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View Full Version : 5" Smith 27-2 "S" SN- Suggested Modifications?



NETim
02-08-2014, 02:43 PM
http://frontiernet.net/~netim/275.jpg

It followed me home from the gun show today. I think it will make a perfect project gun, what with the undesirable 5" barrel, the checkering and the hideous bluing.

I'm thinking about "Fitz'ing" it, i.e., get the barrel cut down to 2", cutting out the trigger guard and maybe getting it ported. Then maybe getting it Cerakoted in FDE. Maybe even get it drilled and tapped and put a RD on it.

I understand these old Smiths are a dime a dozen, so why not hack on this one?

Whaddya think?


:)

Previous owner(s) let it rust up here n' there and then tried to take that off but left some pitting and very little blue behind. But it's sound and I wanted a shooter 27, so I think I got one. What I really like about it, is that it doesn't have a target trigger on it!!!!!

He had an absolutely gorgeous 5" 27 there but I just don't know if I wanted to shoot that one.

Chuck Whitlock
02-08-2014, 03:21 PM
Whaddya think?

You should beat yourself about the head with it repeatedly. :p

Seriously, nice find! I'd love to hit a show, but working dayshift this weekend and have a 2 week roadtrip starting next weekend.

JHC
02-08-2014, 04:05 PM
PERFECT everything right there.

rsa-otc
02-08-2014, 04:36 PM
When I first read the thread title the first thing that came to mind was SACRILEGE. The only thing that a 27 should need is some fancy grips and maybe a trigger job.

For the record I believe a blued revolver has soul, anything else maybe functional but a good blue job is where it's at.

I wasn't aware that the 27 was all that common, Tam would know better. The model 28 is another story. The 27 & 28 Highway Patrolman were basically the same gun. Where the 27 had the upgraded lets call it "Presentation Grade" fit and finish which included some of Smith's best blue jobs, the 28 was a duty purpose gun with a more pedestrian finish & features. Since the 28 was a duty grade gun and one of the first .357's in the hands of LEO's there are a ton out there. I actually carried an old 28 the first two years I was working for the family Armored Car Company.

Since the previous owner committed the mortal sin of letting the gun rust till it was pitted it makes sense to apply another finish. Otherwise I would send it to a good bluing shop for some TLC.

Looks like a super find, have a ball.

Malamute
02-08-2014, 04:36 PM
Great pistol, I think you made the right choice.

Update us on the chop program. :D


A couple of my serious gun regrets was selling a 5" 27, a 6 1/2" 27, and a special order target sighted 38-44 outdoorsman (with the rear sight way low and finished right into the curve of the frame).

LSP972
02-08-2014, 05:11 PM
When I first read the thread title the first thing that came to mind was SACRILEGE. The only thing that a 27 should need is some fancy grips and maybe a trigger job.




That was chum in the water, intended to raise some blood pressure. Looks like no bites just yet…;)

.

JHC
02-08-2014, 05:13 PM
That was chum in the water, intended to raise some blood pressure. Looks like no bites just yet…;)

.

It was toooo outrageous. ;)

Timbonez
02-08-2014, 08:58 PM
The first paragraph had me, but when I read about the Fitzing I figured it out. I have 2 Model 28s w/4" and 6" barrels and a Model 27 w/6" barrel, but I think a 5" Model 27 is what I covet the most when it comes to firearms. That is a very nice revolver you have there, NETim.

JHC
02-08-2014, 09:28 PM
Too find a "beater" condition Model 27 . . . such are the things of which dreams are made. I'm always looking for a 4" Model 57 like that. Haven't seen one yet.

NETim
02-08-2014, 10:19 PM
Aw, you guys saw right through my clever ruse. :)

Sotex summed it up. I should be beaten with it if I attempted to modify this thing.

The cylinder in this beast probably weighs more than my 442.

Can't wait to take it to work on an unsuspecting plate rack.

will_1400
02-08-2014, 10:35 PM
Man... when Tam sees this trolling attempt...

Wheeler
02-09-2014, 06:22 PM
When I first read the thread title the first thing that came to mind was SACRILEGE. The only thing that a 27 should need is some fancy grips and maybe a trigger job.

For the record I believe a blued revolver has soul, anything else maybe functional but a good blue job is where it's at.

I wasn't aware that the 27 was all that common, Tam would know better. The model 28 is another story. The 27 & 28 Highway Patrolman were basically the same gun. Where the 27 had the upgraded lets call it "Presentation Grade" fit and finish which included some of Smith's best blue jobs, the 28 was a duty purpose gun with a more pedestrian finish & features. Since the 28 was a duty grade gun and one of the first .357's in the hands of LEO's there are a ton out there. I actually carried an old 28 the first two years I was working for the family Armored Car Company.

Since the previous owner committed the mortal sin of letting the gun rust till it was pitted it makes sense to apply another finish. Otherwise I would send it to a good bluing shop for some TLC.

Looks like a super find, have a ball.

Actually your facts are a little backwards. The 27 preceded the 28 in production. With the extra touches and high gloss bluing it exceeded the average cop's budget. The 28 was introduced with a matte blue finish and wasn't quite as refined. The Registered Magnum was the first .357 in the hands of LEO's as it was an evolution of the .38/.44 Outdoorsman which was purpose modified for the .38 Hi Velocity cartridges. Since there's always some yahoo who figured if it fit it should work and would stick it in his pre-model 10 and beat or blow the gun apart the .38 Hi Velocity case was lengthened and became the .357 Magnum. That's the Cliff Notes version anyways.

Dagga Boy
02-09-2014, 07:23 PM
I love that thing. My 3.5" 27 is one of the best looking revolvers ever made and I love mine. The "odd" inch barreled N frames have something special about them. They just "look" right. I have always liked the "3's" and "5's" better than the 4" and 6".

rsa-otc
02-09-2014, 07:27 PM
Wheeler

Reread my post. I never laid out a time line of when the models were introduced and I did not say the 28 was the first 357, but one of the first.

Cheers

Wheeler
02-10-2014, 12:38 AM
Wheeler

Reread my post. I never laid out a time line of when the models were introduced and I did not say the 28 was the first 357, but one of the first.

Cheers

I caught the part about one of the first, I just thought I'd throw out the info. What I meant having your facts backwards was the 27 wasn't upgraded as it preceded the 28. Sorry for the confusion.

NETim
02-10-2014, 04:19 AM
I love that thing. My 3.5" 27 is one of the best looking revolvers ever made and I love mine. The "odd" inch barreled N frames have something special about them. They just "look" right. I have always liked the "3's" and "5's" better than the 4" and 6".

The dealer had a gorgeous 3.5" gun as well. I've always liked how they project "business." As in, this gun means business.

ACP230
02-10-2014, 09:07 AM
I had a chance at a six-inch M27 some years ago.
Compared to today the price was quite cheap.
I was chasing M57s and M657s at the time so passed.
This thread has caused me to kick myself over that again.

Tamara
02-10-2014, 10:09 AM
I love that thing. My 3.5" 27 is one of the best looking revolvers ever made and I love mine. The "odd" inch barreled N frames have something special about them. They just "look" right. I have always liked the "3's" and "5's" better than the 4" and 6".

This forum still needs a "like" button. :cool:

Dagga Boy
02-10-2014, 01:18 PM
My dream revolver would be a pair of Bowen Custom model 28 3.5" perfectly converted to .45 Colt......One in flat black and using the un-fluted cylinder of the 25-9 of 1989 (I have the 5") to carry and a Turnbull finished one to look at in the gun cabinet. They are on the lottery winning list after the 1970 Pymouth Hemi Superbird for the garage and the Colt 1877 Bulldog for the living room.

HCM
02-10-2014, 01:36 PM
Five pages and no photos ? My poor i phone photo will have to do. Pre- Model 27 5" - Factory re-finished in 1956

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_15261.jpg

shooter220
02-10-2014, 02:06 PM
Five pages and no photos ? My poor i phone photo will have to do. Pre- Model 27 5" - Factory re-finished in 1956

http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr324/hcm3156/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_15261.jpg

As a fan of 5 inch revolvers, I would mug a Nun for that one. That is Purtee.

-shooter

Dagga Boy
02-10-2014, 02:48 PM
As a fan of 5 inch revolvers, I would mug a Nun for that one. That is Purtee.

-shooter

Careful with that. You might change your mind if you saw what my little crime suppression team did to the two gang bangers who did mug a couple of nuns...:mad:.

shooter220
02-10-2014, 10:04 PM
Careful with that. You might change your mind if you saw what my little crime suppression team did to the two gang bangers who did mug a couple of nuns...:mad:.

So what does one think they get by mugging someone who took a vow of poverty? Morons. I hope your team made sure justice prevailed!

-shooter

Dagga Boy
02-10-2014, 11:49 PM
So what does one think they get by mugging someone who took a vow of poverty? Morons. I hope your team made sure justice prevailed!

-shooter

The Lord placed a 4 man crime suppression bicycle unit of all SWAT officers in the path of escape as the 911 call came in. I think the fact that the main suspect fell in a manner that left his legs spread and a un-named 230 pound guy on a bike just couldn't stop as he hit the middle of the V of his legs at speed. All those tires and chain rings directed through one of Devils minions nut sack makes a heavenly sound. The sound of accidental justice via divine intervention;).

NETim
02-11-2014, 08:09 AM
The Lord placed a 4 man crime suppression bicycle unit of all SWAT officers in the path of escape as the 911 call came in. I think the fact that the main suspect fell in a manner that left his legs spread and a un-named 230 pound guy on a bike just couldn't stop as he hit the middle of the V of his legs at speed. All those tires and chain rings directed through one of Devils minions nut sack makes a heavenly sound. The sound of accidental justice via divine intervention;).

The Lord truly works in mysterious ways. heheheheheheh

tcRenegade
03-25-2014, 05:45 PM
You need Rehab, Detox, ECT. Those of us with rare 4" 27's don't desire 5" ones!

LHS
03-25-2014, 06:47 PM
I know a fellow with a 5" 29, and I have to agree, that's the perfect N-frame bbl length.

Malamute
03-25-2014, 07:12 PM
I know a fellow with a 5" 29, and I have to agree, that's the perfect N-frame bbl length.


I have a 6 1/2" 24 barrel I want to install on a 29 and have cut to 5". I think it would be a near perfect all around carry gun. I love the tapered barrels on the 27's and 24's. Have a 4" 24 that carries really nicely.

feudist
03-25-2014, 07:31 PM
Meh.

Lose the barrel and replace with a 2" model 10 barrel, sans sight.

Weld up the unnecessary rear sight.

Round the butt and Fitz the T-guard.

Replace the wood with rubber.

THEN ya got somethin'.











:cool:

feudist
03-25-2014, 07:35 PM
Okay, I ranoft.Did I get banned?

Dagga Boy
03-25-2014, 11:13 PM
Okay, I ranoft.Did I get banned?

No, but you should have been............;)

klewis
03-25-2014, 11:16 PM
Suggested modifications? Ya, add bullets and change location to "range".

Stephanie B
03-27-2014, 03:21 PM
I'm thinking about "Fitz'ing" it, i.e., get the barrel cut down to 2", cutting out the trigger guard and maybe getting it ported. Then maybe getting it Cerakoted in FDE. Maybe even get it drilled and tapped and put a RD on it.

I understand these old Smiths are a dime a dozen, so why not hack on this one?

Whaddya think?

I'm thinking you may want to also grind off the front sight. That way, it'll hurt a lot less to pull it back out once a S&W collector catches up to you.

:D

Rich
03-27-2014, 03:38 PM
I love that thing. My 3.5" 27 is one of the best looking revolvers ever made and I love mine. The "odd" inch barreled N frames have something special about them. They just "look" right. I have always liked the "3's" and "5's" better than the 4" and 6".

For CCW I like the 3inch barrel the best of all.
For showing off I do like the 6inch barrel but that's all its good for. that and hunting .

Lost River
04-03-2014, 06:38 PM
Personally I think 5" N frames are the PERFECT length. ( have 3 5" Model 29s)

If it was mine, I would have it rebored to .44 mag and do a nice deep blueing.

It would essentially be a 5" "Mountain Gun".

That would make it one that I would take to my grave.

HCM
04-03-2014, 07:03 PM
Personally I think 5" N frames are the PERFECT length. ( have 3 5" Model 29s)

If it was mine, I would have it rebored to .44 mag and do a nice deep blueing.

It would essentially be a 5" "Mountain Gun".

That would make it one that I would take to my grave.

Are all three factory 5" or were any cut down ?

Lost River
04-03-2014, 08:28 PM
Two are factory.

One is a 29 Classic, One a Classic DX.

The third and my favorite is a 29-2 that started life as an 8 & 3/8ths" version. I sent it off to SDM fabricating. The barrel was shortened to 5"s anad a "Classic" style interchangeable front sight system was installed. The trigger was smoothed and narrowed and an action job done. It is by far the most awesome Model 29 I have owned, and my idea of the perfect outdoorsman's sidearm.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/P1000377_zps80c1047b.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/P1000377_zps80c1047b.jpg.html)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/FiveInchNframes.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/FiveInchNframes.jpg.html)

Lost River
04-03-2014, 08:32 PM
Here are a few pics from last summer, ringing steel and busting rocks at extended ranges (out to 500 yards)

This one is off the porch of the cabin and the steel target is only a shade over a hundred yards:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/Porch1_zps8b8d2e94.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/Porch1_zps8b8d2e94.jpg.html)

Here is one from out on the Pahsimeroi, out where Elmer Keith used to hunt jacks a lot. It is a short drive from my cabin.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b109/IV_Troop/P1000373_zps60c7c792.jpg (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/IV_Troop/media/P1000373_zps60c7c792.jpg.html)


I should probably start another thread though, so as not to completely hijack the original topic and out of respect to the OP.

Dagga Boy
04-10-2014, 02:40 PM
While working on a new article, I got the 3.5" Model 27-2 out of the safe.........it's confirmed, they are amazingly special things that will actually speak to you. I also found a HK P30 that I forgot about...........there is just no comparison.

LHS
04-10-2014, 02:50 PM
While working on a new article, I got the 3.5" Model 27-2 out of the safe.........it's confirmed, they are amazingly special things that will actually speak to you. I also found a HK P30 that I forgot about...........there is just no comparison.

Nyeti, the Smith Whisperer...

Dagga Boy
04-10-2014, 03:04 PM
Nyeti, the Smith Whisperer...

I just can't seem to talk to the ones with locks. Pinned and recessed deep blued guns, on the other hand, come in loud and clear.

Malamute
04-10-2014, 05:54 PM
^^ Roger that.

JHC
04-11-2014, 07:23 AM
^^ Roger Roger.

Last weekend I tripped into a four screw four inch Model 28 no dash dating to 1960. A little nice holster wear. Tight has hell in lockup. Decent price for round heyah nowadays so what the heck. How many more chances am I gonna get for one? I shoot Glock 9mm for 90% at least of my volume and have a decent standardized battery of them. But the older Smiths can always hook me.