Pre 27 help

[scout II]

I have had this S&W pre 27 for a few years now and have never really looked at it. While looking it over last weekend I discovered that I think it has been reblued. It is not as shiny and a deep blue as my other two pre 27's, but does look like some of my other later guns like a 586 I have. The markings I thought look O.K. to me, maybe a little shallow maybe not, but I don't see that well anymore. It also has a rather strange front sight now that I look at it, what is it? It is a beautiful gun in about 98% plus condition and shoots great, but I am wondering if it is original or not? I might end up selling it so I need to know so I can price it right. What do you all think?

 

[Nightowl]

I have to agree with you. The front sight on a six inch gun is usually a Patridge sight. I don't think I have ever seen a front sight like that on a Smith of the era. There is a bit of a line in the side plate fit that is indicative of a reblue, and the cylinder appears to have a "soft" look to it, that just does not look right. The pin holding the front sight in has been buffed before bluing, which to me indicates that the front sight was replaced and the pin polished flat with the ramp and then the gun reblued. And, while it could just be the lighting in the photo, the color does not look like a Smith factory blue. Overall, it looks pretty good, though.

 

[JP@AK]

It seems like this one might have shipped with a Baughman front sight, but the blade has been changed out. The ramp looks correct, but not the blade.
I tend to agree about a reblue, but whoever did it, did a credible job. I've seen much worse.

 

[JSW]

I agree with the others, this gun appears to be refinished. They did a good job of it though.