used Spoon buying and pricing question
 

I'm looking for a S&W model 27 that's got a 6" barrel. Ultimately, I'd like it to be nickle plated. I have a nostalgic reason for wanting a nickle 6" barreled S&W model 27, so I'm not really interested in anything else (a model 28 would probably do, but I don't want a 686 or another make). I'm not looking for a show gun, I would take it to the range and shoot it.

So, what advise would you give me for buying such a gun since it's probably going to be 30-40 years old?

What do you think would be a good price for such a gun?

Blued seems to be more common, is there a reason why I should or should not purchase a blued gun and get it plated? What should a decent nickle plating cost on something like that.

Collector's Firearms here in Houston had one for at least a year and a half that I used to peruse on their website, but sadly, earlier this year it must have sold because it's no longer on their site. They had it on their site at $800.

There's currently one advertised in my area. The guy says he had it appraised at a gun show for $1200, but needs money to get his car worked on so he wants $950. He doesn't have a box or paperwork and the gun has contoured wood grips that I assume aren't original. I'd like the standard style checkered wood grips. How hard would it be to get a set of the original style grips and what would that cost me? I don't think I'd offer him near what he's asking. There are several blued models that I could get, but again, I really want nickle.

What I want is something that looks like this.

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/q...wazy/nib27.jpg

check auction arms and gunbroker

Getting proper grips will be the easier part. Good luck with your quest.

"I'm not looking for a show gun"

Since you put it that way, would you consider a 4"? Missing a side plate screw, haven't been able to locate one in nickel (I should ping David). But it's no $900 gun.
Jim

You lookin' to become a pimp :)? I've owned a "blued twin brother" for over 30 years (first handgun purchase), and also a 629. Just curious as to what the prices blue ones are bringing (not that I'm selling)...paging Tabs (edited...or Jim).

ps: Although mine is still mint conditioni, dumba$$ me can't remember where I put the wooden presentation box and packaging :(

Smith model 27
 

There is a nickel plated Smith & Wesson model 27-2 with the 8 1/2" barrel currently up for auction on the Gunauction.com site. It has the original grips, box and other accessories. The auction number is 11274838. The auction has about 4 days left to run. Current bid is about $350. Looks to be a clean, lightly used revolver. Being a Model 27-2 it is likely from the early 70s. Good luck!

It only qualifies as a pimp gun if it has pearl grips! With wood, ivory or stag grips a nickel plated gun is socially acceptable!

My dad was a cop when I was born. He went back into the Navy shortly thereafter. From his cop days he had a S&W, 6" barrel, nickled plated gun. He had always talked about it would be mine one day. As a kid, I always thought that it was the coolest gun. When I was 12 or 13 our house was robbed. He had 2 handguns in the house, a 9mm Beretta semi-auto and the magnum. The thieves got the magnum but not the Beretta. I'd really like a gun exactly like the one he had even if it's not the gun. So it's got to be a 6" barrel, not 4", not 8 3/8".

I've seen prices on various sites showing anywhere from $450-1000.

4- screw 95% nickel shows $700 on blue book.

That sounds pretty good.

I'm surprised. I thought there were more wheel gun folks on the board that would have more info on some of my other questions.

Just to kept the thread tickern over here is a 28-3. It shoots well in single action but is horrible in double action. It looks like new and cost about USD$500.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1345179167.jpg

Bill, nice looking gun. I like the more understated, less glossy finish on that one to some of the blued models that I've seen, and the grips look really nice.

Thanks Steve. Highway Patrolman. They were manufactured for issue to cops, so came in a cardboard box and not finished to a shine like a model 27. The grips are nice. Tabs knew I had an N-frame S&W and sent me a spare pair of grips he had. The origional grips looked something like the ones on the gun at the start of the thread.

Good luck... You'll find one. I have a blue model 28 Highway Patrol...I'll never part w/ it.

there are some out there, I'm just trying to make sure that I get the right one when I do, and I don't get screwed.

I stand corrected :)....

When a reporter asks him about his "pearl-handled revolvers", Patton quickly retorts "They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would ...


That's interesting to me...I don't recall ever seeing a LEO with a nickle plated one, and as I recall from long ago, LEOs around here seemed to carry the M19s (lighter K frame), and not the M27s.

I really like that loolk too!!!

Good luck with your quest...

My mother told me that it was originally blued, but he got it nickle plated. I suppose I can't be certain that it was a model 27/28. It could have been a 19. I'm not certain.

Any speedloaders left from the gun? Would give away which frame.
Jim