Smith & Wesson Model 27-2 Revolver .357 Magnum 3.5″ Pinned & Recessed, 1962

SOLD FOR: $3,025.00

LSB#: LSB251014CA004 215

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: Model 27-2

Serial Number: S229126

Year of Manufacture: 1962 (Per Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, Supica & Nahas, 4th Edition) C&R

Caliber: .357 Magnum

Action Type: Double Action / Single Action, 6-Shot Swing-Out Cylinder

Barrel Length: 3.5” (Pinned)

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON.” The right side is marked “S.&W. .357 MAGNUM.” The right side of the frame bears the S&W trademark logo and “MADE IN U.S.A. / MARCAS REGISTRADAS / SMITH & WESSON / SPRINGFIELD, MASS.” The yoke cut is marked “MOD. 27-2” with the serial number “S229126” and stamped on the frame butt.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramp on a raised boss, and the rear sight is the micro-click adjustable square notch — a hallmark of Smith & Wesson’s mid-century target revolvers.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered Goncalo Alves target stocks with diamond escutcheons and the distinctive football cut behind the trigger guard. The grain and color are rich with minimal flattening to the checkering. The medallions are bright, and the grips fit tightly to the frame with only faint handling marks visible.

Type of Finish: Factory Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Finish Condition: The revolver retains about 98% of its original high-polish blue finish. There is a thin turn line on the cylinder consistent with light handling, but no deep scratches, pitting, or oxidation. The case color on the wide serrated target trigger and hammer remains vivid, and the top strap’s checkering is sharp.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This Model 27-2 shows minimal evidence of firing and remains a superb example of Smith & Wesson’s premium .357 Magnum revolver. The recessed cylinder, pinned barrel, and elegant blue finish represent the height of postwar S&W craftsmanship — a blend of performance and presentation that earned the Model 27 its place as the flagship of the N-frame line. The revolver comes in its original blue box with a wax paper wrap.

Mechanics: The action functions smoothly with tight lockup and correct timing. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Original S&W blue box with factory end label matching serial number, original wax paper, and inserts.

Our Assessment:
When Smith & Wesson introduced the .357 Magnum in 1935, it was unlike anything the American lawman or sportsman had ever seen. Built on the heavy N-frame, the revolver that would later become the Model 27 was hand-fitted and hand-polished to a deep luster that bordered on artistry. This 27-2, produced during the height of the “pinned and recessed” era, carries that same legacy — a revolver crafted not just to perform, but to impress.

The .357 Magnum cartridge, born from the Great Depression and the age of armored bandits, was developed by Elmer Keith and Phil Sharpe as the ultimate law-enforcement round. Its power, accuracy, and versatility made it a legend — capable of punching through car doors or harvesting game, equally at home in the hands of FBI agents, highway patrolmen, or outdoorsmen riding the backcountry.

Holding this revolver feels like gripping the authority of its era — the smell of Hoppe’s in the armory, the rasp of the checkered topstrap under the thumb, the reassuring heft of cold blued steel meant for men who trusted their lives to it. The 3.5″ barrel length strikes the perfect balance between duty practicality and target elegance, making it one of the most coveted variants among collectors today. This piece, preserved so beautifully in its original box, is more than just a revolver — it’s an emblem of American precision and pride at its zenith.

KF