Pre- Model 27, pinned front sight

[Patches09]

I just acquired a nice pre-27 nickel revolver, 3 1/2 inch barrel, serial # S137xxx. It has a pinned and blued front sight.
I initially thought the sight had been a gunsmith modification, but after checking threads here, I see several other members have guns like mine. Was this a factory option, and how scarce are these guns?

I figured for $350, I din't have anything to lose regardless!
Any thoughts/input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[VM]

Welcome to the Forum!
To my knowledge, all pre 27 nickel guns have pinned, blue front sights.
Please post a picture as WE LIKE PICTURES!

 

[Iggy]

I figured for $350, I din't have anything to lose regardless!

Now there is a classic example of understatement.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[rbmac52]

Cheers for finding a treasure at such a favorable price. The 3-1/2" nickel Pre-27 is the gun that pops up in my mind when someone mentions anything Model 27. Yes, pictures please!

 

[Dave T]

The 357 Magnums all had pinned front sights and you will find more about them in the pre-1961 Forum just above this one.

Dave

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting a desirable S&W at a great price.
As stated above, we love pictures.

 

[fyimo]

Congratulations on the purchase

 

[H Richard]

If you got a 3 1/2" Pre 27 in "good" condition in nickle for $350 you didn't get a good deal, you got an outstanding deal. That hardly makes a downpayment on a lot of them I've seen lately.

 

[kennyb]

yup...what they said!

 

[CelticSire]

I figured for $350, I din't have anything to lose regardless!

Did you only buy half of it?

 

[29aholic]

Welcome to the Forum
All (hate to use the word) factory nickel post war Smiths had pinned on blue front sight up through the Model numbered guns until either the late 60's or early 70's. Doc44 can probably narrow it down better. The factory even did this for the most part if you sent a blue gun to be refinished to nickel. This actually step one of determining if the gun is factory. Step two is to look for an "N" stamp on the left side of the frame under the grips.

 

[gr8smiles]

Maybe for 350, he only bought the sight. Do you want to double your money? PM me. Great find.

 

[Patches09]

Hey guys, thanks for all the responses-I hoped the front sight was correct, but wanted to be sure. The gun is in about 95% condition and all matching except for the grips. I have a nice set of carved steerhead "ivorex" grips I put on to take care of that issue anyway. I don't know how to download pics on my computer, but wish I did so I could show off my new toy!

 

[MIKELUVR]

..A 95% pre model 27 for 350$ ?

 

[Patches09]

Well, I did a little horsetrading to get the gun-I gave the guy a $200 Ruger Old Army and $150 to get the gun. He kind of knew what he had, but wasn't up on values & didn't know how old it was...glad I did! Around here everybody is in to "modern" plastic guns, not "old" revolvers. What is the value these days on guns like this? I bought it to use as a carry piece while I'm in the fields, but now I wonder if maybe it's too valuable to carry.

 

[weatherby]

I'd say about 1,200

 

[Patches09]

It does have an "N" mark at the bottom left side of the frame under the left grip. Does this mean it was originally nickeled at the factory or re-nickeled and stamped "N"? The finish does appear original, and even has that nice light silver tarnished look in some areas.

 

[29aholic]

It does have an "N" mark at the bottom left side of the frame under the left grip. Does this mean it was originally nickeled at the factory or re-nickeled and stamped "N"? The finish does appear original, and even has that nice light silver tarnished look in some areas.

That would indicate it originally shipped as nickel.

 

[Hammerdown]

It does have an "N" mark at the bottom left side of the frame under the left grip. Does this mean it was originally nickeled at the factory or re-nickeled and stamped "N"? The finish does appear original, and even has that nice light silver tarnished look in some areas.

Hello Patches09
Pre-27's in Factory Nickel finish as scarse. It has been said then fewer than 10% of Pre-27's were made in Nickel finish but I feel there were fewer than that as you almost never see one out there. That said, I got this Pre-27 about Four years ago. I flitzed it and it brought back the original shinny Lustre, removing all minor scratches. Mine shipped in July 1955 with Target Hammer, Target Trigger and I Placed the correct vintage Coke Profile Target stocks on it. The 3-1/2" Barrel Nickel examples are Red Hot and an average price for one is Easily over a Grand these days. Hang onto that Pre-27 Nickel revolver there aint many of them out there and they come far less often than the Blued Pre-27's.... Here is mine and it will never leave my side it took me 10 Long Years to locate it...I do use it for Target Practice and Hunting as it rides in a factory S&W shoulder holster
Hammerdown

 

[Iggy]

At the price you paid for that pre-27 you can about afford to go out and buy a "shooter" 27 and still be ahead.