I’ve had a “thing” for Skeeter Skelton / Roper-style grips as once offered by the late Deacon Deason’s Bear Hug Grips and, following, by Tedd Adamovich of Blu-Magnum Grips. I blame the early articles of the likes of John Taffin and Sheriff Jim Wilson, among others, for this “affliction.”

With the passing of Mr. Adamovich not long ago, I felt I’d missed my shot at these particular grips short of finding some on the used market, where I knew the price would likely be quite steep.

Along the way, I’ve also developed an affinity for the S&W Model 27. Imagine my interest when an attractive specimen appeared on an auction site wearing what very suspiciously looked like a set of Bear Hug / Blu-Magnum stocks.

I was actually too chicken to ask the seller about the grips LOL - I was concerned it might drive the price higher haha…

The gun in question is a 27-3 variant, meaning it didn’t have the otherwise desirable “pinned and recessed” features. I’m sure this gun would have sold for more had it been a 27-2 or earlier variant.

As it was, I won it and was tickled to see upon receipt that, yes, in fact, the grips are Bear Hugs!

I’d originally thought I’d rotate these stocks amongst my other 27s, and I probably still will at some point. For now, though, they are right at-home on this one.

I’ve had this one to the range a good bit since…it is a fine shooter.

That is a fine looking specimen of a 27, and those grips look great!

Man that's a beauty, nice score! You certainly have a knack for finding the good stuff! My collection is still missing a large frame Smith...maybe someday .

He made a number for me several years ago. 25-5

I like the way you roll. Skeeter was also a big fan of the .44 Special S&W and as a result of his following (count me among them), S&W released a limited number of 4" and 6.5" Model 24-3 revolvers in the mid-1980's, of which I purchased one of the later. I had Master Gunsmith James Hoag trim the barrel down to 5" (Skeeter's favorite length), install a smooth "Combat" trigger, and hone the action. I obtained a set of Rosewood, "Bear Hug" stocks from Deacon Deason too and have kept this homage to Skeeter ever since.

quote:

Originally posted by 94hokie:
That is a fine looking specimen of a 27, and those grips look great!

Thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
Man that's a beauty, nice score! You certainly have a knack for finding the good stuff! My collection is still missing a large frame Smith...maybe someday .

Thank you, man - indeed, get in on some N-frame action!

quote:

Originally posted by cigardad:
He made a number for me several years ago. 25-5

That is a great-looking sixgun there!

quote:

Originally posted by pulicords:
I like the way you roll. Skeeter was also a big fan of the .44 Special S&W and as a result of his following (count me among them), S&W released a limited number of 4" and 6.5" Model 24-3 revolvers in the mid-1980's, of which I purchased one of the later. I had Master Gunsmith James Hoag trim the barrel down to 5" (Skeeter's favorite length), install a smooth "Combat" trigger, and hone the action. I obtained a set of Rosewood, "Bear Hug" stocks from Deacon Deason too and have kept this homage to Skeeter ever since.

Thank you! I’m confident in saying that’s the finest Model 24 I’ve seen to-date. The touches you had applied are simply perfect.

Methinks if I keep going this N-frame route, a .44 Special may have to happen in there somewhere!

I had a similar experience, also with a Model 27. This one a 27-2. While I prefer my N-frames calibers to start with a "4" it was really the stocks I was after on this one. I paid about the going rate for a 27-2 which means the stocks were almost free.



Adios,

Pizza Bob

If you want to share, what's the going rate for a nice 27-3 like that? I bought a really nice example of a 27-3 within the past 2 years or so and I think I gave $550 for it at the local shop.

quote:

Originally posted by Pizza Bob:
I had a similar experience, also with a Model 27. This one a 27-2. While I prefer my N-frames calibers to start with a "4" it was really the stocks I was after on this one. I paid about the going rate for a 27-2 which means the stocks were almost free.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

I see why you wanted that one - awesome gun AND stocks, wow!

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
If you want to share, what's the going rate for a nice 27-3 like that? I bought a really nice example of a 27-3 within the past 2 years or so and I think I gave $550 for it at the local shop.

Well, my caveat is that I’m no pro re: the market on these, and I honestly didn’t do a ton of comparative research when I nabbed this one. It sold for right around $900. Heck, maybe the seller darn well knew EXACTLY what grips he had, after all haha…

Based on what I’d paid in prior private sales for 27-2s and how things looked auction site-wise at the time, I felt good about the price. I’ve felt even better seeing how well this one shoots haha…

Model 27s are easy-shooting guns. And lovely to look at.

Mine is a pre-Model 27, and the grips are not the best for shooting, to be honest, but they are original. When I shoot it, I usually remove them, and use a pair of rubber Pachmayr Grippers I have.

I love looking at pictures of fine revolvers and you guys sure have some nice ones!

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Model 27s are easy-shooting guns. And lovely to look at.

Mine is a pre-Model 27, and the grips are not the best for shooting, to be honest, but they are original. When I shoot it, I usually remove them, and use a pair of rubber Pachmayr Grippers I have.

Oh, that is nice! The holster suits the gun, too!

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I love looking at pictures of fine revolvers and you guys sure have some nice ones!

Thank you and I thoroughly “blame” some of the revolver-heads on this fine Forum for sending me down this path to begin with!

TheFrontRange, where did you find them?

@Marlin Fan, the stocks came with the gun, all from Gunbroker.