I guess the better way of phrasing it is what is the most common set of features, if there is any?

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Aaron Terry

There wasn't any standard barrel length, but I believe the most common length was 6 1/2".

All of the barrels started out at 8.75" and were cut to order in 0.25" increments. Features such as front and rear sights (Marble, King, Factory, etc.) and related front site bases, stocks (magna or standard), grip adaptors, trigger pull, finish, hammer (standard or humpback), etc... were options that could be selected at the time the gun was ordered. From what I have read, the 6.5" barrel length was the most common by a large margin, with 5", 6" and 8.75" lengths bunched together in the second place group of lengths.

What I find enjoyable about collecting the RM's (besides their inherent beauty and wonderful craftsmanship) is that each one has the possibility of being a unique gun, perhaps the only one that left the factory in its specific configuration...

Here is a link to a thread with a bunch of photos of nice pre war magnums: Pre-War 357 Magnum Appreciation Thread

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Somebody once posted a list of all known barrel lengths. I am guessing that 6 (+6.5 as so close as to be the same) is most common. the 6" barrel is usually most common with most guns.

Gee, since all RM barrels were cut down, does it really affect value if one is cut down again later on?

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No life story has happy end.

The most common length is in dispute. If you read Roy's article, he lists the quantities made in each length. The problem develops over the definition of RM. He doesn't count the KC guns as Registered, because they weren't eligible for the registration program. Same identical gun, with the first 250 at least having a registration number stamped in the frame cut. To the collecting community, the number stamped is good enough.

So if you exclude the KC guns, and the other guns sold to PDs all over the country as non-registered models, then the longer lengths like 6 or 6 1/2 are probably the most common. If you believe your 4" KC guns, or the others sold to PDs are RMs, then the 4" length is the most frequently encountered.

A worse issue, as you know, are the guns cut down to more useful configurations by later owners (often sent back to the factory for the work.)

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Dick Burg