I'm accumulating a 5" Model 27 pretty soon

[akray]

I don't need it, but what difference does that make? A friend of mine who's a worse gun nut than me has a very nice 5" S&W Model 27 for sale because he's trying to raise money for a down payment. This one is blue, and it has a pair of Magna grips with the diamond around the screw. I'm not sure they're the original grips, but they are nice. I haven't even checked out the serial number yet, but it has a pinned barrel and a recessed cylinder. When I handled it earlier this summer the action felt really good too. On the con side, someone painted fingernail polish onto the front sight, but some Chemtool B12 should take care of that.

I'm mostly interested because it's got the Skeeter length barrel on it, and I guess I do need to have this revolver that's like what Skeeter had. I haven't even seen a 5" Model 27 for sale for the last several years. Last winter I jumped at a holster worn Model 28 for $350.00, and it went down the road only several weeks later. This one is in much better condition and only about half again as much which makes good sense to me. Sometime in the mid 90s I passed on a new in the box 6 1/2" nickel Model 27, in favor of a Model 29 that someone had cut down to 4". The work wasn't that good either, but I thought the caliber was more suitable for the needs I had in mind. I think that if I ever resell this one that it will be my fault and not something I can blame on the revolver.

[brionic]

Good call. I have a soft spot in my heart for the M27, and the 5" is my favorite.
Caliber, balance, and Skeeter aside (!) the topstrap checkering is about the classiest factory touch on any handgun I can think of.

[tas6691]

I have 2 5" 27's, I love the 5". I but bet you will as well. It is the best of both worlds to me, very portable and an adequate sight radius. Nevermind the fact that the 27 is probably the finest 357 made. Nice catch!

[akray]

My friend says he thinks the gun might even be a pre-27. I don't remember it being a 5 screw gun, but I didn't notice if it was a 4 screw either. I'll have to wait until I get it.

[dave]

I have long felt the 5" barrel is the best length, for both appearance and balance, on the N-frame S&W. I have several, one of which is a pre-M27 and I've even gone so far as to cut down a couple other N-frames to 5".

If you get this one I'd suggest holding on to it. They aren't made anymore, and will never be made as well as they were back in the 1950s (era of the pre-M27).

Dave

[robl]

Cool gun Ray! Don't let that one go. now that FA I sold you a few years ago...I miss it:-)

[akray]

Rob, I think this 5" will be a beaut. As for the FA, hehe..... Don't worry about that one because it's in good hands. Now if you ever turn up a short barrel one for trading fodder

[robl]

I know of a 6" deluxe 545 with back micartas 1600 though....
You could send the FA and the 5" 27:-)

[warhawk]

I have 4 and 6 inch Model 28-2's, I've had various Model 28's for a long time, and all of them have been great sixguns.

I recently picked up a 5 inch MOdel 27-2, my first Model 27. Just sent it to Alex Hamilton for a tune up, can't wait to get it back and try it out. I'm giving some serious thought to busting a wild hog with it this fall.

[akray]

I got the revolver last night, and it is a nice one. Someone had painted the front sight with pink nail polish, but 10 seconds with a can of spray on carburetor cleaner took care of that. It's got some little rub marks on it, but overall the appearance is nice. Very nice. The serial number puts it in the 1972-1974 time frame, so it's pinned and recessed. I took it out with some factory loads and it's a fun one to shoot. Single action is crisp and light and the double action pull is decent. There is a turn line around the cylinder from working the action. I like this 5" barrel length, even though being an N frame, it's still a big, heavy gun. I wore it in a belt holster while grilling some short ribs and I knew it was there. Fun to shoot though.