Pre-27 3.5" Nickel check

[LLOYD17]

Good evening,

I'm looking for a sanity check on a nickel Pre-27 3.5" I found. It's factory nickel with N's in all the right places. The correct parts are blued. The finish is nice with some corrosion where the front sight and barrel meet and a couple other small dings. Some end play at lock-up. The biggest other is the ejector rod gets caught up on cylinder release. If I pull back slightly on the cylinder it releases but otherwise gets caught. The rod wasn't noticeably bent and there is some end play. Rubber grips and no accessories. Bore is perfect other than some lead and otherwise not much evidence of being shot much.

The wife would not approve without some balancing so I'm considering unloading some older modified N Frames to accommodate.

Is it worth trying to sell a couple and throw $900 on the Pre-27?

 

[BillyMagg]

Good evening,

I'm looking for a sanity check on a nickel Pre-27 3.5" I found. It's factory nickel with N's in all the right places. The correct parts are blued. The finish is nice with some corrosion where the front sight and barrel meet and a couple other small dings. Some end play at lock-up. The biggest other is the ejector rod gets caught up on cylinder release. If I pull back slightly on the cylinder it releases but otherwise gets caught. The rod wasn't noticeably bent and there is some end play. Rubber grips and no accessories. Bore is perfect other than some lead and otherwise not much evidence of being shot much.

The wife would not approve without some balancing so I'm considering unloading some older modified N Frames to accommodate.

Is it worth trying to sell a couple and throw $900 on the Pre-27?

you bet your sweet bippie it is,,,,those Nickle pre-27s particularly in the 3.5 inch barrel are fairly rare, of course you will need a knowledgeable safetycheck and tune to resolve those little issues, and you need a set of diamond magna's LOL. I have that same little corrosion deal between the barrel and the front sight myself, disappointing, but not a deal breaker, and those are arguably as nice as any Smith and Wesson's you will ever find when tuned/adjusted properly.

I am of course assuming that neither of the salable guns are Reg Revolver's LOL, which I would love to have, but the pre-27s heck pre anything are some of the most beautiful, mechanically sweet, well fitted weapons you will ever find?? I made a big mistake and traded my first pre-27 on a brand new Merkel shotgun, I won't do that again, that Smith was jewelry, and yeah the Merkel is nice, but its not a pre-27?

 

[alwslate]

You'll get differing opinions on this naturally, based on the responder's
own biases. But in the condition you describe and with rubber grips I
wouldn't go $900 for it. If you really want it despite the mechanical
issues I would tell you to offer less, significantly less and leave
yourself room to come back up a little if he is willing to negotiate. My
personal philosophy is to always try to buy what I really want but at
a price I consider at least fair. If I think something is overpriced I
won't buy it even if I can easily afford it. Obviously others have
different views. One point; I think the end play and ejector rod issues
you describe are inconsistant with your opinion that the gun hasn't
been shot much.

 

[Sebago Son]

The examples with the blued front sight base and ramp seem to bring a good deal more than those with a nickled front sight.





You didn't indicate the serial number range, but early guns need the first pattern post war magnas with the pronounced raised ridge along the top. These look like this...





These stocks are not easy to find and you can easily pay $200 for a decent pair.

If the gun were in good repair, with correct stocks and presented well you could probably ask for as much as $1200 around here... however if you subtract for the missing stocks and whatever mechanical issues it may have, $900 is probably a decent, but not spectacular retail number.

Drew

 

[LLOYD17]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. There's always good information to learn every day here.

Based on all that info I figure I can pass on this one and probably look for a Pre-27 for better value.

As for this one, if anyone is interested it's at Shooters's in Jacksonville with a tag of $999.99 that they said they could go $900 cash on. $22 to ship to an FFL in another state. Serial S1375XX, Packmayr's, blued front sight, small rust spot under the grips on the lower part of the side plate, the side plate screw there has some rust, and a couple other screws are a little buggered. If I remember correctly, frame marks are two N's on the left side and a 9 (or 6) as well as a D on the right side around the lower stock pin. The N in the shroud comes after the serial. And finally there is some light surface rust on a good amount of the hammer.

And my sale plan didn't involve RM's (wouldn't sell any if I had 'em), but rather a well customized post war Outdoorsman (chopped, reamed, action work) and one of my 44 HE 2nd's. Though the 38/44 could be seen as ruined, it actually covers the same niche as the Pre-27 would have.

 

[GLL]

Lloyd:

With the various problems I feel your decision to pass is correct.
If you eventually get rid of a 2nd Model .44 I would love to hear from you!

Here is my nickel pre-27. It was part of Mr. Stern's "catch & release" program !

Jerry

 

[Sebago Son]

Micheal Stern's "Catch and Release" Pre-27's

Jerry, so was one of mine!



Although at this point I can't remember which one!

 

[GLL]

Drew:

Many McNeil would have had all of those in a "wheel" !

Jerry

 

[32flyingk9]

Went in there today to have a look at it. Offered $850, and told it would be the sticker price of $999. Asked to take the rubber stocks off to inspect the grip frame, and told no, they won't do that. Promptly left with my money in my pocket.

 

[LLOYD17]

I wasn't regretting passing on this gun and feel even better about that decision now.