[Specialized]

I just picked up a 27-2, 3.5" barreled revolver today and, not being a big revolver expert (it's this one and a 5" 629 DX Classic), I have a few questions for the learned minds here. I think I got a good deal, but I'm curious about a few things.

The gun looks totally new, but for a few very small (hard-to-find) blemishes in the bluing that could easily have resulted from time and "shop handling". There is no real drag line, unless you hold it in just the right light, and almost all of that rubs off with a felt cloth. The only other thing I can find on the gun that's not pristine is on one grip panel, which has what appears to be a very slight hairline crack that might actually turn out to be the wood grain (can't really tell, gotta get a stronger light!). The cylinder bores and barrel bore are pristine, the tolerances are well within spec, and it locks up tighter than a frog's poodywhap. The serial number is N33XXX, which I believe tells me it was made somewhere between 1970-1972 (can someone confirm that?); it has black adjustable rear sights and a black front blade, and is P'd and R'd. The gun was represented as "used", and did not come with box, tools, or papers.

Can someone give me some idea on 1) if my aging of the gun is in the ballpark, and 2) what a gun like this might be worth? I think I did okay, but would like to know with more certainty and don't have a gun values book at hand. I'm also curious to know what other questions or features I might have missed, and what else I might check up on. Any guidance or pointers you could provide would be much appreciated -- thanks!

[XavierBreath]

http://www.bayourovers.com/SmithWessonModel27-2Snub.jpg

I bought this Model 27-2 (http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/01/gun-show-day-two.html) at a gun show, in a private sale. The seller was wanting $400 and I almost let him walk away because he would not accept $350. I quickly realized my error and broke out four Frankies for the man.

What is the S&W Model 27-2 with a 3.5 inch barrel worth? Well, it's one of the finest Smith & Wessons ever crafted. You can pay over $1000 for a new Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver (http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=11101&langId=-1&productId=24451&tabselected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=15714), and it will not be this nice. Before I left that gun show I had offers over $700 for my new Smith. Prices on Smith & Wessons vary wildly according to which region of the country it is in. I have a feeling that in five years you will not find a pinned and recessed Smith for under $600. By that time, this revolver will sell for over a thousand.

I took mine home, put a cocobolo Hogue Monogrip on it, and it has become one of my favorite revolvers. If the same gun was manufactured today, it would be priced over two grand. Nothing else comes close. Period.

But in reality, a no BS value is what you can get for it today. Not what you hope to get, but what you can get in cash, today. If you have to have cash quick, you can quickly get $400 for it. If you can stand to wait, it could bring $500-700 depending on location.

FWIW, I think you are pretty close on dating it.

[Coltdriver]

I had a 27-2 like yours. I paid $400 for it. I sold it in less than one minute for $650.

You could easily get 650 to 750 for yours. They have become a sought after version of the 27. They are also as nice of a fit and finish as you will find on any revolver.

You can check with S&W and they will give you the born on date for your gun.

They are great for shooting full house .357 rounds from because they weigh so much that they soak up the recoil and make the round, even the very hot ones, very easy to handle.

[skeezix]

Congrats on your new 27-2. It sounds like you found a dandy, and one of the more desirable P & R 3-1/2 inch models.

I am no expert - I just traded for my first 27-2 yesterday, so I'm still in a learning process.

The Blue Book of Gun Values seems to be low on the value of older S & W's, so it's not of much use in determining marketplace selling prices. The Blue Book values my NIB 27-2 (1978 vintage) at about $450, but the actual selling price would probably be more like $800. I saw a gun similar to yours in a local gun shop a couple of months ago that sold for $715. $500 to $700 seems to be the selling price range for 95% to 99% guns.

For what it's worth, though, last year's BB value of your gun in 99% condition would be about $435. (Hope that makes you feel good.)

The age of your gun sounds in the ball park, based on the S/N of mine. If your gun is a blue finish, it will likely shine like a new dime if you polish it with Flitz metal polish. It is a mild abrasive, so you don't want to over-do it; just enough to get that invisible surface rust off. Then you can use it as a mirror. (Don't use the Flitz on the hammer or trigger - they are case color hardened steel and the Flitz will likely remove that case coloring - a no-no.)

Treat those grips nice. If they are the large "target" style and they are in great shape, they can be worth $50+. The smaller service "magna" style grips in pristine condition are worth $35+. If you have that crack, try to discreetly repair it from the inside.

The longer barreled 27s usually came with the wide "target" hammer and trigger. Most of the 3-1/2 inchers I've seen had the standard width hammer and trigger (better for holster carry). The target hammer and trigger don't necessarily add any value to a 27 - they were just options that were available.

Well, I've told more than I really know. You gonna post a picture for us to drool over???

Here's my newly acquired 5 inch nickel 27-2 with presentation case, unused tools, and all original papers:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=40196&stc=1&d=1148167808

[P95Carry]

Your gun dates it seems to 1975-1977. My 5" is N34XXXX and has a receipt showing it's original purchase in 1977 or so IIRC.

I paid $400 on mine - it was on consignment - and since then realized I did get an OK deal - that was three years ago. Chances are as the 5" is also one that was phased out - it'd be worth a good bit more now even tho it does have some drag lines - it is altogether a 95% plus - very close really to 98% and has the presentation box too.

I envy you the 3 1/2" - keep it, look after it and shoot it - it will never depreciate, unless Brady gets her way!

Oh and Xavier - notice yours in pic has thinner trigger and not the ''combat'' wider trigger.


http://www.acbsystems.com/boards/thr/cb_gun2/m27-2_s.jpg

[Kurac]

The 3.5" model 27 is in high demand right now, I paid $775 for mine a few months ago with original box and tools, I have seen them go for as high as $1,200. If you got it for less than $600 I would say you did real good.

It sound like you are pretty close on the serial number.

[Cocked & Locked]

The price varies, but they look, shoot, and feel like they are worth $1,000,000 at least...perhaps a little over :uhoh:

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/6259637/118281202.jpg

[Gordon]

C&L: Beautiful, looks perfectly set up! My kinda gun! Where can I get those 1,000,000 notes?:)

[CSA 357]

i dont know what you did , but you did good! *csa*:D

[ktd]

heheh, I know how much you paid for it, and you got a good deal. 27s have been going up in price so much (and 3.5s in particular) that I decided I would pick up the next reasonably priced 3.5 I saw. I managed to get a similar price on one with a chrome job so good, it looked like it was stainless. Seems like a decent going rate is about $600-$700 for a 3.5, and less than $500 is a really good deal. Even the 28s are going for prices that would have been hard to believe several years ago. S&W changing their styling, discontinuing various standards, and all the political junk have made the older models a commodity I guess. It gets to the point where just about any time I am offered an older smith at a reasonable price I feel like I have to buy it.

I guess they say on these n frame .357s that the added cylinder mass can cause faster wear on the hand and pawl, though I myself have "only" broken the hammer strut and worn a spacer washer on the crane (on a well used Bangor-Punta gun), and that was after a LOT of shooting.

[Hammerdown]

Hello
I had been watching for a 27 In Nickel finish with a 4" barrel or shorter for a while. I came across the one shown that had been fired 4 TIMES since bought new in 1980. I gave 400.00 for it and am very pleased with it. They continue to climb in price and to no surprise as this is one of the mst elegant S&W handguns to have ever been made. Hammer Down
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF6449.jpg

[CSA 357]

i have 2 5 inch 27s and a 4 workin on a 31/2 , keep your fingers crossed for me, *csa*;)