used Spoon buying and pricing question

[masraum]

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.

[Jim Bremner]

check auction arms and gunbroker

[mossguy]

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

[Bill Douglas]

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961

[on2wheels52]

"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

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by masraum

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...

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

[fred cook]

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!

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by KC911

You lookin' to become a pimp ?

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!

[masraum]

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.

[dhoward]

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

[masraum]

That sounds pretty good.

[masraum]

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.

[Bill Douglas]

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.

[masraum]

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.

[Bill Douglas]

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.

[Hard-Deck]

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

[masraum]

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.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by fred cook

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!

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 ...

Originally Posted by masraum

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. .

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.

Originally Posted by masraum

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...

I really like that loolk too!!!

Good luck with your quest...

[masraum]

Quote de fred cook

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.
.

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.

[on2wheels52]

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