New to me pre 27

[blacksteel]

Hi...recently picked up this 5" pre 27. I was hoping that maybe the knowledgeable folks on this forum might be able to tell me anything on this revolver. Serial numbers are s 9897x. All numbers match except the grips which i dont think are matching as they are numbered 150572. Are this grips as close as i am going to get factory original? Hope to get a letter of authenticity from S&W soon to verify all information. How rare are these and what might be a fair market price??? Looks about 85-90%,no rust or freckling,and bore looks good. Will be shot and not a safe queen by any means. And my next search begins...

 

[RILEY31]

Its a 1953-54 probably a 1953. Its a nice looking gun.

 

[JSR III]

Assuming it is not one of the S&W serial number anomalies, I would agree 1953. They are not rare but any pre model is more desireable. Tough to give a value without seeing it in person, but I would think with non matching stocks, its probably worth $800 to $950.

 

[DWalt]

The closest I have on my SN list is S995XX which shipped in 9/53. It would be excellent as a shooter, previous price estimate is probably OK, without having it in hand to examine. As you have observed, the grips are not original to the revolver, and that does degrade the value some.

 

[blacksteel]

thanks for the responses. From the research that I have done it's what you guys are telling me here seems to fall in line with the year it was manufactured. As far as the grips are concerned what would be theCorrect grips for this revolver? These are walnut magnas?

 

[DWalt]

The correct grips would also be Magnas, but the SN does not match. It is possible that in 1953, a slightly different grip style could have been used. There was a style change made in about 1952-53 involving the shape of the shoulder at the top of the grips, where it became more rounded.

 

[fat tom]

I'll leave the value estimates up to the experts,but I CAN tell you that a correct BOX for your gun just sold yesterday on eBay for over $350! Correct grips will run you another $200. Paperwork and SAT,$175 more. Have fun!
f.t.

 

[blacksteel]

So these grip are correct just non matching right?.. I should just leave thesevon?...ive been looking for a box and have seen the eBay boxes as ivhave snagged other boxes on there. ..those prices are crazy. ..I'm going totry snag one elswelsewhere. ..I just want to keep it and shoot... any loads I should keep it away from?

 

[tlay]

Nice gun! I can't tell by the photos because of the glare but it appears better than the 85%. If above 90% I can see it at $1000.
You can fire any 357 mag in it. Nothing made today will hurt it. But if you are going to fire the hot stuff I would change out the grips for some good years.

 

[DWalt]

So these grip are correct just non matching right?.. I should just leave thesevon?...ive been looking for a box and have seen the eBay boxes as ivhave snagged other boxes on there. ..those prices are crazy. ..I'm going totry snag one elswelsewhere. ..I just want to keep it and shoot... any loads I should keep it away from?

I can't say they are of the correct style or not. The correct style would be diamond-checkered Magnas, but there was a changeover from the sharp shoulder type to a more rounded shoulder about the time yours was made. I doubt if anyone can say exactly which would be correct. Someone with a similar revolver which shipped at about the same time would have to respond. Aside from an S&W collector, not many would know the difference.

 

[Art Doc]

Stocks are close enough. If really worried about it being totally correct and original you should be more concerned by the hammer as that may be a replacement. I wouldn't recommend spending hundreds of dollars for an original S&W box but it's your money and your gun.

 

[blacksteel]

Stocks are close enough. If really worried about it being totally correct and original you should be more concerned by the hammer as that may be a replacement. I wouldn't recommend spending hundreds of dollars for an original S&W box but it's your money and your gun.

How would I be able to tell or what am I looking for?

 

[dswancutt]

Here are my two pre-27, both with matching stocks. Mine are both a S99021 (5 inch) and S99101 (3.5 inch) so they are really, really close to yours






This will let you know how close in appearance your stocks are to ones from the same period.

 

[Sebago Son]

Here is a detail of the type of stocks you are looking for. Note the subtle difference at the top of each panel where a sharp ridge is formed.



No, they are not for sale.

 

[Sebago Son]

This is one of the very first Pre-27's made...



Note the stock panels.

 

[Art Doc]

You seem obsessed about the stocks. The ones on the gun are quite possibly identical to the originals and there's likely no way to know for sure if yours came with the early "sharp shoulder" or the later rounded type as your revolver falls in the transition period. Really, nobody is going to say anything about it. Let it go.

 

[jjbrewst1]

I own S 97502 March 1953., Per Roy Jinks. Stocks number to gun and they are NOT high horn Diamond Magnas. FYI.