New Smith or Vintage Smith?

[mike56]

Looking for a N frame .357, 4 inch barrel. Will be a shooter and carried.
Have been looking at 28's, but they are either real beaters, in the 700-800 range or "collectors" well north of 900.

See a new model Smith 27, for 950 shipped. New finish, warranty, box.

Have a new 29, that I reload for. Never an issue with the "lock". Figure the 27 would be the same?

Keep shopping for an old 28, or grab a new 27?

Are the new 27's round butt as well?

 

[22hipower]

For your purposes I vote for a newer gun, I'd probably go with a 686 or maybe one of the Performance Center 627s if you've got to have an N frame. But would find a shooter condition 28 a fine solution too. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Beju]

I've thought about this myself.

I'd like an N-frame .357, but last year, even vintage Model 27s and 28s were going for more on Gunbroker than I'm willing to pay without inspecting the revolver myself. Provided they weren't super rough, of course.

However, I just checked the completed items, and some shooter grade Model 28s have been going for $5-700 lately.

Still, new 627s can sometimes be had for just under $1000. If S&W does another revolver rebate this year, I might just get one.

 

[3Gunnah]

I vote vintage. There are 627 late 90's production out there with forged parts and no "Hole" if you look. You will pay a small premium, however you will have a much better firearm. Plus Smiths look funny with that tiny hammer with no pin.

 

[mike56]

Kinda want that 29/27/28 profile for holsters.

 

[SWFan27]

I would say vintage for collecting and new for shooting on a regular basis. Some of those vintage parts can wear out and break, such as the old hammer mounted firing pins.

Get a new one with a warranty for the off chance you might need it someday. Keep the old stuff for your collection and safe at home.

 

[Valmet]

I vote vintage all the way. Be patient and have your wallet ready and one of these days you’ll stumble on a good one reasonably priced.

 

[scruffy]

For collecting, cool factor and occasional range fun - vintage.
For shooting and carry - new.

Vintage anything, guns or cars (I'm into both) have pretty much proved to me that the good old days are great for a "back in the day" nostalgia fix, but require a good deal more attention and maintenance and often don't perform as well. Years of improved metallurgy and manufacturing processes simply result in a better product. May not look as truly classic as the older versions, but like a wise mechanic once told me, "Old ***** is old *****". If carrying for SD, which would you rather depend on?

 

[Sam McCord]

Another vote here for vintage. Nice 28's are around as well as 19's. A 686 would be great too and again are to be found for reasonable with some looking. I had a "newish" model 460V fall into my hands and I must say I am impressed with the gun. It's the only newer S&W I own but I really enjoy it. I still vote for the older stuff.

 

[Beju]

I vote vintage. There are 627 late 90's production out there with forged parts and no "Hole" if you look. You will pay a small premium, however you will have a much better firearm. Plus Smiths look funny with that tiny hammer with no pin.

I feel like I'm shouting in to the wilderness here, but you need to go back to days before S&W standardized on the'Model XX' naming convention if you really want forged OEM internals.

S&W started punching triggers and hammers out of relatively soft flat stock, then case hardening them, back in the 1950s. While people complain about 'soft MIM' parts, the parts that they replaced had the exact same issue, but with an even thinner hardened layer.

Colt stuck with forged parts for a bit over 10 years longer, until they introduced compressed powdered metal components on the MK III line. Those parts were even less dense and more porous than the later MIM process that S&W switched to.

 

[sodacan]

Most of my revolvers are 70+ years old. I shoot them all and none have ever needed any repairs. As far as the 27 vs. 28 issue, you'll never know the difference when looking through the sights and shooting them.

 

[CH4]

With few exceptions, anything pre 1998 for me.

 

[Marshal Tom]

It sort of depends on how much you are going to shoot it. There is nothing wrong with the new ones but I prefer the older models and do not like the models with the lock, esthetically. They are now producing several models without the lock with more to come, I think. Given the price of the new models, you can get a nice condition older model instead.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Relative to the value of the dollar guns have never been cheap in my lifetime. I still have my m28 4” I bought new in 1978 when new price was $177 dollars. I wanted a 28 but the extra money was just out of my reach.

I sold my M28 to my brother years ago to buy a new 6” Python which was $350. My brother eventually decided he didn’t like the 28 and sold it back to me for what he paid. I still have it and won’t part with it.

I eventually sold my Python for 5 times what I paid and now they’re way higher than that but I replaced it with a new one which was less than what I got out of my old Python with much less inflated dollars.

Wages go up, prices go up, that’s the way things work. If you want a 28 I’d get a vintage one that’s lived its life in a sock drawer. They’re around and may be I bit higher that a worn one but I’d rather put $1,200 in a nearly new 28 than $1,000 in a new 27. For around $$1,250 you can buy a brand new Python satin finish which I’d take over any new Smith and say it equal to the vintage Smiths.

I own around 40 revolvers of which about 1/3 are Colts and a mostbof the rest, not all, are vintage Smiths. Of the Smiths only 1 is a new model with a lock. The test date from 1920 to the early 90’s.

I’d vote vintage Smith or new Colt.

 

[stansdds]

The vintage Model 27's, especially those made before 1980, have a much truer blue, blued finish. The 1980-2000 finish is a little blacker, but still nice. The 2000-current bluing does not react will with solvents that contain ammonia, the ammonia can turn it to a more plum color. Aside from that, the new Model 27's are just as durable as the vintage Model 27's, but I would carefully inspect a new one for any defect in function or workmanship before buying it.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Kinda want that 29/27/28 profile for holsters.

I was thinking that was your plan. In N Frame I like the four inch so I got 29/27/28 and you need a 25-5 too. I went with a Bianchi holster thumbsnap.

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I have a 91 year old Colt Woodsman and a 74 year old Remington Rangemaster. I seriously doubt I could find a replacement for either one that would shoot and group anywhere near as well. Neither one has required any replacement parts. I know because my father was the original owner.

 

[Narragansett]

Buy a vintage M28. I would not go for a new one. The warranty is like life insurance. You don't want to use it. M28's are M27's, just not fancy. Place an ad in the Want To Buy Section here. I have 4 M28's, down from 7, and every one came from this forum, and they are all desirable condition

 

[Model29-26.5]

28 or you’ll wear the bright finish off of the 27.
On GB 700 is low end plus taxes and fees unless you get a real beater.
Stay on GB and the right 28 will show up at the right price..
or check guns international

 

[Narragansett]

I think there are 1 or 2 M28's for sale on the forum now