S&W 27-2 versus 686 Talo

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Lil Foo

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So I find myself wanting a nice 357 revolver... Really considered the Ruger GP100, but think I've settled on going with a S&W of some variation.

Being this will be my first revolver, thought I would reach out to you all for the pros & cons of each.

Right now, I can get my hands on an old 27-2 with a 4" barrel, blued or... There's a Talo 686 with a 3" barrel in stainless.

If it were you, which would you go for? What should these go for price wise (both are used).

What say you???

Thanks for your help!
Wayne
 
Depend. As a collector, I would choose the S&W 27-2. Otherwise, I would choose the S&W 686+ talo
 
I have a 686+ and a pre-27. They are totally different guns, IMO. One is a stainless tank with rubber grips, the other is a fine work of art with wood grips. I love them both - for what they are and they are different. The 686 I can pound on all day - and it will want more. The trigger is very good, the rubber grips are comfortable, and it is fairly heavy and balanced. The pre-27 has the best SA trigger I have seen on a revolver or pistol. The sights are adjustable, and I can tear one hole at 50' all day long. it points well and is very well balanced.
 
Thanks for the quick replies! Resounding call out for the 686+ Talo...
It is what I thought I had decided on when debating between it and the Ruger GP100. Then, I saw a 27 with a 4" barrel and it made me reconsider.

Sir_Macadoo said:
I have a 686+ and a pre-27. They are totally different guns, IMO. One is a stainless tank with rubber grips, the other is a fine work of art with wood grips. I love them both - for what they are and they are different. The 686 I can pound on all day - and it will want more. The trigger is very good, the rubber grips are comfortable, and it is fairly heavy and balanced. The pre-27 has the best SA trigger I have seen on a revolver or pistol. The sights are adjustable, and I can tear one hole at 50' all day long. it points well and is very well balanced.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the perspective... Makes me want the 27-2 :)
I think I'd have to find wood grips for it though... Pretty sure it now has rubber.

Hopefully, I'll go get to check them out side by side tomorrow.

Seeing as this will be my first revolver, let alone a used one... What should I look out for in a used revolver besides the condition of the barrel. And what should I expect as a fair price for either of them?

Thanks for the help!
Wayne
 
An old trick for checking revolvers, and if they've been messed with is to cock the hammer, and without putting finger on the trigger, push the hammer forward. It should not fall. If it does, someone has messed with the trigger. If they've done that, what else have they done? Move along.

ETA: goes without saying, unload the gun first. Don't want any after school specials made about you.
 
The 4" barrel length is the hardest to find of all the Model 27's produced (even more rare than the highly desired 3.5"). If you are talking about the one presently for sale at a local shop North of Boston, I would really look at it closely. It is actually a 6" revolver that has had the barrel swapped out and replaced with what looks to be an original 4" barrel. The 6" barrel is included with the original box. There is no documentation about who did the work (S&W or some dude in his basement).

It looks to be in nice condition and is probably worth the asking price for a really nice shooter with two barrels, but it is not a collectible in its current condition.

I hope this helps someone.
 
Thanks for the tips & tricks of what to look for in buying a used revolver... Very helpful!

samandglove1 said:
The 4" barrel length is the hardest to find of all the Model 27's produced (even more rare than the highly desired 3.5"). If you are talking about the one presently for sale at a local shop North of Boston, I would really look at it closely. It is actually a 6" revolver that has had the barrel swapped out and replaced with what looks to be an original 4" barrel. The 6" barrel is included with the original box. There is no documentation about who did the work (S&W or some dude in his basement).

It looks to be in nice condition and is probably worth the asking price for a really nice shooter with two barrels, but it is not a collectible in its current condition.

I hope this helps someone.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the inside scoop on the 27-2... Would have never thought to ask about or look for something like this. I do believe we're talking about the same one. Unfortunately, I was not able to get out there to look at them today... But now I know a little more for when I do!

Curious as to how you discovered the swapped barrel? And if it has the original barrel, why wouldn't it be considered collectable?

Thanks for all the help everybody!

.
 
If you are buying a used gun, especially a blued one, have the seller remove the grips so you can inspect the metal underneath. I've seen used guns that are in generally excellent condition and were well cared for, however, there was significant corrosion under the grips as the owner never removed them during cleaning. It's an easy surprise to avoid.
 
Lil Foo said:
Thanks for the tips & tricks of what to look for in buying a used revolver... Very helpful!



I appreciate the inside scoop on the 27-2... Would have never thought to ask about or look for something like this. I do believe we're talking about the same one. Unfortunately, I was not able to get out there to look at them today... But now I know a little more for when I do!

Curious as to how you discovered the swapped barrel? And if it has the original barrel, why wouldn't it be considered collectable?

Thanks for all the help everybody!

.
Click to expand...


The first thing that jumped out at me was the price. A 4" 27-2 in high condition with the original box should be priced higher. I have been buying and collecting S&W's for a long time and I tend to do more due diligence when the deal looks too good.

When I checked out the box, it was larger than the boxes 4" S&W's come with. Written on the side of the box is the correct serial number that connects the gun to the box, but the barrel length is stated to be 6". That was what confirmed the barrel swap, in addition to the original 6" barrel being wrapped up and tucked into the box.

I think it is still a very nice gun and whoever did the swap out looks to have done a good job. For a revolver of that age, if S&W had done the swap at the factory there would be service mark on the left side of the grip, underneath the stocks. I looked for it and it was not there.

Collectors want examples that are in original condition and have not been messed with. Even if you put the original 6" barrel back on some collectors (not all) would consider the gun to have been modified.

Don't get me wrong, I offered to buy it and would love to own it. But it would be a shooter to me, and I would only pay a lower price for it. YMMV
 
There is an outside chance that, if the job was done at S&W, that Roy Jinks might have access to factory paperwork showing that. But that is a slim chance at best.

The reason I think this is that I had him check on what I thought was a 1949 4" Combat Masterpiece. Turns out it left the factory as a 6" Target Masterpiece but was returned a year later to have the barrel cut to 4".

This would probably be more interesting and worthwhile to a collector than someone looking for a shooter.

samandglove1 said:
The 4" barrel length is the hardest to find of all the Model 27's produced (even more rare than the highly desired 3.5"). If you are talking about the one presently for sale at a local shop North of Boston, I would really look at it closely. It is actually a 6" revolver that has had the barrel swapped out and replaced with what looks to be an original 4" barrel. The 6" barrel is included with the original box. There is no documentation about who did the work (S&W or some dude in his basement).

It looks to be in nice condition and is probably worth the asking price for a really nice shooter with two barrels, but it is not a collectible in its current condition.

I hope this helps someone.
Click to expand...
 
the 27 is the Cadillac of the SW line with only it's predecessor the Registered Magnum more sought after for a .357 mag.

Many people dream of the day they can afford a Mod 27.

If this one is decent at good price, jump all over it or someone else will.

I have a 3.5 and a 5 incher and I always have my eye out for affordable other lengths to round out my collection.
 
I may sell my pre-27 blue 6.5", appears to be unfired with original box. Anyone seriously interested? (read: this wont be cheap)
 
So... I pulled the trigger on the 27-2. :)

Beautiful revolver to say the least!!

6y2egyva.jpg


Thanks for all the advice... I couldn't be happier!!

.
 
Good man, we knew you would make the right decision.

If you have the money, you should get it lettered by Roy Jinks.
 
FPrice said:
Good man, we knew you would make the right decision.

If you have the money, you should get it lettered by Roy Jinks.
Click to expand...

I was told that the barrel swap was done at S&W right after the original owner had purchased it. Two people at FS said they saw the old, manually typed work order from S&W when it was brought in on consignment... But it had since been misplaced. :(

Do you think Roy J would be able to find that in his archives? I do have FS looking for it, but don't have high hopes on that.

.
 
Lil Foo said:
I just re-read your post...
Forgive the noob question, but what does lettered by Roy mean?
Click to expand...

Roy Jinks was the S&W Historian. He has access to the production/shipping records and can tell you when a particular gun left the factory. Many S&W fans like to know when their guns were made, it adds something to the ownership.

For example I have a letter which documents that my 2" S&W M&P Pre-Model 10 was shipped the same month/year I was born. Makes it a bit special to me, we are the same age. Another letter told me that my 1949 4" Combat Masterpiece was acutally a 6" Target Masterpiece when it was shipped. It went back to the factory a year later to have the barrel shortened.

Roy "may" be able to document just when the OPs pistol had it's barrel changed which would add to the ownership.
 

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