S&W Mod 27-2 ?

[joneb]

A friend of mine saw a S&W 27-2 with a 6" ish barrel at a pawn shop for $1,000, he said it had a black dull finish. I told him that I was only aware of the 27-2 being offered in blued and nickel finish.
I told him to call S&W about this and give them the serial #, as I suspect the gun was refinished but I'm no expert.
A little help would be appreciated.

 

[Rock185]

I can only say that I have owned at least two 27-2s, and an earlier 4-screw version, and have looked at a bunch more over the past 40+ years, but have yet to see one with a dull black factory finish. I realize one should never say never, because somebody will pop up who has seen or owned one So I'll just stick with "I have never seen one".

 

[Pat Riot]

I saw an ad in Guns Int’l, I believe, with a model 27 claimed to have been made in the late 80’s with a dull black finish and all the roll marks on the frame were filled in with white. I believe the 27-2 series was made until the late 80’s, but I cannot find my S&W books (wife packed them when we moved ) so I cannot verify.

I thought the gun I saw looked refinished.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Model 27 engineering changes:

Before 1957, produced as The 357 Magnum.

Model 27 (1957) Stamping of Model number.
27-1: (1960) Change extractor rod thread, right hand to left hand thread.
27-2: (1961) Cylinder stop changed, eliminate trigger guard screw.
1967: 6 1/2" barrel discontinued.
1968: Delete diamond grip.
1969: Change to "N" serial prefix.
1975: Target trigger, target hammer, Patridge front sight on 6" and 8 3/8" barrels, introduced with Goncalo Alves target stocks and case.
1979: 3 1/2" and 5" barrel discontinued, 4" introduced with red ramp and white outline rear sight.
1980: Target stocks standard.
27-3: (1982) Eliminate cylinder counterbore, and pinned barrel (27-3 made 1982 - plus 14 guns in 1999). Small change in cylinder length to 1.57".
1986: Discontinue nickel finish.
27-4: (1988) New yoke retention system/radius stud package/floating hand.
27-5: (1990) Larger stop notch in cylinder (27-5 reported made 1989 - 1992, plus 110 guns in 1997).
1992: Discontinue 4" and 8 3/8" barrel.
27-6: (1993) Hogue grips, drill and tap frame, change rear sight leaf, change extractor.
1994: Model 27 discontinued.
27-7: (2000) Performance Center version/8-shot, built on the new N frame, with floating firing pin and extended frame lug-Special.


As far as I know, the Model 27 was only ever offered with a high polish blue finish, or nickel plated.

 

[bangswitch]

A friend of mine saw a S&W 27-2 with a 6" ish barrel at a pawn shop for $1,000, he said it had a black dull finish. I told him that I was only aware of the 27-2 being offered in blued and nickel finish.
I told him to call S&W about this and give them the serial #, as I suspect the gun was refinished but I'm no expert.
A little help would be appreciated.

Did he actually handle it, or see the model # marking? If he only saw it in a display case, and the light was just right, could it have been a M28? The more dull finish doesn't reflect light quite the same way as the bright polished finish of the M27, and could have been mistaken for black.

 

[Eddietruett]

I'm betting it was a model 28-2. Same gun, just a different finish. I could easily have been a model 28 that was mistakenly stamped 27 at the factory. That is not uncommon. I sold a model 57 last year that was clearly a 41 magnum with some of the prettiest hi gloss blue I've ever seen and the frame was stamped model 28. Serial number confirmed it was a model 57.

 

[Reloadron]

My S&W Model 27-2 is a high polish blued finish while my 28-2 (stamped Highway Patrolman) on the barrel is a satin blued finish. Other than the finish the Models 27 & 28 differed in features offered. This old thread covers the differences. I have never seen a black dull finish on a S&W Model 27 unless the gun was refinished at some point.

Ron

 

[Master Blaster]

The 27 will have a checkered rib and top strap. They will be plain matte on a 28 no checkering.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

The 27 will have a checkered rib and top strap. They will be plain matte on a 28 no checkering.

Howdy again

There really is no mistaking a Model 27 and a Model 28, if one gets a chance to handle them.

This photo shows the top of a Model 28 at the top and a Model 27 at the bottom. As stated, the Model 27 has checkering on the top strap, the barrel rib, and even on the tang of the rear sight. These features are a carry over from the Registered Magnums, that were the fanciest revolvers S&W was making in the 1930s. Also, with the exception of the Model 28, almost all modern S&W revolvers have longitudinal grooves on the tang of the rear sight.






Another view of the top of a Model 27 at the bottom of this photo. Notice the checkering extends the length of the barrel rib and up onto the rear sight base. The revolver at the top of this photo is a Model 19-3. Notice the longitudinal grooves on the tang of the rear sight of the Model 19, typical of almost all S&W revolvers except the Model 28.






Regarding the finish of the Model 28. It is often described as being a matte finish. Clearly not as highly polished as the finish on most S&W revolvers, the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson lists the finish on a Model 28 as 'satin blue finish'. In fact, over the years the amount of polish on Model 28s varied. Sometimes it was almost a matte finish like a Victory Model, sometimes it was almost as highly polished as any other S&W revolver.



This is a photo of a Model 27 that left the factory in 1959.






A Model 28-2 that left the factory about 1964. Both photos were taken outdoors in the same spot. But they were taken on separate days, so the lighting is not exactly the same. This photo was taken in slightly stronger light, as evidenced by the shadow of the revolver. The photo of the Model 27 was taken on a cloudy day, so the light is more diffuse. Still, it can be seen that the finish of the Model 27 is more lustrous than the finish of the Model 28. However this Model 28 does not have a 'matte' finish. A matte finish means the finish is dull with no reflection at all. Clearly, this Model 28 has some luster, particularly on the cylinder. Also, notice the different front sights. The Model 27 has a Patridge front sight, the Model 28 has a Baughman Quick Draw front sight. The white paint filling the marking on the barrel of this Model 28 is not typical, it was done by a previous owner.