New To Me 27-2, 4"
- Thread starter CobiaS&W
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Outstanding! I know for many the 3.5" is the preferred 27 but to me the 4" with target stocks just looks right. And I have a 3.5" 27 lol though one of my sons "borrowed" it and I haven't received it back in almost 2 years 
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Very nice, harder to find than any other 27-2 barrel length. Don't think I've ever seen more than a couple for sale where I shop. Congratulations!
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
StrawHat
Member
Correct! Far fewer 4" barrels than the "adored and sought after" 3.5". Before I knew better, I searched for a 4" S&W Model 27-2 with a 4" barrel to convert to 45 ACP. I ended up with a S&W Model 28-2 instead.
Kevin
Benchrest1
Member
Very nice 4". The wood on the grips is outstanding!
Engine49guy
Member
Am also a four inch fan,
My guess is that the demand for 4" Model 27's was diminished by the availability of 4" Model 28"s and Model 19's which were slightly cheaper and much more common.
The ones made in 56-57 seem to serial within the early four inch .44 Magnum serials and do not pop up too often.
My guess is that the demand for 4" Model 27's was diminished by the availability of 4" Model 28"s and Model 19's which were slightly cheaper and much more common.
The ones made in 56-57 seem to serial within the early four inch .44 Magnum serials and do not pop up too often.
Pantherclass2004
Member
Perfection…old school
Marshal Tom
Member
Very nice! I have a 4" Pre 27. I looked at a nickel 4" 27-2 for almost two years sitting in a shop near by. I was leaving to fly back east the last time I saw it and told myself that I would pick it up if it was still there when I got back. That was a poor decision!
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I have a 4" -3. Great shooting gun.
I believe they were all special order and less than 25 were produced.
Excuse poor pic but here's a pair of -2's for comparison.
Across the board, I'm a 4" kinda guy when talking revolvers but nothing wrong with the 3.5
Across the board, I'm a 4" kinda guy when talking revolvers but nothing wrong with the 3.5
BLACKHAWKNJ
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My sole (alas) M-27 is 4" nickeled -2 with Pachmayr grips, looks good with the nickel and provide lots of shooting comfort. More of a mystique to the 3.5" barrel-Patton's "killing gun", the 4" balances better IMHO.
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PauldL
Member
Wow. Congratulations!
I bought a new 4" blued 27-2 in 1979, blue cardboard box, 3 Ts. Traded it off a couple of years later before understanding it was a relatively rare bird.
I love it!
PauldL
Member
The 4" seem more rare than any?
As compiled in this thread (Four Inch Barreled Pre-27's - Photo and Info Thread) I am only aware of 11 4 inch barreled pre-27s, but based on some of the letters and invoices, probably a few more than 25. It would be great to run down a few more of them.
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Other than perhaps a Registered Magnum, your 27-2 has to be just about as good as it gets. Congrats on such an incredible find.
I've seen many more 4" nickel guns especially-3's. The blue guns I've only seen two physically. One was for sale at the symposium in Columbus Ohio a few years back. Our assistant historian was selling it. I wanted it but didn't have enough disposable $$ at the time. In retrospect I should have squeezed the plastic out of my wallet. O well, should of, could of!
Cobia's 4"er is a BEAUTY!
My experience is consistent with what others said above, namely that a lot of 4" barreled 27-2s were finished in nickel. As to availability, it is not uncommon to find both the blue and the nickel ones for sale on GB or other sites, but they are way less common than some of the other barrel lengths, as they were only produced for a short period, prior to the -3 engineering change.
This is my blue 4" 27-2...
... along with its pre-27 equivalent:
They really are fun guns.
My experience is consistent with what others said above, namely that a lot of 4" barreled 27-2s were finished in nickel. As to availability, it is not uncommon to find both the blue and the nickel ones for sale on GB or other sites, but they are way less common than some of the other barrel lengths, as they were only produced for a short period, prior to the -3 engineering change.
This is my blue 4" 27-2...
... along with its pre-27 equivalent:
They really are fun guns.
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Nice revolvers shown here!
My first LE revolver was a 4" Model 27, but unfortunately of the -3 variety. However, it is still a marvelous revolver and it is smooth as silk. Paying $285 for it in order to go to the academy was not easy at the time, but eating beans and rice for a bit was worth it. Still have it.
My first LE revolver was a 4" Model 27, but unfortunately of the -3 variety. However, it is still a marvelous revolver and it is smooth as silk. Paying $285 for it in order to go to the academy was not easy at the time, but eating beans and rice for a bit was worth it. Still have it.
lrb1200
Member
M27 Barrel Lengths over the years
I've shown this before, it's kind of interesting as regards to the "offered" barrel length's for the M27.
One would think that the 4" was rather common, but prior to 1980 it was only offered as a special order (or produced for Law Enforcement orders.. ?)
Here's a chart I put together showing when it was a Catalog'd offering.
May be kind of hard to see due to ImageShack's size limit so here's a run down for all the Catalog'd or Offered barrel lengths starting in 1946 per S&W catalogs.
3 1/2" 34 years
4" 12 years (1980 - 1991)
5" 34 years
6" 49 years
6 1/2" 23 years
8 3/8" 46 years
I've shown this before, it's kind of interesting as regards to the "offered" barrel length's for the M27.
One would think that the 4" was rather common, but prior to 1980 it was only offered as a special order (or produced for Law Enforcement orders.. ?)
Here's a chart I put together showing when it was a Catalog'd offering.
May be kind of hard to see due to ImageShack's size limit so here's a run down for all the Catalog'd or Offered barrel lengths starting in 1946 per S&W catalogs.
3 1/2" 34 years
4" 12 years (1980 - 1991)
5" 34 years
6" 49 years
6 1/2" 23 years
8 3/8" 46 years
Picked up a 90-95% 4" 27-3; recessed but not pinned, a few years back.... when you get to an N-Frame the extra 1/2" doesn't add much bulk! For Concealed carry I'd rather have a 3" K-frame! But not many choices for a .357 between 1935 and 1955!!!
Mine's nice enough to be proud of but "worn" in enough to be willing to carry it in Penn's Woods.
Mine's nice enough to be proud of but "worn" in enough to be willing to carry it in Penn's Woods.
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Enjoy,
bdGreen
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bdGreen
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OP
Production Date
For those who might be interested. I called S&W Customer service this morning and they told me my Serial Number (N830xxx) had a production date of 1981.
For those who might be interested. I called S&W Customer service this morning and they told me my Serial Number (N830xxx) had a production date of 1981.
