone know how many legitimate 27-2 pintos were made? At some level, I think you are gonna find out it's a frankengun, and at that point, it's squarely in "shooter grade" territory as far as price goes.

 

[murphydog]

It could be a legitimate pinto, there is not enough information to tell. Photos would be most helpful, but an exact barrel measurement and looking for signs of a refinish might be helpful. If it is a nice 6.5" early-ish 27 or pre-model .357, it may be worth $699 if you like the pinto look, even if it is not factory. Ultimately, only a factory letter can tell you if it was originally built that way.

 

[blue70chevelle]

*update*
I just returned from the LGS, because I simply had to know.
Upon further inspection this is what I revealed;
-The gun is actually a 5 screw pre 27.
-All parts are serial #'d the same from the cylinder face to the crane to the rear of the ejector shroud to the frame.
-The barrel does not appear to have ever been off the frame, everything lines up as it should.
-There is no box, papers, tools as the gun is actually a consignment gun, not the stores.
-It is a 6.5" barrel, confirmed by measurement
-There is an N stamped in the ejector rod housing signifying its an original Nickel barrel

The gun cost me $760 OTD after tax.
Now I have to wait for the state paperwork to come back before I can pick it up. (thanks NY)
Once I get it, I'll be sending a letter to Roy at S&W for my history letter.
Here are some crappy cell phone pics until I can get better ones.

 

[230grfmj]

S&W certainly made factory two tones, but you'd want to have some pretty good proof as to what you are looking at such as a factory letter.

They can be worth quote a bit as well, regardless if they appeal to everyone or not!

These are pre 27s and letter as such.

 

[weatherby]

Awesome for you

Just loose those combats when you actually have possesion

 

[M29since14]

I hope it works out well for you. At $760 I probably would have taken the chance too and hope it ended as expected. If the gun is good mechanically and finish-wise, however it turns out, I think you will be OK. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[JCS&W]

230grfmj, I would like to be added to the long list of people who would like to buy one of those pre-27 Pintos. I know the line is long, but add me just in case. They are gorgeous!

 

[blue70chevelle]

I hope it works out well for you. At $760 I probably would have taken the chance too and hope it ended as expected. If the gun is good mechanically and finish-wise, however it turns out, I think you will be OK. Congratulations on your purchase.

That's what I was thinking. That price is definitely on the high side for a used 27, but then again it is actually a Pre 27, so even if it doesn't letter as a pinto, big whoop, I just over spent a little on a used gun.
In the end, it's still a 6.5" pre 27 that's numbers matching, and you don't see that everyday.
Now I just need to track down some period correct stocks that wont rape me on $$.. lol

 

[murphydog]

Nice work! You can probably find someone to trade you the proper Magna stocks for those N frame Combats, but I think finding the smooth Targets like those on 230grfmj's gun will be a lot more difficult. I'll bet it will letter as a factory pinto.

 

[230grfmj]

230grfmj, I would like to be added to the long list of people who would like to buy one of those pre-27 Pintos. I know the line is long, but add me just in case. They are gorgeous!

Thanks for the kudos. I appreciate it.

While I'm at it, I also like to "show off" these two which are also factory legit!!