My first Blinged out BBQ gun!

I had the good fortune to stumble across this .357 Magnum at the Tulsa gun show last week.

It is lettered by Roy Jinks as being a Special Engraved Variation .357 Magnum, shipped to Jesse Harpe Co, Tampa Fl in 1953 along with 4 other 3-1/2" Pre-27s

It couldn't be better than this. It is ...

#1 - 3-1/2"
#2 - Possible Factory Engraved
#3 - Nickel plated
#4 - Gold plated
#5 - Pinto - screws and ejector rod in blue
#6 - Real Ivory grips

If your going to BBQ, BBQ big!

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All I can say is what kind of money did that thing drag down at a major gun show?' Very pretty.

Yessir! BBQ big indeed. Dang that's purty! Congrats!

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America First

Congratulations

That is a true conversation piece

Just Beautiful ! Sort of dispels the theory that the factory put small logos on all of the engraved ones.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

That needs some really, really nice leather to ride in whenever you go to a BBQ

Wow. Awesome! Wait until "RKmesa" gets a load of that one.

Very pretty gun.

I find the lettered gold plating the most interesting.

Read in the past on here that the gold plating is a bit more delicate than the others. Looks really good to me.

The seller was told by a couple "experts" at the show that this could not be a factory engraved gun because of the larger logo on the right side and became very discouraged.

Though the Roy Jinks letter the seller provided clearly says it is a "Special Engraved Variation" from S&W, he believed what the show "experts" told him and rid himself of the gun to me for a substantially reduced price.

Thanks to the so called experts, I got a great deal.

The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition clearly shows factory engraved guns with large right side logos on pages 64 & 66.

Don't you just love when that happens ?

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Though Roys letter verifies this to be a Special Engraved Variation from S&W he also states that the engraving and gold plating was "completed" (not performed) after it left the factory.

Either the gold plating done outside the factory required "some" engraving to be completed afterwards - or it is a typo by Roy to include the word "engraving" in that sentence.

Yes, the gold plating is delicate! It is worn thin at the sharp edges of the cylinder. No burn marks on the face of the cylinder indicating this has never been fired!

That's some great looking 357 Magnum!
Glad I didn't every buy it as I would have to shoot it....

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

As records are continuing to be digitized by the S&WHF, you might want to check with them to see if anything turns up on your gun. Good luck !! Just let us know when and where on the BBQ!

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PTLAPTA!

I would like to see the letter because something sure seems strange here. You have to ask yourself, if factory engraved, who did the work? Well I can tell you right away, it wasn't LeBlanc, it wasn't White, it wasn't Russ Smith, it wasn't Rentzschke. Who is left? Jarvis? I doubt that too.

Can you post a pic of the letter? I am concerned there is a typo as others have said.

Another consideration is that if the gun is factory engraved, the letter should specify the amount of coverage, either A, B, or C. Judging by what you said, the letter does not specify?

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

None of those examples actually support your gun's originality. On page 64, there is a factory engraved triple lock. That gun is from a different era, and is likely before the practice of moving the logo from the sideplate. Remember that triple locks were last made in 1915. That gun was likely done by Oscar Young, and so it is 1912 or earlier because Oscar Young died in 1912.

Also on that page is a gun engraved by Siegfried Werner, which has a large logo on the right side. This gun was not done in house and was likely engraved as a completed gun, or one that was in the white. I believe it was a finished gun at its start because of the large side plate logo. Although Werner could have placed this logo there, I doubt he would have for obvious reasons.

On page 66 there are guns done by Piquette with a logo on the right side, but we must remember that these engravers all did guns outside of S&W. Its entirely possible these guns were sent to him post factory. The caption doesn't say they were factory engraved, only who did them.

Gun engraving is a separate world and its important to be a student of it, prior to being a purchaser of it, just like with most other things.

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

Bling, bling, bling!

I believe the only engraver on staff in 1953 was Harry Jarvis. The .357 Magnum was not engraved by him as his style is completely different. I think when Roy said the engraving was completed after it left the factory means the revolver was shipped as a plain gun and engraved and plated later.

Bill

Jesse Harp Gun Shop in Tampa, Florida.
Jesse was the S&W Distributor was the Tampa Bay area for years. I purchased my first S&W service revolver from him in 1962-1963 era.
S&W Model 10, blued with four inch barrel, and walnut magna grips.
$48.80 police officer price.

I bought the gun knowing full well that is may not be a factory engraved gun - so I negotiated a price reflective of that.

It doesn't matter to me whether it is or not - I like the gun and got a great price on it.

That being said - one can not over look the statement by Roy Jinks stating; We have researched your Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum Post World War II Pre-27, Special Engraved Variation...

Note the capitalization of "Specialized Engraved Variation" as though it is a title and not a description.

It is possible this gun left S&W as a nickel engraved gun and was gold plated after it left the factory. Remember that Roy states that the engraving and gold plating were "completed" (not performed) after it left the factory.

So either Roy is wrong when he stated it is a Special Engraved Variation - or he is wrong when he stated that the engraving was "completed" afterwards - or he is right saying both.

I don't want to be the one to tell Roy that he is wrong?

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It seems fairly clear to me that the engraving and the plating were done after it left the factory. After all, they would have charged more for a gun with more work, and this looks like standard pricing to my eyes.

RKMesa probably has more engraved guns here than anyone else, maybe he will provide us with some more letter background?

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On the Oak Savannah

As we discussed when you brought the gun by our tables in Tulsa, to inquire as to what I thought, believed, etc.. about the engraving vs. the letter's contents ---- it's obvious to me (after 34 years of reading the 'pertinent paragraph' in multiplied hundreds of factory letters, as well as understanding how Roy 'writes'), that the "Special Engraved Edition" reference line is a formatting / template input error (yes, he does use formatted templates-- both to his advantage and ours, so be thankful for that..). In addition, when Roy uses the phrase "completed after the gun left the factory", you can be --100% and then some-- totally assured that 'completed' means 'done', 'executed', 'produced' and/ or any other word(s) that define(s) such, including 'performed'.

As I mentioned when we talked, that while any owner of the gun between then and now could have done the same, it is possible that Jesse Harpe had the engraving and gold-plating work performed by any one of a number of qualified engravers, as he was certainly well-connected enough to have done so a thousand times over. However, unless his records surface or you find the engraver's signature on the gun, there is absolutely no way to ever know for certain who-what-when-where or why.

A corrected letter is most definitely in order, not only for you -but- for the future owner as well, for when the day comes that you (or your heirs) decide to part with the gun. My suggestion remains as follows: Send a copy of the 'pertinent p'graph' along with a few photos to Roy asking for clarification in a new letter. I believe he'll be glad to help.....

David

Thank you David;

I want everyone to know that the sellers business dealings with me were 100% legitimate.

He did not present this gun as "positively" factory engraved but thought it might be possible given the confusion in the letter by Roy.

His willingness to reduce the price substantially lent itself to the greater possibility that it was not a factory engraved gun.

I understood that when buying the gun.

I may be putting too much emphasis on that phrase "Special Engraved Variation" - BUT - it is there and needs to be followed up with Mr. Jinks for clarification.

As I said - it doesn't matter to me whether it is or not - I LOVE the gun and thank the seller for the great deal and opportunity to own this fine gun.

I will amend my post to read "possible" factory engraved gun until Mr. Jinks can clear this up.

Don't know nothing about engraved firearms. I do know a thing or two about BBQ. You want need any sauce on your minced pork. All you will need to do is wave that beautiful revolver over the plate and it will be "shur-nuf tasty".

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your new hand gun.

Had to run out to the car and get my sunglasses so I could get a good look at it!

Congratulations on a fantastic find!

I'm not nearly as experienced as Bill and David, but I do own more than a few S&W's engraved in the 1950s and I agree wholeheartedly with their observations/recommendations.

Jeff:

I have always said that the primary reason to purchase engraved guns is because they "speak to you". Whether or not it is factory engraved is only one of the factors I consider when purchasing engraved firearms. I'm happy to hear that that 3.5" 357 speaks to you and I agree that it would draw significant attention at any BBQ - especially if it was carried in a beautifully tooled rig. We've spent a lot of time discussing the engraving, but I just have to say that those ivories have some beautiful color to them - very nice!

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Looks great either way

Cory

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Cory
SWCA #3015 SWHF #465

Tastes differ. That is why we have menus. As for your tastes, they EXACTLY match mine!! Well done Sir and enjoy!!!

New Pictures

I'm with you, I really don't care. If it were mine, I would
shoot it in the next IDPA match.

I saw your gun at the Tulsa show too and had it on my list of possibles to check back on. The exhibitors at those tables were busy at the time so I didn`t get to handle it or try to feel out their "low dollar." It didn`t strike me as being factory engraved but I thought it was cool and that it was priced to where it might be within negotiation range of what I`d want to be in it for. I`d just popped on a documented 4" nickel Reg Mag and was trying to pace myself after that so I just made a note of it and moved on. I`m glad somebody bought it so now I don`t have to be aggravated by it at the next show.

I like engraved guns and fancy grips and don`t get too hung up on whether they were factory done or not. Here is a non factory engraved but still pretty awesome pre 27 I got from Ray Brazille a few years ago. BTW I`ve been wanting to swap out the gold plated parts on this one, so if you decide you need a gold hammer and trigger to go with that gold cylinder I can fix you up!

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Don't want to derail this thread, but I'd sure love to hear more about those grips and holster for this gun.

I know of the lettered 4" Registered Magnum you're talking about. I see the seller often at local gun shows and I had a chance at it a month ago - but can't swing that kind of money

I saw the seller at Tulsa and he told me he had just sold it - now I know who the buyer was

Your pre-27 is very nice! WOW!

The hammer & trigger swap is tempting, though I should keep mine the way it was originally customized.

I "may" be selling mine today or tomorrow - but if I don't I'll keep the offer in mind.

As an aside, I was raised better than this but could you say what the man wanted for the 4 inch nickel RM??

been a while since I posted and have a couple of additions, but this one by Gerald Beathard Jr. of Beathard Engraving is worthy.
Model 65 3" with my own design interpretation.

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I will bet that you are the only one at the BBQ with a gun like yours!
Congrats on your good fortune!

I don't care if a monkey from the Pittsburgh Zoo engraved it. It's beautiful.

rgm36, I didn't get a chance to see your gun at Tulsa, however if i had, I would have told you the same thing that David Carroll posted. The letter's incorrect. Get Roy to revise it and get a copy of the digitized invoice/purchase order, etc. from the SWHF. That's not in house factory engraving on your gun. Ed.

How do I get ahold of Roy?

I'm not a high enough member to get phone access with him (I've been told) - and I don't want to go through the normal lettering process which includes paying $75.00 - that's already been done.

Is there someone that can put me in touch with him?

Thanks

Great looking .357! - and I'm glad you feel about it as you do. I hope you will be happy with it for many years to come.

Thanks for the kudos. Here is another. The late George "Wade" Chastain. Really nice work

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Regardless of who did what to that revolver it is a beautiful piece of firearm art. Thank you for sharing it with us.

A really beautiful gun. Just a note of information for you. I love BBQ's. lol!

The grips are Bohlin silver and the holster is an S.D. Myres with a wrap around silver plate attached. Gun, grips, and holster came together as a set when I got them. I`d planned on posting a new thread on the them once I swap out the gold plated parts on the gun that have been bugging me.

I can`t swing it very often. Had to dip into my reserve funds then dig out a few to sell that I didn`t want to part with but that I figured I could live without if I had a factory nickel Reg Mag to cheer me up...

To answer Lee`s Landing Billy, I got it in a package deal with a few sets of nice grips so I guess it depends on how you look at it exactly how much I got into the gun for. It wasn`t cheap, but considering how rare and hard to find they are (and how bad I`ve always wanted one) I think I got a good buy getting out of there for under 5 figures. I don`t know if the seller would want me blabbing how much he got to me for so I better leave it at that. I may do a thread on it once I get some pictures and send off to the SWHF to see if they have any info on it beyond what the Roy Jinks letter says.

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