[surfinUSA]

Can anyone tell me approximately when this gun was manufactured. Its a 27-2, Serial #N506XX. Thanks

[RUT]

It would appear to be of 1972 vintage.

[P95Carry]

Not quite sure how the numbering goes . sequential I'd imagine. No doubt someone here will give you the heads up.

Outa interest .. My 5" M27-2, S/N ... #349xxx .......... has paperwork to suggest that when it was first purchased in early 1977 ....... it was close to the end of the production of the 5" . after which that was dropped and only the 4" and 6" carried on (maybe 3 1/2"? .... or longer also ...? 7 1/2") ... Tamara ..... info please???:)

[FPrice]

Does your M27-2 have an "N" prefix to the serial number?

You are correct that the serial number sequence is sequential, but most often several models shared a range of numbers making exact dating (from Supica and Nahas) difficult at best.

If you have a particularly interesting specimen you may want to send a history request to S&W and get some exact details.

[P95Carry]

FPrice .. oh yeah ... my bad ... there is of course the ''N'' prefix .... meant to put full designation.

So far with mine I have ''dated'' it according to purchase documentation .. assuming I guess that it wasn't un-bought inventory for that long. Mind you, my figures are ahead of those quoted by Surfin ... but then I don't as yet know his barrel length .. seems possible the S/N series might be different for each bbl length ... and thus one of the leading figures not necessarily predictably sequential.

As might be expected with a ''-2'' .... mine is pinned and recessed... just love that.

[surfinUSA]

Sorry, I should have included the barrel length. Its a 3.5 inch, P&R. Thanks

[FPrice]

If you are truly interested in older S&W revolvers I would strongly recommend that you purchase a copy of Supica and Nahas "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesoon Second Edition". It contains a wealth of information on S&W firearms and most of the S&W "experts" here seem to have a copy.

Your Model 27-2, S/N ... #N349xxx, dates to late '76 to early '77. According to S & N, S&W dropped the 5" barrel in 1979. Hard to tell how many more were made after yours. I think the 5" barrel makes an interesting option, just slightly more velocity and sight radius than the 4" but a little easier to carry than the 6".

I have a 3 1/2" pre-Model 27, found it for $200 about three years ago. Somewhere along the line someone had it parkerized which, with my love of military firearms is a plus to me.

[P95Carry]

FPrice ... thx for the further inf ... yeah, really should get a copy of ''Supica and Nahas '' .... better take a jump over to Amazon I think.

Aha ... so mine was not ''dead inventory'' for too long !! It was purchased I think in Jan 1977.. paperwork not immediately to hand.

I do have a particular love for the 5" .. seems sorta ''ideal'' proportions.:)

[Mike Irwin]

Don't go to Amazon.

Go to Overstock.com and save a bunch o money...

[P95Carry]

Thx for the suggestion Mike ... found I had already bookmarked that site but not actually checked it out. Must take a good look.

Hell!! You're burnin the midnight oil ... again!!:p