Value of a SW model 27

[big mo]

I have two SW 27s and I'm thinking about selling one of them. It's in 100% cond., fired less than 20 times. My uncle bought them new in 1977. I understand with it being a 3.5 inch barrel and made in 1977 which was the last year made, makes it even more valuable. Hoping you guys could help me price is jewel.

[glockster157]

Do you still have the box, paperwork, accessories, etc? this helps with the price. What dash series is that? Look inside the yoke on the frame.

[Luckyforward]

The Model 27 was carried by General George S. Patton, Jr. and he called it his "killing gun."

[big mo]

It's a 27-2. I wish had the box and goods but I don't.

[Luckyforward]

As a very rough idea, the 2007 Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices lists:

New in Box -$ 400

Excellent - $325

Very Good - $300

Good - $250

Fair - $200

Poor - $150

[Guest grimel]

As a very rough idea, the 2007 Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices lists:

New in Box -$ 400

Excellent - $325

Very Good - $300

Good - $250

Fair - $200

Poor - $150

Those numbers aren't even close. Check gunbroker. Blue N frames are going up every day for good looking guns. With just a 100% verbal description I'd give him $500 for a 3.5" M27.

I'm gonna have to smack the guy who got me looking at N frames again.

[Guest pherman926]

I agree with grimel. In the condition as described $500 would be a real good deal. I had a model 27 with the 3.5 barrel and loved it. Lost it when my house burned down.If you decide to sell it let me know, I'd love to be able to replace the one I lost.

[DMark]

SOLD! I'll Take It.

That is if your 27-2 is for sale and it has the 3.5 inch barrel. A 3.5 inch will complete my S&W Model 27 collection. I am a serious buyer with cash in hand. Tell me what you want for it.

Email coming your way.

PS. I just re-read all of the post and noted that grimel did make a offer. I will defer if big mo takes that offer.

Edited July 24, 2008 by DMark

[Guest Grout]

Don't sell it too cheap.A 3.5 inch 27 is rare and commands a premium price.Check around.

[Garufa]

Grimel quotes an excellent price. $500 is reasonable. Latest Blue Book puts in that range ($525). Sounds like Dmark needs it!

Believe it or not, according the the latest Blue Book the 3.5 and 5" ones are worth LESS than the 4 and 6" ones. I've been told by several over the years that a 5" 27 is the ulimate. I'm always on the lookout for one but they seem kinda rare, are ridiculously priced and I do not need one!

I've got a 6" model 28 bought at a pawn shop 10 or 12 years ago. Same thing just not as pretty. It's a big beast of a gun.

[Guest grimel]

SOLD! I'll Take It.

That is if your 27-2 is for sale and it has the 3.5 inch barrel. A 3.5 inch will complete my S&W Model 27 collection. I am a serious buyer with cash in hand. Tell me what you want for it.

Email coming your way.

PS. I just re-read all of the post and noted that grimel did make a offer. I will defer if big mo takes that offer.

I must have not been clear. I was saying sight unseen even knowing most of the time condition is over estimated IMO it is worth $500 for a 3.5" M27. If Mo wants to sell it, don't let me stand in your way! Get pictures and make a fair deal for both parties.

I'm starting my N frame collection with stainless 44's so I can shoot them with minimal damage to the value.

[Guest grimel]

Believe it or not, according the the latest Blue Book the 3.5 and 5" ones are worth LESS than the 4 and 6" ones. I've been told by several over the years that a 5" 27 is the ulimate. I'm always on the lookout for one but they seem kinda rare, are ridiculously priced and I do not need one!

The Blue Book isn't always "right". A lot of the differences are regional, and around here, 3.5" M27's are worth more than anything else. Must be the FBI connection.

[Guest bang-flash]

A buddy of mine paid $600 for a 5" at the franklin gun show earlier this year. Uber sweet gun.

[Garufa]

The Blue Book isn't always "right". A lot of the differences are regional, and around here, 3.5" M27's are worth more than anything else. Must be the FBI connection.

I know. Just quoting the book and every one is different. ET for some reason does command higher prices. At least that's my experience. I'm sometimes a cheap b@st@rd and hate paying more that I could somewhere else. Speaking in general terms here.

What's the FBI connection? Did they pack'em?

[Guest grimel]

I know. Just quoting the book and every one is different. ET for some reason does command higher prices. At least that's my experience. I'm sometimes a cheap b@st@rd and hate paying more that I could somewhere else. Speaking in general terms here.

What's the FBI connection? Did they pack'em?

Long time ago. Jelly Brice being one of the more famous FBI agents associated with the 3.5 S&W.

[DMark]

.... Sounds like Dmark needs it!

Just standing by for big mo to answer my PM & email.

Yea I really, really need that 3.5 to complete my 27 collection.

8 3/8

6 1/2

6

5

4

NEED a 3 1/2!!!!!!!

BTW - Funny but the 4 inch Model 27 is the lowest production barrel length. They only made it for two years.

Of course I'm only collecting P&R N Frames!

AND - - - I SHOOT Them!!!!!

Edited July 25, 2008 by DMark

[Guest gcrookston]

According to the Standard Catalog 3rd Ed. (2006):

ANIB: $750

Exc: $500

VG: $350

"...Slight permium for 3 1/2"..."

1979 was the last year of the 3.5" 27-2.

I saw one in KY this week ANIB being offered for $950.00, but being offered and being sold are two different animals.

[DMark]

.....I saw one in KY this week ANIB being offered for $950.00.....

Trust that wasn't in Gilbertsville, KY home of those A-Holes John & Matt of "Fugate Firearms."

BTW - big mo contacted me and we're talking. He is sending me some pictures of the 27-2.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Trust that wasn't in Gilbertsville, KY home of those A-Holes John & Matt of "Fugate Firearms."

Hmm. Bad dealings with them... or just regurgitating what others have said somewhere? Would like to hear more info, aside from just the "those A-Holes" comment.

I know them through a friend, and even purchased my wife's S&W 642 through them... since they're about 20 mins from my house. Good guys, both in dealings and in general. They seem pretty well respected in the surrounding area... and worked over at the Harrah's Casino in the upper management for years, before doing the firearms thing from home. Nothing but good things about them, there, as well.

Genuinely interested in hearing what they did to piss you off, as I (personally) would definitely do business with them again.

Edited July 26, 2008 by Verbal Kint

[Guest Valkyrie]

Trust that wasn't in Gilbertsville, KY home of those A-Holes John & Matt of "Fugate Firearms."

They were anything but a-holes when I met them. They gave me a good deal and they were extremely pleasant and professional. Made the process of buying my first gun a very enjoyable one.

[Guest Major Pain]

I don't know the guys personally and have never had any dealings with them good or bad. They seem to have some problems with some people on the S&W forum and The High Road forum. Like I say, none of my business just passing along the info I have. --MP

[Guest Verbal Kint]

Hmm. Will have to browse around over there and see what the deal is. Like I said, I have no horse in the race... just genuinely curious.

EDIT :

Looked around over on THR, since I was already a member there. Searching "fugate" yielded 19 results. Of those, only a few were complaining about them. And the entire basis of the complaints was that they (the Fugate brothers) were buying up all the guns, and then reselling them at a marked up value. People were getting butthurt due to this. Accusations were made that they spammed the members' PM boxes with wanting to buy their firearms, but that was the only justifiable compaint that I saw. People don't have to sell them their firearms. If they do, and the Fugates turn around and mark it up for resale, who are they to bitch? It's no longer their guns and they were paid the price they accepted.

Still waiting to see what is over on the S&W forums. Wasn't a member there, so waiting on Admin approval before I can start searching around. Something tells me it will yield the same results though. People whining over business ethics.

--

Again, I can only speak for my own business experience with them... but I was very pleased with it. The price was very reasonable, especially on a limited edition run 642 that can't be found anymore. Both brothers offered for me to come pick the gun up, at their house, since I was within 20 mins driving distance and didn't see a need for shipping -- something they totally didn't have to offer. Both of them were very professional and courteous when my wife and I were there, and very friendly. We probably stood there and BS'd for a good 45mins or more, even after the gun was purchased.

YMMV, but I would highly recommend them to anyone looking at one of their guns.

Edited July 26, 2008 by Verbal Kint

[Guest gcrookston]

Trust that wasn't in Gilbertsville, KY home of those A-Holes John & Matt of "Fugate Firearms."

BTW - big mo contacted me and we're talking. He is sending me some pictures of the 27-2.

No, this was in Frankfort. T

The Fugate brothers upset a lot of collectors because they snatch undervalued pieces off of for-sale sections of forums, GP and the like and then relist them at slightly above the market. Reports of guns being "corrected" and "restored" and then misrepresented have not been proven, but nevertheless continue to circulate. I've never delt with them.

My wayward 27-2 6" came back to me a few weeks ago... real beauty.

[musicman]

There is a different Fugate firearms store in TN. Those folks didn't do anything wrong and it's a bummer that they get confused with the KY Fugates. I am a member on the S&W forum and was spammed by them. I was also cussed out by them on the phone when I asked to be removed from their e-mail list. I guess they were having a bad day? Either way, I hold no love for Mike and John. They are scumbags in my book.

Oh, Verbal, when you get into the S&W forum the thread about the Fugates is a sticky in the Lounge section. I'm musicmanbass on that board. Have fun reading!

[Guest Verbal Kint]

To each their own I guess. You're entitled to your opinions and views based on your particular dealings with them.

The spamming thing is the only complaint I saw, that I could agree with. I hate spam.

The other complaints regarding pricing is subjective. If someone sells their guns to them, they accepted the price -- no matter how low they offered you. If they turn around and resell it for higher, so what? You have no grounds to bitch. And if you're just looking for a gun, and they're asking more than elsewhere... go elsewhere. Can't get it elswhere? Deal with it... or STFU and pay the price if you want the item so bad.

Being an ******* to someone is one thing. Spamming people is one thing. But bitching about pricing, that you have zero grounds to bitch about, is pointless.

Just my $0.02 whether it's worth that much or not.

I'll look for the thread on S&W that you mentioned.

EDIT:

Just read through the 28 page sticky over on the S&W forums... and now I'm not sure who I think is more petty... the Fugates or that moron moderator "Parabellum" over there.

Banning people for taking up for the Fugates... banning people for dealing with the Fugates... telling users to not even come back to the forums if they do buy from them. WTF? I can see prohibiting the discussion and promotion of their website/services (like we did here in regards to Eastside Guns) but going as far as to say they'll investigate someone... and if it turns out that they find out they have bought from them or sold to them, they'll ban their accounts??? Uh... okay, Hitler. Why not line them up and execute them while you're at it? That's one forum I won't be going back to.

I think gcrookston said it best with his post in regards to the Fugates. They're no different than any number of people that buy low, when they see a good deal, and resell them for higher prices. They're in it to make money. However, their violations of ethics (if guilty) is inexcusable.

Based on the number of complaints in regards to the Fugates spamming them with their services, I can only assume that is true. So they screwed the pooch, there, IMO. And the email replies, if accurate, came across as being jerks. However, there is no proof that the Fugates said any of the "emails" that were copy and pasted -- and I still find that hard to believe, based on previous dealings with them. If true, though, that is also very wrong of them.

However, I can't fault them for their buying practices. If they have the funds to snatch up $15k-20k worth of guns in volume, and then turn around and sell them to make profit... more power to them. I think 99% of the people that have issues with them are simply butthurt because of the prices. Sure they got spammed, and that would irritate me too, but they're just using that as another piece of wood to build the cross and crucify them.

Anyway... /rant off. Sorry that this thread got derailed (then again, most due on here). I just got curious as to what the complaints were, and went digging around. Figured I'd post what I found, and others can better evaluate whether they want to deal with them or not.

Please excuse the interruption.

Edited July 27, 2008 by Verbal Kint
typos, as usual