How to tell if a Smith & Wesson 27 is one of the nice ones?

[bushmaster1313]

I read that Smith & Wesson revolvers went down in quality after 1981.

How do I tell if a Model 27-2 is pre-1981?

Are all the 27-2's pre 1981?

Does it matter?

 

[GUNKWAZY]

27-3 was introduced in 1982.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[VA27]

Doesn't matter, as long as it doesn't have a key hole in the side.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Pinned barrel and recessed cylinder is what to look for. That said, my 27-3 is a great gun, despite not having those features, and I can't tell the difference between it and my 27-2 when shooting it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Pinned barrel and recessed cylinder

Please explain where and what to look for?

 

[rcmodel]

Read the Sticky right above your post:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356710

rc

 

[David E]

My initial response to this question is, "If you have to ask, then it's not one of the good ones."

 

[Litlman]

I have a 4 inch that is not P&R, forget what dash it is. Bult like a tank & a smoking blueing. There are 6 in ,5 in & 3.5 inch models & other variations. The S&W forum has lots of info. 3.5 inch seems to be the most desireable.

 

[SaxonPig]

The "Registered Magnum" (1935-1939), Pre-war Magnum (1939-1941), Post-war 357 (1948-1957), Model 27 (1958-1961), the 27-1 (1961-1962) and the 27-2 (1962-1981) are generally considered "the good ones." Note that some 27-2s made 1979-1981 (particularly the 4" versions) lack the pinned barrel and/or the recessed chambers as S&W started running out of these parts and began using the -3 parts.

On guns made before 1982 (with the exceptions noted above) there is a small pin securing the barrel. See photo below.




Also prior to 1982 the chambers on the Magnum calibers (357, 41 and 44) were counter-bored, or recessed. See below photo.




If you want a top flight N frame 357 then a Model 27-2 with either a 3.5" barrel or a 5" barrel is considered a good choice.