Smith & Wesson Model 27

About the Smith & Wesson Model 27

The Smith & Wesson Model 27, originally known as the Registered Magnum when introduced on April 8, 1935, is the first and most prestigious .357 Magnum revolver ever produced, representing the pinnacle of Smith & Wesson's craftsmanship and the birth of the magnum revolver concept. Developed in collaboration with legendary firearms authorities Elmer Keith and Phil Sharpe, the .357 Magnum cartridge and its purpose-built revolver were designed to push handgun ballistics beyond anything previously available, offering law enforcement officers superior stopping power and penetration against the increasingly well-armed criminals of the Prohibition era. The Registered Magnum was essentially a custom-order revolver, with each gun's specifications-including owner information, barrel length, finish, grips, sights, and other options-meticulously recorded in Smith & Wesson's factory ledgers and accompanied by a certificate of registration. Built on the robust N-frame platform with a 6-round cylinder, the Model 27 features adjustable target sights, hand-fitted action for exceptional smoothness, high-polish mirror blue finish (or nickel), pinned and recessed construction, checkered topstrap to reduce glare, and was available in barrel lengths from 3.5 to 8.375 inches. The revolver's superior fit and finish, combined with its historical significance as the original .357 Magnum, made it the most expensive production revolver in Smith & Wesson's line. In 1939, Smith & Wesson ended the custom Registered Magnum program and began producing a standardized version with fewer options, officially designated as the Model 27 in 1957 under the company's new numbering system.

The Model 27 was the first .357 Magnum revolver ever produced, creating an entirely new category of powerful handgun ammunition that would dominate law enforcement and hunting for decades. Elmer Keith, who helped develop the .357 Magnum, famously stated that the Registered Magnum represented 'the finest revolver ever made' in his era. The certificate of registration that accompanied each Registered Magnum is now worth almost as much as the gun itself to collectors, with authenticated registered examples commanding $3,000-$10,000 depending on configuration and condition.

Smith & Wesson Model 27 specifications

The Registered Magnum program ran from 1935 to 1939, with approximately 5,500 revolvers produced and individually registered. Each owner received a certificate of registration documenting their specific revolver's details. Despite being introduced during the Great Depression at a premium price-significantly more expensive than other revolvers-Smith & Wesson was backlogged with orders throughout the four-year Registered Magnum production run. Barrel lengths could be custom-ordered from 3.5 to 8.375 inches in half-inch increments, with 6.5 inches being the most popular for law enforcement and 8.375 inches for target shooting and hunting. Original Registered Magnums with their certificates are highly collectible, often commanding prices many times higher than standard Model 27 revolvers. The Model 27's high-polish blue finish requires more hand-fitting and polishing than the matte or satin finishes found on utility revolvers like the Model 28 Highway Patrolman. Modern Model 27 Classic revolvers continue to be produced in limited runs, typically featuring 4-inch or 6.5-inch barrels. The topstrap checkering, found on the Model 27 but omitted on the Model 28, reduces glare when aiming under bright conditions.