I have a chance to buy a Combat Magnum 357 #K 2616xx (that's all the serial the owner provided) he says make offer, it very clean, appears to have been shot very little. I rate 95% or better only due to some scuffs on the grips, no muzzle wear, a VERY light turn line. No box or docs grips appears to be goncalo (hope I spelled that correct) not walnut. What is a fair offer ? Any information about date of manufacture or production would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

That is a very early Combat Magnum. I believe the serial numbers started at K260000. IF it is all correct, it could easily be worth $ 1500-$2000. Good luck.

It's in the 1955 manufacturing range (K231,256 – K266,154), probably shipped in 1956-57. Closest I have on my list is another K2616xx shipping in 6/56. Grips are Goncalo Alves, often abbreviated as GA. You might get on GunBroker.com to see actual sales prices realized from their on-line auctions for pre-M19 CMags in similar condition. There are usually pre-M19 CMags to be found there. I think that without box and accessories the previous $1500-$2000 estimate is somewhat optimistic for 95% condition in most places.

IF the offered price is realistic, don't hesitate to purchase this handgun. It will provide all the great shooting experiences you and your offspring care to enjoy AND it will continue to appreciate rather rapidly. ..........

First year Combat Magnums in the condition you describe are tough to find. I would offer a minimum of $1750. I have a Combat Magnum in similar condition, K261345, that shipped on June 15, 1956.

Bill

I paid North of 1700 for mine with a higher serial #it came with a box in the correct number range but the serial number does not match.. I think your serial number range will have six grove back strap. I agree 1750 would be correct in starting negotiations. Also just to mention I saw a low serial # go for 4000 a couple of months ago on a auction site. It was pristine however and had some people with deep pockets that wanted it really bad. I watch the auction sites pretty regularly. I do see them come up but not very frequently.

My thinking follows the others...BUY it! I looked for an early Combat Magnum for two years before I fell into the deal on mine.

I have #260026 and it shipped June of 1956 to the factories West Coast Sales Rep.

FN in MT

Owner sent a couple of photos ,guess I am to old for trying to load them, any help out there?

I'm just jealous that you even have the chance at it. Good luck!

A K261,000 Combat Magnum most likely shipped within the first 6 to 8 months of production (perhaps Mid 1956) ,
If it is in good shape and priced under $1000 I would buy it immediately as an investment,
If your looking for something to shoot then clean 19-3 and 19-4s can can still be found around $550 to $650 .

Edited to add Bobs pics :

Bob IMO there is a very good chance the pictured grips are from the mid 60's but they are still very nice and worth what original era grips sell for so not a deal breaker .

FYI owner is kind of on the fence now, I think this is going to happen, but not real fast. Also about the grips he said it had magnas when he got it.

I have K260439 (shipped 6/56) and I was happy to get it for a good price. It is only in 85-90% condition, but I love it.

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Ash

Good luck BOB. Hope you pick it it at a reasonable price. Does it include the box or paperwork?

Hope you get it. DO keep us informed.

Nice , early Combat Magnums don't seem show up that often...maybe it's a regional thing....but I looked long and hard for a few years before I found mine. And it was pure LUCK that I did.

K317867 would be a couple years later, correct? How many did they manufacture first year of production?

As a point of reference k 260519 shipped May 8 1956.
Wk

I'm no expert, but I recall reading the first group manufactured was a block of 5,000.

S&W built one Combat Magnum in 1955 (K260003) and approximately three thousand in 1956. About the same as the number of 44 Magnums built in 1956.

Bill

New $100 dollar bills would push the sale?

This suggests he was not the first owner as not much chance that an early Combat Magnum shipped with Magnas and although the diamond GA targets pictured on it are very nice they would probably be appropriate for a 19-2 from made from 1965 to 1967.

Again not a deal breaker as they have the same value as period correct diamond targets IMO.

A 1956 gun could possibly have football relief cuts on the left panel, with black medallion washers, but I agree those targets strike me as not appearing original to the gun. Is there a date stamp on the inside surface?

Update I got the deal done, not a steal but a fair price. As for the current grips someone asked about they have no date, but do have black washers. It looked better in hand like I said before very light turn line, no marks on the recoil shield. I am happy with it ,and from what I can conclude a birth year gun to boot.

Way to go. Glad you like it. Does it have six groves on the backstrap? Also I have seen some with the serial #'s on the cylinder and was wondering if yours did or not?

Congratulations, Bob, and kudos to all who offered such good information to help him make an informed decision.

You guys are awesome!

Now I'm thinking a Combat Magnum of this group would be a nice birth year gun for me, too! So the search begins....

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

The Combat Magnum is the finest post war K frame ever built! I have a soft spot for those pre model marked gun, though I've yet to find one in that nice of condition.
Enjoy!

Besides the serial being stamped on the heel a K261,600 range Combat Magnum should have the serial marked in the ejector rod shroud, cylinder face and IIRC under the extractor star, (No serial stamped in the yoke), Grips would have likely been small football relieved diamond targets made of either Rosewood, GA or Walnut with the pre 1963 checkering pattern (Blue washers were used on grips intended for Non SS guns until sometime in the early 70's when the shift went to all SS washers ).

Will be interesting to see if it has 6 groove or 10 groove tangs as it is very close to the change over point.

Congrats on scoring a great revolver. Mine is K317204 and shipped March, 1958. I would imagine yours to be late 57 to early 58, but with S&W you never know. Great looking piece...enjoy!

When introduced the Combat Magnum was in high demand so doubt many early production guns lingered in the vault long, perhaps somewhere in the April to June 1956 time frame.

What is the general opinion on the serial cut off for '56 production?

Yes it does have the six groove backstrap, and serial numbers in all of the places mentioned in above posts. As I said before I am very happy to have it, it looks at home next to the 18-3 and the 48-3 ( both being 4 inch as well ) kinda like triplets.

Again thanks for all of the input and knowledge this place is great.

We know that S&W did not ship in numerical order and some guns got buried in the vault but K260 - K261 serial prefix Combat Magnums usually have 1956 ship dates where K263 range guns appear to ship in mid 56 to early 57,

Only have one K264 prefix Combat Magnum in my records and its a mid 1957 shipment ,

Edited to add: Just checked my notes and saw K268 prefix that appears to have shipped in late 56 .

I have two K262 guns, sounds there is a good chance they are '56 guns.