| Smith & Wesson Model 27 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson |
| Produced | 1935–present |
| Variants | Model 627 (stainless steel) |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length |
|
|
|
|
| Cartridge | |
| Action | Double-action |
| Feed system | Six-round cylinder |
| Sights | 3-dot, adjustable rear |
The Smith & Wesson (S&W) Model 27 is the original .357 Magnum revolver and was first produced in 1935; and is still being produced. The Model 27 was built on Smith and Wesson's carbon steel, large N-frame, was available at various times with 31⁄2", 4", 5", 6" or 83⁄8" barrel lengths and had adjustable sights.
When first introduced by Smith and Wesson in 1935 it was known as the .357 magnum 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 length 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 and 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 S&W stopped producing the Registered Magnum. It was replaced with the .357 Magnum. The .357 magnum was available with barrels 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 (the descendant of the Model 27) 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 31⁄2" barrel length was extremely popular with FBI agents in 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 31⁄2 inch barrel (along with his ivory handled Colt Peacemaker); Patton called the Model 27 his "killing gun."[1]
Smith & Wesson also built a series of medium K- and L-frame .357s; notably the Smith & Wesson Model 19, Smith & Wesson Model 66 and the Smith & Wesson Model 686. During the 1990s, S&W developed some J-frame .357s such as the Smith & Wesson Model 640.
A Model 27 variant that was introduced in the late 1990s is the eight-shot, stainless steel Smith & Wesson Model 627.