Smith & Wesson Model 27
Smith & Wesson · Pistol · In Production · 1935
Also known as: Registered Magnum, .357 Magnum
Overview
The Smith & Wesson Model 27 is the first revolver chambered in .357 Magnum, introduced in 1935 as the 'Registered Magnum' on the large N-frame. It set the template for high-power magnum revolvers, combining a heavy frame with hand-fitted target-grade workmanship and a checkered topstrap. Renamed the Model 27 in 1957, it remained a flagship S&W revolver until production ceased in 1994; it was reintroduced as a 'Classic' model in 2008 and remains in current production.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1193 g (42.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 236 mm (9.29") |
| Barrel Length | 102 mm (4.02") |
| Action Type | Recoil Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 440 m/s (1444 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 784 J (578 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .357 Magnum · primary — also known as .357 Mag, .357 S&W Magnum, 9x33mmR
- .38 Special — also known as .38 Spl, .38 S&W Special, 9x29mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Swing Out Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Transfer Bar, Hammer Block
- Features: Adjustable Rear Sight, Checkered Topstrap, N Frame, Pinned Barrel, Recessed Cylinder
Variants
- S&W Model 27 Classic — Modern Reissue
- S&W Model 627 — Stainless Eight Shot
Service history
Operators
- Federal Bureau of Investigation · adopted 1935
- Kansas City Police Department
- United States Army (presentation pieces)
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Production years: 1935-1994, 2008-present
Initial pre-war Registered Magnum production was hand-fitted and limited to roughly 5,500 units; total production across all eras spans many decades but exact totals are not published.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Smith & Wesson team (with input from Phil Sharpe and Elmer Keith)
Notes
Originally serial-numbered Registered Magnums shipped with a registration certificate and could be ordered with custom barrel lengths from 3.5 to 8.75 inches. General George S. Patton famously carried an ivory-gripped Registered Magnum during WWII.
Background
When S&W president D.B. Wesson presented the very first Registered Magnum (#1) to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in April 1935, the gun's $60 price tag was nearly half the price of a new Ford car - yet customers lined up to order custom-fitted Magnums with engraved registration certificates.