Pre model 27

[Bubbageorge]

I have a n frame 357 that was manufactured in 54/55 and carried by a CHP for decades, It has a very smooth action and locks up tight. There is a lot of holster wear but the finish is silk smooth to the hand. The serial # begins with S it has the checkered top along the sighting plane, I have been told that this is the only one with that feature, It is not a highway patrolman but the upgrad available at that time. I would like to know if the gun has any value due to its limited production, I am thinking of sending it to S&W to get it reblued etc. Any advice???

 

[gjamison]

What you have is a pre model 27. Please post pics.

 

[GLL]

Welcome to the Forum !
My advice is to post photos!

Jerry

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Generally, S&W does NOT work on pre model marked firearms, as they no longer have parts available in case something should break.

Also, rebluing reduces the value.

BTW, the standard .357 Magnum, that you own, came along first, starting in 1935. The Highway Patrolman was introduced in 1954 with less polishing and without the deluxe features, so as to put more power in a police officer's holster at a lesser cost.

You should retitle your post, as a pre Model 25 was chambered in .45 ACP, not .357 Magnum.

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes the 357 Reg Magnums, and pre war and post war pre Model 27s, and subsequent Model 27s is the only Smith model with that checkering treatment.

But they were not limited production and probably out number the HP pre and post model #28s by many thousands.

It would have to be pretty bad before I would discard its cosmetic provenance (especially since you know its history) with a refinish.

 

[Bubbageorge]

I do not know how to retitle my post I will post pics.

 

[Muley Gil]

I do not know how to retitle my post I will post pics.

Go to "Edit", then "Advanced".

 

[Dave T]

Please try to resist the knee-jerk reaction of nearly everyone who acquires an older gun to immediately have it re-finished. You will ruin it's collector value (and I'm not a collector), you will probably have more into it than it would be worth to those same collectors, and you will destroy the guns character (rightfully earned wear and blemishes) and not end up with the same quality of finish the gun originally had. Smith & Wesson just isn't as good at polishing and bluing as they once were.

YMMV,
Dave

 

[1943]

a little finish wear wont hurt

Hey Bubbageorge
I believe this is what you are speaking of, It is also 54-55 vintage, and I like this one as it is.

___________
~~~Terry~~~

 

[Marshal Tom]

Post pics before doing anything. Let us see what it looks like.

Tom

 

[Bubbageorge]

new photos

What is it???

 

[Dave T]

It's a "357 Magnum". What S&W called their top of the line revolver after they stopped making the "Registered Magnum". In 1957 they started using Model numbers and the 357 Magnum became the Model 27. You have what is commonly called a "pre-27" these days, although no one called them that back in the day for obvious reasons.

Dave

 

[RKmesa]

BubbaG:

Your original post asked what you should do with your pre-27. My recommendation is to shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it fully for what it was intended to do - fling lead down range. I have more than several handfulls of pre and post war 357s, many of which are in as new condition, BUT the ones that get the shooting "love" look an awful lot like yours (they also all get some fine tuning attention by a local smith who smooths out the double action trigger pull so that it feels like a warm knife slicing through hot butter).

Here is my favorite shooting partner (an 8.375" pre-27 with lots of holster wear):



Your gun is nice enough to be proud of, but used enough to shoot without hurting any value.

All the best,

 

[JP@AK]

Yes, the finish is a bit rough - but we'd call that "character." I agree with previous posters: don't make things worse by giving this a new blue finish. Rather, enjoy its remaining great qualities and shoot the heck out of it until there's no heck left (that will probably take more years than you have left to live). It should be a fine shooting revolver. The .357 Magnum was/is a great old gun.
Regards,
Jack