According to the included factory letter, this Pre-Model 27 revolver was shipped on 27 December 1950 to "A. Griebil" of Chicago, Illinois. The letter includes the line "This was a plain gun when shipped and was probably engraved by Griebil for one of his customers.", confirming that Arnold Griebil, noted Chicago engraver, was the recipient of this arm and the executor of the fine engraving found on it's surface. The overall style of the engraving, which covers over 85% of the surface, is classic American scroll with punch-dot backgrounds, showing a zig-zag border around the rear cylinder face and burst designs on the screws. On the left side of the frame, beneath the cylinder catch, is a woodland scene with a deeply textured background showing a wild boar with it's front legs on a rock, a pair of gold bands are inlaid at the muzzle and the trigger guard is gold inlaid "A.V. BODINE". Notes from the consignor identify A.V. Bodine as Alfred Van Sant Bodine, noted industrialist and founder of the Bodine Corporation, a manufacturer of tooling and automation systems for the ordnance, automotive, electrical, and computer industries. Born in Lambertville, New Jersey in 1894, Bodine graduated from the Mechanical Engineering program at Lehigh University in 1915 (later upgraded to a Doctorate) and went to work for the Winchester, which would lead to his appointment as Superintendent of Watervliet Arsenal during the First World War. During the post-War years, he went on to consult with Hunter Arms Company, manage Columbia Gramaphone (now known as CBS), and served as Vice-President of the Dictaphone Corporation. During the Great Depression, Bodine teamed up with a group of investors to buy out the assets of bankrupt firms and resell them at a profit; one of these firms was Anderson Die Machine Company, whose accountant, Milton Friedberg, convinced Bodine to not dismantle the firm, which would serve as the nucleus for Bodine Corp. In the lead-up to World War Two, Bodine Corp supplied the tooling and machines used to arm up, designed and built precision fuse making equipment for the Picatinny and Frankford Arsenals, and producing gyroscopic gunsights for American tanks. Following the war, Bodine was one of the experts tapped by General Marshall to assist in the rebuilding of Europe, and his company would again return to ordnance-related production for Korea and Vietnam. Fitted with a red bead accented Patridge front sight and an adjustable rear sight, as well as a pair of smooth mother of pearl grips with Smith & Wesson medallions. Included with the revolver are the factory letter and a copy of "A Man and His Machines" by Richard P. Bodine.

Very fine as custom embellished, with 98% of the blue finish, showing some light handling marks overall. The grips are also very fine, with a few small chips around the medallions. Mechanically excellent. An attractively engraved Smith & Wesson Pre-Model 27 Magnum Revolver by one of the most sought after 20th Century engravers, Arnold Griebil.