Ya or Nay

[steelslaver]

Pre model 27. 6 or 6 1/2" Sorry got this in wrong section.

Later model targets without diamonds.

Considerable blue missing, almost none one on one side of barrel.

Right about the rear of the front sight there is a faint bulge in barrel.

Fairly tight and passes all the function tests.

Shows more neglect than actual use.

$650 and I believe towards end of show I could get it for maybe $550-600.

I could trim the barrel and even re blue for a decent shooter 357.
I already have a really nice 5" 27-2 and several 28s in both 6 and 4 inch as well as a couple 19s. I could make a pinned and recessed 45 colt out of it, but already have a variety of 45 colts.

It is just setting there all forlorn. A grand old 5 screw Smith waiting for someone to restore it to glory. I already have to many guns.

 

[usm1rifle]

Nay unless you are really bored...

 

[Lonegle57]

I find myself in a similar scene as far as guns go. You have to ask self if you want to dive into the project, often for me it is the fun of restoring. Is the money available would be my first question, second what is it worth to you, third would try a low offer and see where it goes. You do have the advantage of being able to walk away and still have lots to shoot.

 

[muddocktor]

I don't see the value of restoring it to a 357 gun, but it might make a fun 44 Special project gun since you are full up on 45 colt guns. Or maybe a 45 ACP gun. Either would make some fun, solid shooters that you wouldn't feel bad about shooting the hell out of.

 

[Jack Flash]

I would say "yay" but it's your time and money. I just hate to see one neglected like that, but I'm not volunteering anything so easy for me to say.

 

[stu1ritter]

I would say "yay" but it's your time and your decision, but those pre-27's are such nice shooters.

Stu

 

[Engineer1911]

Pre model 27. 6 or 6 1/2" …. ... … .

I already have to many guns.

There is your answer from your own hand. According to your wife, "You don't need another project." I'll move on there is nothing to see here.

 

[2152hq]

Very desireable model to do a lot with. Those of us that see such guns as projects look past the problems and look at the possibilitys.

But there's no sense in over paying. I'd think $500 would be my max on that as a project gun.
I'd doubt it's going anywhere for much more than that. Shooters are quickly turned off by that damaged bore.
Orig diamond grips would be a plus as they can re-cop some of the initial cost if you sell them off. Not in this instance unfortunately.

But having it in hand to examine and what the local available stock of used revolvers is like,, that all comes into play too.
Trying to snag a project gun on-line can be an iffy thing. Paying shipping and related costs adds up.
Paying to return and then get your money back on a beat up barf-bag is no fun either.

Hope it works out for you.
..A 44-40 or 38-40 conversion is a nice alternative. Just something different,,not necessarily better than anything else.

I still have a pre-27 5" project gun I bought 6 or 7 yrs ago. Pretty nice except for the light pitting pattern on the right side from what looks like a wet holster.
I'll get to it. Along with the rest (I hope!)

 

[series guy]

Since you have the talent to bring it back to life I vote yay. And since you have an excess of .45s I'm thinking .41 Magnum.

 

[sodacan]

I wouldn't buy it at any price. Bulged barrel, finish challenged, and to say it shows neglect is a masterpiece of understatement. Yeah, $600 is real bargain---for the seller.

 

[alwslate]

Unless you can get it pretty cheap you will probably end up with more in
it than you could ever get out of it. And, after a lot of work.

 

[Waveski]

Nay. Nothing about that particular specimen justifies $600.

btw , an affirmative vote would be "yea".
YAY is what the seller would say if someone gave him $600 for that junker.

 

[colt_saa]

Hard to comment without seeing it, but those are the sort of guns I buy to have engraved

 

[gman51]

27's are desirable and bring some high dollars but beat up, finish all but gone with a bulged barrel is a no go even close to $600. That may be just my opinion considering I own a really nice model 28 that I not long ago paid just over $500 for.
The whole point in buying a 27 versus a 28 is the polished blued finish so I see no point in buying what you described. If you want a rather expensive project gun then go for it.
It's a shame the gun was used and badly abused but many guns don't spend their days as a safe queen.

 

[steelslaver]

Well you guys gave ma about a toss up. I went back and forth in my mind. Then I go to insulating my addition and lost track of time and when I checked it was almost 3pm and the show would be closed by the time I got there. So, I guess I made a choice by not caring enough.

 

[Jack Flash]

I can only state my personal experience on situations like this.

I say to myself "You either want it or you don't. If you don't want it enough to get off your rump and go get it, you don't really want it."

Hopefully, someone will come along to rescue and restore this poor waif.

 

[Kinman]

With your abilities it could have been a neat belly gun, I could see one of those cut and bobbed hammer, maybe even turned into a round-butt 5-screw .357 snubby, would have all the cool factor and even have some folks taking a second look. I know an N-framed belly gun kind of defeats the whole purpose but some folks like myself can hide a large frame snubby under a t-shirt, I'd like to see a snubbed .44 special 5-screw, I loved my old Charter Arms Bulldog. I have a 24-3 Lew Horton Special, I like it a lot.

 

[steelslaver]

I have seen this gun at the local show a couple times. It keeps dropping if I see it again I will hold out 5 bills and walk away either with or without. I have 2 shooter pre model 28s for projects anyway.
My dream gun is a 45 colt target triple lock. I have a junker triple lock. Modify a modern frame, tig weld the TL ejector housing to a modern barrel after trimming its off. A 27 frame would be a nice touch. I have lots of free labor.

 

[BigBill]

Sure sounds like a build to me, clean it up in 45 lc change the barrel to a 4”, get it nickeled.