Rare gun… 27-2, 6.5” barrel, Nickel finish

[KSK]

Model 27-2, 6.5" barrel, Nickel finish, S/N S240748, shipped January 22nd 1964 to Rex Firearms, NY. I don't think many were made in this configuration. Does anyone else have one?

 

[cougar015]

Karl,
That's a great gun and based on the letter it's possibly a one of a kind. I recently purchased a nickel Model 27-2 and the barrel length is 6" with an actual measurement of 5 &7/8". Did you get the invoice along with the letter?

 

[Model29-26.5]

Wow. That is one for the books.
I would love a 6.5 in nickel.
I'll be keeping an eye out.

 

[RKmesa]

Karl:

Great gun!!! I do not recall seeing another nickel 6.5" 27-2. The closest I come is my very first purchased 27-2, a 6.5" shooter that left the factory blue, but slowly migrating to mostly silver, as the bluing is rubbed off over the years. It left the factory in Aug 1965, about a year and a half after your beauty.





Thanks for sharing your great collection with the rest of us!!!

 

[Retired W4]

Nice Ahrends' Richard!

 

[Truckman]

Dash it all!...

I would have taken bets that I have a 6 1/2" 27-2, but after a careful search of my safe I can only find this 27 no dash, and it's not even nickel...Now I have to rejoin the hunt......Ben

 

[KSK]

Karl,
That's a great gun and based on the letter it's possibly a one of a kind. I recently purchased a nickel Model 27-2 and the barrel length is 6" with an actual measurement of 5 &7/8". Did you get the invoice along with the letter?

Yes, I did receive a copy of the invoice with the letter. I have never seen another Nickel 6.5 in a -2 or -1 configuration. I have both a 5 screw and a 4 screw 27 in Nickel with a 6.5" barrel and have seen a few other pre model marked ones out there. Those are scarce guns as well.

 

[Retired W4]

Gopher Shooter Supply would get some cool guns every now and then. Seems like a bit of overkill though, shooting gophers with a .357 Magnum.

 

[cougar015]

I wonder if your gun was a special order or if they just had an extra 6.5" barrel laying around and decided to put it on a gun and ship it. I know from collecting the Model 39's that there are some guns that are considered transitional with Model 39 slides on a pre 39 frame. I have some L frame .357 magnums and have just recently taken an interest in the N frame Model 27's influenced by you, Rkmesa and Mokula. I just acquired this 6" nickel 27-2 and of course the first thing I did after reading your post was measure the barrel which is 6".

 

[Xfuzz]

Very nice nickel 27....
My 1956 6.5 inch.

 

[stansdds]

I wonder if your gun was a special order or if they just had an extra 6.5" barrel laying around and decided to put it on a gun and ship it.

Well, S&W was never known to waste parts, especially the expensive parts. I could see S&W having some leftover 6 1/2" barrels and assembling them into what would be a rare combination.

 

[Stirling]

Some beautiful M27s you gentlemen have there. I always preferred blue but the nickle sets the guns off very nicely.

 

[Retired W4]

Not 6 1/2", but a nice 6" 27-2. I have a nickel 6" also. Like Model29-26.5 you have me looking for one. With the 6 1/2" 27's being discontinued in 1967 it makes for slim pickens.

 

[murphydog]

Cool nickel gun.

There were a few 6.5" model 27-2s in the early N prefix era (50000-60000), but have only seen one in blue.

 

[KSK]

Not 6 1/2", but a nice 6" 27-2. I have a nickel 6" also.View attachment 782183 Like Model29-26.5 you have me looking for one. With the 6 1/2" 27's being discontinued in 1967 it makes for slim pickens.

That's a nice looking 6" gun in the case. Yes, the 6.5" barrel was dropped in 1967 per the available barrel lengths listed in the S&W catalog. However, the factory still shipped 27-2 revolvers using the remaining 6.5" barrels into the early 70's. Here is an early 70's blue one I have. S/N N34396.

 

[Model29-26.5]

I have a 27-2 6.5 in blue. Not nickel though.
I have never seen one in nickel before.
If they are out there then I will be on the lookout.

 

[toddimusnimski]

That's a nice looking 6" gun in the case. Yes, the 6.5" barrel was dropped in 1967 per the available barrel lengths listed in the S&W catalog. However, the factory still shipped 27-2 revolvers using the remaining 6.5" barrels into the early 70's. Here is an early 70's blue one I have. S/N N34396.

Wow, here's N34394! Listed as a 6" online but members here pointed out the true length when I posted it some years ago. Sorry for poor quality pic.

Todd

 

[KSK]

I have a 27-2 6.5 in blue. Not nickel though.
I have never seen one in nickel before.
If they are out there then I will be on the lookout.

Nice one! I like the red ramp front sight, same as on RKmesa's.

 

[KSK]

Wow, here's N34394! Listed as a 6" online but members here pointed out the true length when I posted it some years ago. Sorry for poor quality pic.

Todd

That's pretty neat, the S/N being just two digits away from mine. Nice gun!

 

[PauldL]

Yeah, i love the 6 & 1/2 27-2
Here's mine - i just bought her from Rainbow452 (Mike)
Mine is an early '70's early N Prefix as well