yesterday, I purchased a Registered .357. It has a lot of holster wear, 3.5" barrel, McGivern Gold Bead and someone thoughtfully put pachmayrs on it. Where can I research the serial number and findoout who it was shipped to originally?
Is there a list anywhere like there is for the 1921 Colt Thompsons? Any help I could get will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim Garrett
High Caliber Radio

Welcome. A reg magnum is worth investing $50 for a factory letter.Details for ordering can be found with a search here.

Tim,
Send me your email address and I will send you Roy Jink's article on the RM. Thus far it is the definitive work on these guns. A factory letter is also a must have item as well and is the only way you'll find where it shipped to.

Can you post either the serial number, or better yet, the registration
number ? Some of us have some information on some guns.

Later, Mike Priwer

A pic is a must on this gun! What a great find!

The registration number is 745 and the serial number is 4779.
I'll try to get a picture up soon. It has a lot of holster wear and the pachmayrs aren't very pretty. I intend to make this gun the subject of my New Year's Day show on High Caliber Radio. If anyone has info they want to email me direct, my address is :
[email protected]

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

Tim

Tim, is that serial number possibly missing a digit? Seems a bit short for a RM.

Thanks, Roger (and welcome to the forum)

Tim, the 'official' serial number is going to be the five-digit number found on the butt of the grip frame (probably hidden by the Pachmayr's). That same number should be on the rear face of the cylinder and in the ejector rod shroud - assuming the barrel and cylinder are the originals.

Nice find...

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Tim
Sent you an email

my bad, the serial number is 47231

So far you've been given good information. But I'd suggest you wait for Roy to send you back the letter before you go too far overboard. Many of the early guns were long barreled versions. Later a fair number were cut back to carry length. 3 1/2" versions that shipped that way are fairly scarce.

I see one of our posters has said he will email you a copy of the original article Roy wrote back in 1989. Its the bible on these guns. But much like the Thanksgiving turkey, we've picked its bones pretty clean over the years. It still stands as the definitive work on the subject. The best suggestion I can offer is for you to read and then study the article.

Then search this section of the forum for our comments over the years. For more information, join the SWCA (membership info available at the top of the forum.) We have a listing of surviving guns of different models. The Reg Mag (and the red haired stepson, the non-Reg) divulges some pretty interesting information.

Some of us have spent years trying to acquire and restore these guns. The collectors fraternity is pretty aware of who collects them and is pretty friendly. Everyone will suggest you seek out original grips to replace the rubber tire treads you were given. Its good advice because the early wood was of very good quality compared to postwar efforts. But it will cost you dearly. No one gives away treasures like original large medallion grips.

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Dick Burg

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. The RM's have been my latest S&W obsession. Based on the ones that I have, that REG number puts it shipping in late 1935, or more likely early 1936.

There are several good threads on the RM in this section of the forum. Here is one that has a lot of great photos...

Pre-War 357 Magnum Appreciation Thread

BTW - You must post a photo. even if it is a cell photo so that we can share in your great find.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Sounds like you have found an interesting gun.

Please be advised that you are in violation of the "must post photo" rule. Anyone showing up here with a Registered Magnum is required to post pictures...(only kidding...well sort of)

Just trying to help.

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the the new to you RM! You are now a member of a pretty small club.

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Dave