Pre 27 with butt swivel

[alaskavett]

Fellow Smith Hounds. Today I bought a nice, lightly carried and rarely fired Pre Model 27 5" with a factory "butt swivel" from a known and reputable man in Anchorage. Yes it has a factory letter from Roy stating shipped March 6, 1952 to J.L. Galef & Son Co, New York, N.Y. Letter does not say how many of these were factory equipped with the herein known "BS". Anyone else have one of these? Also who was J.L. Galef & Son in New York? Anyone know of that outfit and what they were up to in 1952? The gun has the beautiful rich blue of the '50's and has spent some time in a holster. All #'s match on this one. Ser # S839xx Will post photos when I can get one of my kids to show me how to do that (again)... Thanks in advance! Kyle

 

[jjbrewst1]

That is very neat. Pretty early one too. Congrats Kyle

 

[alaskavett]

Thanks Jim! This thing has got to have some history behind it. I do not know of another with a factory BS on it. I wish this gun could talk to me! Kyle

 

[chud333]

I owned this 3 1/2" pre-27 a couple years ago and it had what looked to be a factory BS. The swivel was perfectly aligned between the "S" and the rest of the serial number.



Chuck

 

[silver armadillo]

Just a very cool part of the 27 family. You are very fortunate on this one. Now you got me wanting one too so I must have one....to get closer to complete my 27 direction. Does this mean that S and W model 27s came in ALL barrel lengths with the rare Butt Swivel from the factory. Perhaps Mr. Roy Jinks or Dr. Bill Cross or someone else can shed some more light. Owning only 20 of them myself does not mean you get all the variables...... but my addiction is almost as bad as some of our other members. Thank you for showing that one for sure. You now give me lots to think about and to study.

 

[29aholic]

Didn't Chuck Odom (29-1) have one with a BS?

 

[poorjohnny]

"butt swivel" hahaaaahaa sorry it's friday

 

[410bore]

Didn't Chuck Odom (29-1) have one with a BS?

That is Chucks gun that Chud333 is referring to. I assume Chuck sold it to Chuck!

 

[JSW]

I've seen a few over the years. Apparently S&W was willing to accommodate the customer's requests if they could.

 

[MrTrolleyguy]

I owned this 3 1/2" pre-27 a couple years ago and it had what looked to be a factory BS. The swivel was perfectly aligned between the "S" and the rest of the serial number.

Chuck, Don't tell us you let it get away from you! Horrors.

Do you still have nightmares about it?

 

[wordsmith]

J. L Galef Co. was a major full-line NYC firearms / sporting goods distributor from the early 1900's until the mid-late 1950's or so. They largely succeeded the M.W. Robinson Co., and captured the same market, expanding it even further than the then-evolutionary Mr. Robinson.

In addition to S&W's they handled other known firearm brands from all over the world and were huge in ammo distribution - to include importing European-mfd. cartridges in U.S. calibers that were marked on the various boxes with the Galef company name as Importer and/ or Distributor.

Galef was the primary buyer of the unsold / unsaleable inventory S&W had on hand at the start of WW II. On one day in the Fall of 1940 and again, in in mid-late 1941, they purchased well-in-excess of 500 and 700 S&W's respectively -- most of which they sold into the British market as the UK was "arming up" in the early stages of the war.

The J. L. Galef Co. is just one more important and interesting part of the history of Smith & Wesson, as well as the American firearms trade in the 20th Century.

David

 

[Texas Star]

J. L Galef Co. was a major full-line NYC firearms / sporting goods distributor from the early 1900's until the mid-late 1950's or so. They largely succeeded the M.W. Robinson Co., and captured the same market, expanding it even further than the then-evolutionary Mr. Robinson.

In addition to S&W's they handled other known firearm brands from all over the world and were huge in ammo distribution - to include importing European-mfd. cartridges in U.S. calibers that were marked on the various boxes with the Galef company name as Importer and/ or Distributor.

Galef was the primary buyer of the unsold / unsaleable inventory S&W had on hand at the start of WW II. On one day in the Fall of 1940 and again, in in mid-late 1941, they purchased well-in-excess of 500 and 700 S&W's respectively -- most of which they sold into the British market as the UK was "arming up" in the early stages of the war.

The J. L. Galef Co. is just one more important and interesting part of the history of Smith & Wesson, as well as the American firearms trade in the 20th Century.

David

And they were the importer for Beretta for years. They may be best known for that.

 

[Art Doc]

I like it. Might prefer a round ring over the oval but I like lanyard rings. Add a touch of panache. Could be ordered for police use on any model but first 1950s 357 I have seen with one. With so many RMs going to cops I'm surprised we don't see more rings on them. Think I have seem 1 or 2.

 

[tlay]

Do you know that if you brought up in conversation to non-Smith people that you like square butt swivels I would think you would get some funny looks.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I owned this 3 1/2" pre-27 a couple years ago and it had what looked to be a factory BS. The swivel was perfectly aligned between the "S" and the rest of the serial number.



Chuck

I now own this Gun......

 

[Mike.45]

Lucky bugger !

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Here is a current photo of it reunited with its original Lawrence Leather Imperial Pistol Case(Thanks Fat Tom!)

 

[chud333]

Here is a current photo of it reunited with its original Lawrence Leather Imperial Pistol Case(Thanks Fat Tom!)

That looks nice with the stags on it. I bought this gun from
oldmacdonald--"member" here. It was purchased by him from
Chuck (29-1) and i foolishly sold it. Glad it's still with a member on here. This gun has been to Alaska as well if i remember right, so it's been around the block a few times.
A very interesting piece but the factory letter made no mention
of the butt swivel. Does'nt rule it out as coming from the
factory that way though.
I want to see a pic. of that 5 incher with the BS.....

Also glad to see you could get the Lawrence case pried away from Bobby.

Chuck

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Thanks Chuck,Since the Gun was shipped to a Police Chief in NY it makes me think the Butt Swivel is Factory.It may not be in the letter because the Factory did not charge them to add the BS.I was very excited to find the Lawrence Leather Pistol case in one of Bobby photos.This is the only one I have ever seen and they will not be separated again.

 

[5 screw]

That gun, case and grip combination sure is sweet. I can't think of anyone I know, let alone all of the fellows lurking here, that wouldn't be delighted to own it.