The mystery is solved: In the spring of 1946, S&W provided Buck with a refurbished factory demo RM as a loaner until .357 production resumed postwar.
At least we know Buck got the refurbished gun, and liked it a lot. Whether all went as planned thereafter, and the gun was returned to S&W and Buck received a new one, is not yet clear, but seems likely.
The thread I posted above has the corresponcence between S&W and Buck on this topic.
What a neat historical footnote to RM history!
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