You live closer to one than you think buckbrush. I know where 3 5" and 1 3 1/2" Model 27 live...……..
Pictures of S&W M27 and M28 Post them Here!!!
- Thread starter bigi
- Start date
You live closer to one than you think buckbrush. I know where 3 5" and 1 3 1/2" Model 27 live...……..
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I generally store my guns with a light coating of fluid film, just wipe off before use.
Phil Roettinger's Non-Registered Magnum was the second last Pre-war .357 to leave the S&W plant in early 1942. It was presented to the then Lt. Roettinger, USMC and he carried it on the invasion of Guadalcanal and later Bouganville. When he died, he left it to me. We were good friends for 11 years and I saw him almost daily in my Ice Cream Store. Roettinger was the Station Chief of CIA/Latin America based out of Mexico City until 1973 and told me many informative stories about what went on back then. This photo of his revolver was taken shortly after it was left to me by Shannon Reece, a B.C. native who moved to San Miguel in the 1990's and loved photography, for an art exhibition she put on at the time detailing interesting "artifacts about town".
The 5 inch S&W NRM came engraved upon presentation directly from S&W.
After the war, but before the CIA, Roettinger had further engraving added denoting placenames of usage. During this period he was quite involved with Evaluators, but we never discussed that much except that he did mention it.
Photographed here on our 2019 visit to Mexico, the gun sits in a very secure safe in a very secure place awaiting my return. This revolver has been well written up in a couple of different places both here and on the Smith-Wesson Forum always under the name "The Penultimate Pre-Postwar Magnum is in Mexico". In 2011, at the Tulsa gun show, a former S&W employee told me during the S&W Collector's Association dinner (which I attended) that a well-known S&W Collector had included this revolver -- due to it's history and provenance -- in his "top-5 most coveted" list. Gratifying.
Sitting with Phil's gun right now -- or immediately closeby -- are two other gems from the Pre-War .357 period. Friend Ron's .357 is a 7 1/4 inch Reg. Mag. from around 1937 or 1938 I believe. I actually forget. I photographed it on the same day over the same newspaper as the two are sitting side-by-side in the safe. Mexico prohibits the .357 Cartridge for civilians so there is no way to register the guns. So they are hard to find and hard to transport but I always made it clear at Club functions that "If you know someone who has one, I will take it off their hands for a reasonable price." So usually for around 1,000.00 U.S., these come up. My intent at the time was to buy up Reg Mags and Non-Reg Magnums for around 1,000.00 US from inside Mexico and then "export them" into the U.S. using any number of "Diplomatic Passport" holders available to me for resale on gunbroker -- where they go for around 5 grand and up. However, I found than many of my close friends wanted one just for themselves, so friendship and common-sense won-out over financial greed and now I just "dig them up" for friends living inside Mexico. Relax, authority types, I won't be flooding the U.S. Market with lost-and-forgotten Pre-War Magnums anytime soon.
The Serial Number of Phil's is 62485 I believe. Ron's is much lower, of course.
I always like to get a photo or two of the neat guns just sitting on an equipal chair out on the back patio. I never had "wow" cameras, I just used whatever I had.
Another neat one is my friend Harold's 4 inch Reg. Mag. which I think is from 1938 also. I remember telling Lee Jarrett -- owner of the S&W Forum -- that although many aficianados rave about the action on these older Smiths, I was often disappointed with them compared to say a modern 627. Phil's is excellent, but he worked for a while at Evaluators, was a former U.S. National Shooting Champion and he had also worked at S&W during his CIA training. He knew how to make the action sweet. Harold's action was heavy. I think I put a 12 pound spring into it (keeping the original in a ziplock baggy for him) and it was suddenly almost decent. Ron's double-action was so-so, better than Harold's as I found it but no where near Phil's which is positively sweet.
Although we immediately remark any .357 (including Pythons, which are remarked as Diamondbacks) as .38 Specials so we can register and transport them we do not deface Pre-War .357's. Those are left "as is". So they don't get transported or shot much. Safe Queens (well, almost). There is a way to do it, but it's best not written down. Here's a shot of Harold's and mine from the reverse side.
On my last visit to San Miguel in 2020, I did not spend much time looking at my guns other than to assure myself they were being kept safe and rust-free. I quickly took a couple of photos of Phil's once again, however I included it with my Heavy Duty which is another of my personal favorites. I look forward to February when I hope to be back down there again and checking out these beauties. Hopefully about 6 months later we will be returning fulltime to live in the sun and I can get them back into a safe inside my own house so I can view them and enjoy them as I please.
Almost forgot this photo. A "First and the Last" photo, my 627 and Phil's .357 around the San Miguel/Queretero Combat Patch.
For anyone who is still unaware of the art, Mexican gunsmiths can remark any gun to duplicate the Serial Numbers and markings of any other gun. This 2.5 inch Python is one of my favorites. Unless you have a 2.5 inch Diamondback closeby to consult, it makes a believer out of you. And no, Billy, it's not mine. So calm yourself.
The 5 inch S&W NRM came engraved upon presentation directly from S&W.
After the war, but before the CIA, Roettinger had further engraving added denoting placenames of usage. During this period he was quite involved with Evaluators, but we never discussed that much except that he did mention it.
Photographed here on our 2019 visit to Mexico, the gun sits in a very secure safe in a very secure place awaiting my return. This revolver has been well written up in a couple of different places both here and on the Smith-Wesson Forum always under the name "The Penultimate Pre-Postwar Magnum is in Mexico". In 2011, at the Tulsa gun show, a former S&W employee told me during the S&W Collector's Association dinner (which I attended) that a well-known S&W Collector had included this revolver -- due to it's history and provenance -- in his "top-5 most coveted" list. Gratifying.
Sitting with Phil's gun right now -- or immediately closeby -- are two other gems from the Pre-War .357 period. Friend Ron's .357 is a 7 1/4 inch Reg. Mag. from around 1937 or 1938 I believe. I actually forget. I photographed it on the same day over the same newspaper as the two are sitting side-by-side in the safe. Mexico prohibits the .357 Cartridge for civilians so there is no way to register the guns. So they are hard to find and hard to transport but I always made it clear at Club functions that "If you know someone who has one, I will take it off their hands for a reasonable price." So usually for around 1,000.00 U.S., these come up. My intent at the time was to buy up Reg Mags and Non-Reg Magnums for around 1,000.00 US from inside Mexico and then "export them" into the U.S. using any number of "Diplomatic Passport" holders available to me for resale on gunbroker -- where they go for around 5 grand and up. However, I found than many of my close friends wanted one just for themselves, so friendship and common-sense won-out over financial greed and now I just "dig them up" for friends living inside Mexico. Relax, authority types, I won't be flooding the U.S. Market with lost-and-forgotten Pre-War Magnums anytime soon.
The Serial Number of Phil's is 62485 I believe. Ron's is much lower, of course.
I always like to get a photo or two of the neat guns just sitting on an equipal chair out on the back patio. I never had "wow" cameras, I just used whatever I had.
Another neat one is my friend Harold's 4 inch Reg. Mag. which I think is from 1938 also. I remember telling Lee Jarrett -- owner of the S&W Forum -- that although many aficianados rave about the action on these older Smiths, I was often disappointed with them compared to say a modern 627. Phil's is excellent, but he worked for a while at Evaluators, was a former U.S. National Shooting Champion and he had also worked at S&W during his CIA training. He knew how to make the action sweet. Harold's action was heavy. I think I put a 12 pound spring into it (keeping the original in a ziplock baggy for him) and it was suddenly almost decent. Ron's double-action was so-so, better than Harold's as I found it but no where near Phil's which is positively sweet.
Although we immediately remark any .357 (including Pythons, which are remarked as Diamondbacks) as .38 Specials so we can register and transport them we do not deface Pre-War .357's. Those are left "as is". So they don't get transported or shot much. Safe Queens (well, almost). There is a way to do it, but it's best not written down. Here's a shot of Harold's and mine from the reverse side.
On my last visit to San Miguel in 2020, I did not spend much time looking at my guns other than to assure myself they were being kept safe and rust-free. I quickly took a couple of photos of Phil's once again, however I included it with my Heavy Duty which is another of my personal favorites. I look forward to February when I hope to be back down there again and checking out these beauties. Hopefully about 6 months later we will be returning fulltime to live in the sun and I can get them back into a safe inside my own house so I can view them and enjoy them as I please.
Almost forgot this photo. A "First and the Last" photo, my 627 and Phil's .357 around the San Miguel/Queretero Combat Patch.
For anyone who is still unaware of the art, Mexican gunsmiths can remark any gun to duplicate the Serial Numbers and markings of any other gun. This 2.5 inch Python is one of my favorites. Unless you have a 2.5 inch Diamondback closeby to consult, it makes a believer out of you. And no, Billy, it's not mine. So calm yourself.
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Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Sorry, no 27s, but I have this 29-3 with the barrel shortened to 5":
There is something "just right" about an N Frame with a 5" barrel.
Starting out in handguns and reloading years ago, early 70's, I wrote Keith on a few questions. In one letter I made arrangements to visit him at his home in Salmon Idaho. Spent the best part of a day there and it
stands as the most memorable point in my years of shooting and hunting. My avatar is a photo I took of him standing by my truck as I was preparing to head home. I did see him again a couple of years later where he was a special guest at a gun show and banquet in Kalispell Montana. Your mention of a S&W model 29-3 brought to mind a purchase I made a few years ago. A cased 4" 29-3 Elmer Keith Commemorative. Stands as the only safe Queen I have. The cylinder hasen't even been rotated.Oh, picked up another S&W treasure a few years back. A set of S&W factory ivory magna grips. First set I've ever seen and I believe they were originally on a 5" nickel 27. They are now on the other 4" 29, my shooter, that I take to the range.
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It's very fortunate that you seized the opportunity to visit ' Elmer'. His wriitng and the inherent enthusiasm in it are the many reasons I have imitated his
picks of revolvers. My all round favourites were or still are in an immortal sense his picks as well: S&W Model 29-2 or variants, the Ruger Super Blackhawk
and a Colt SAA in 45 Colt with the 1929 era modifications that I had a Kansas Gunsmith Thompson make up for me in the 1970s.
I ' missed out' on the auction of all of Elmer Keith's revolvers and was simply amazed that Elmer's oh so well used daily carry gun the original Model 29 in
a 4 inch barrel with ivory grips went for what I saw as a pittance. At age 81 years these three are my last revolvers and if I had to pick just one it would
be a S&W Model 29 I had gunsmithed by Holman and Hickey on Dawes Road in Toronto. I had it modified according to Bill Jordan's specs..narrowed trigger
guard at the front, smoothed hammer and an extra debobbed hammer. This entire S&W Model 27-28-29 forum is a tribute to ' Elmer' who I first started
reading in True magazine in the 1950s. Lucky you to have spent a day with him!
picks of revolvers. My all round favourites were or still are in an immortal sense his picks as well: S&W Model 29-2 or variants, the Ruger Super Blackhawk
and a Colt SAA in 45 Colt with the 1929 era modifications that I had a Kansas Gunsmith Thompson make up for me in the 1970s.
I ' missed out' on the auction of all of Elmer Keith's revolvers and was simply amazed that Elmer's oh so well used daily carry gun the original Model 29 in
a 4 inch barrel with ivory grips went for what I saw as a pittance. At age 81 years these three are my last revolvers and if I had to pick just one it would
be a S&W Model 29 I had gunsmithed by Holman and Hickey on Dawes Road in Toronto. I had it modified according to Bill Jordan's specs..narrowed trigger
guard at the front, smoothed hammer and an extra debobbed hammer. This entire S&W Model 27-28-29 forum is a tribute to ' Elmer' who I first started
reading in True magazine in the 1950s. Lucky you to have spent a day with him!
. Eager to try them.
Reviving a great tread...
Nice magazine cover from the 80's...i was a subscriber back then but this issue stands out with a pair of M27s 4 inch. Production of these was much shorter than the classic 3 1/2 inch. I was fortunate enough at one point to have this pair in my inventory....Cheers !!
Nice magazine cover from the 80's...i was a subscriber back then but this issue stands out with a pair of M27s 4 inch. Production of these was much shorter than the classic 3 1/2 inch. I was fortunate enough at one point to have this pair in my inventory....Cheers !!
