Military Wiki
Military Wiki
Smith & Wesson Model 27
Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - S^W Pre 27 Six Inch (4)
Type Revolver
Place of origin United States
Production history
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Produced 1935–present
Variants Model 327 (scandium)
Model 627 (stainless steel)
Specifications
Barrel length
  • 4 in (102 mm)
  • 6 in (153 mm)
  • 838 in (214 mm)
  • 1058 in (270 mm)

  • Cartridge
  • .357 Magnum
  • .38 Special
  • Action Double-action
    Feed system Six-round cylinder
    Sights 3-dot, adjustable rear

    The Smith & Wesson Model 27 is the original .357 Magnum revolver and was first produced in 1935, and many versions of it are still in production today. The Model 27 was built on Smith & Wesson's carbon steel, large N-frame, and was available at various times with 312", 4", 5", 6" or 838" barrel lengths and had adjustable sights.

    History[]

    When first introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1935 it was known as the Registered Magnum. The model was essentially a custom order revolver. Barrel lengths could be had in quarter-inch increments from 3.5" to 8.75" in length. In addition to the different lengths of barrels available there were different grips, front sights, triggers, hammers, and finishes available. Each Registered Magnum came with a certificate of authenticity.

    Even though it was introduced in the middle of the Great Depression and was extremely expensive, Smith & Wesson found itself backlogged with orders for the four years that it produced the Registered Magnum. The Kansas City Police Department issued the Registered Magnum to its officers, and many other law enforcement officers across the United States carried the Registered Magnum. In 1939 Smith & Wesson stopped producing the Registered Magnum. It was replaced with the .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum was available with barrel lengths of 3.5", 5", 6.5" and 8.75". It has been reported that these were the most popular barrel lengths for the Registered Magnum. Essentially the .357 Magnum was still the Registered Magnum, but standardized for ease of production and economy. The Smith & Wesson Model 28 "Highway Patrolman" was introduced as a lower cost version of the Model 27 in 1954, stripped of some of the features of the Model 27, such as polishing.

    It was noted for its durability and reliability. The 312" barrel length was extremely popular with FBI agents from the 1940s through the 1960s. Skeeter Skelton considered the Model 27 with a 5" barrel as the best all around handgun. General George Patton carried an ivory handled Registered Magnum with a 312 inch barrel (along with his ivory handled Colt Peacemaker); Patton called the Model 27 his "killing gun."[1]

    Variants[]

    Smith & Wesson Model 27-2 6"
    Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - S^W 27 Nickel -->
    Type Revolver
    Place of origin United States
    Production history
    Manufacturer Smith & Wesson Performance Center
    Specifications
    Mass 37.6 oz
    Length 7.625 in
    Barrel length 2.625 in

    Cartridge .357 Magnum & .38 Special
    Action Double action
    Feed system 8-shot cylinder
    Sights Dovetail Red Ramp front sight
    Outline White rear sight

    The stainless steel Model 627 was introduced in 1989 as the "Model of 1989." It featured a 5½ inch barrel, a 6 shot unfluted cylinder, and had a round butt with S&W Combat stocks.

    In 1996 the Smith and Wesson Performance Center began production of an 8 shot 627. The revolver has a 2.625" barrel with no muzzle brake or ports. The cylinder is unfluted. The revolver is made of stainless steel, with a matte finish and wood grips.

    The Smith & Wesson Performance Center Snub Nose 627 is an eight-shot .357 Magnum revolver, best known as the gun from Clint Eastwood's action thriller film Blood Work.

    In 2008, the eight-shot, scandium-framed Smith & Wesson Model 327 was introduced. A variant of the 327, the 327NG, is part of the NightGuard line.

    References[]

    1. Province, Charles M. (1982-12-01). The unknown Patton. Hippocrene Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-88254-641-4. 
    • Taffin, John (1997). "Chapter 4 The .357 Magnum - The First Magnum". Big Bore Sixguns. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-502-7. 
    All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
    The original article can be found at Smith & Wesson Model 27 and the edit history here.