Just acquired this S&W 357 Magnum (Pre Model 27). Both gun and box are in excellent shape. Tools included. Looks like whomever owned this took extremely good care of it. Manufactured in 1956. "S" serial number 173***. Didn't expect to see the checkered topstrap but that was standard for the time. I say 1956 because the S&W Catalog 4th edition states the large plate screw was eliminated in 1956. This gun still has it.

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Holy cow that's a great five inch 357 Magnum! And with the box!
Do you mind sharing how you acquired this beauty?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Super Nice!!!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

A local GS put it aside after he bought it. He showed it to me last week telling me he only wanted to show it to serious gun buyers. I guess he wanted to make sure it found a good home.

I have a question. Did post war S&W revolvers come with an owners manual? This one did not.

I also found a mistake in the S&W catalog 4th edition. It states that the large plate mounting screw was dropped in 1956 starting with serial number 172000. Mine still has this screw and the serial number is 173***.

I'd immediately take it out and shoot it, but that's me. Best if those kinds of firearms are kept out of my grubby paws as I'd get it dirty. (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

they did not come with a manual, but with a "Helpful Hints" brochure. Also there should be a "Dry Fire Practice Target".

Much published information about changes in S & W revolver product is approximate or derived from known examples. There may have been a factory directive to delete the upper sideplate screw on a certain date, but older style parts were always used up before new ones were in the system. Sometimes this results in a revolver that is far "too late" to have been made that letters months/years after it "should have" been shipped. Often a happy mystery to solve .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Pristine 5" pre-27, what's not to love. Great acquisition, congratulations.

Absolutely beautiful!!! That is my birth-year/grail gun that I've been searching for - so feel free to send it my way at your earliest convenience!

...you need to buy your dealer dinner...cuz no matter what you paid for it it wasn't enough...

Bob

That is a real beauty. Thanks for sharing,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I think since it is missing some paper items then you should sell it to me and you wait for the perfect complete LNIB gun.

It amazes me how people buy a gun and put it up for 40 years without hardly if ever shooting it. Your gun and box both look like new. If the original sales receipt was in the box you would faint. I actually bought a consignment gun that had the original purchase receipt in the box. It wasn't forty years old. more like 2 years old.
LOL I would like to find a woman that looks that good. But I probably couldn't afford her either.

That is the epitome of the S&W art. Best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

I have come across transition guns a number of times by several manufactures. I have come to the conclusion that there is never a hard start and stop to design changes / updates. As noted above manufactures use stock on hand and then move to the updated parts. I specifically collect Ithaca model 37 shot guns and make it a habit to pick up guns that never should of been when ever I can because I find them more interesting. I have also come across similar transitions while working on cars. That's when I don't find it fun because it can make finding the correct part a real nightmare.

I was lucky enough to find a K-22 that was in bad condition surface wise but great mechanical function so I picked it up for a good price and re-blued it which it had to have. It is a four screw and no Mod-17 on the yoke so I know that it was made after Aug 55 (5th screw removed) and before jan 57 when the yoke would have been stamped Mod-17. Good deals to go with my other S&W revolver collection, not as pretty but a GREAT shooter.

P.S. I tried to send it back to smith and they told me they would not reblue anything before 1958...so I took it down to bare steel and cold blued it and love to shoot it!

Thank you for sharing. Many folks will agree that if you could only own one gun....this would be the one. From a wonderful period in the history of Smith and Wesson, no "Lock" to disfigure the elegant lines, finely finished inside and out, the top of the line "luxury" model, what many consider the perfect barrel length for an N frame, a caliber available all over the world, ....as someone said above, "what's not to love?"!!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

The "owners manual" is printed on the inside surface of the lid of the gold colored box.

Nice find, they don't get much better than that.

Hope you also bought a lottery ticket the day you bought that gun. If not, you should have.

I love the Model 27. I always feel like I am "driving" a Cadillac when I take it out to shoot, even when it is accompanied by my 28.

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Existimo ergo sum armis

That is the find of a lifetime. Very nice indeed. Makes me want to skip out on work today and hit all the gun stores and pawn shops in town.

Beautiful revolver!!! I recently picked one up in excellent condition but not the exceptional condition yours shows. Thanks for sharing!!!

That is just what I am looking for. Great find!

Nice acquisition - congrats!

That's another one on my list. Is say you did extremely well. My 2 cents shoot the shooters. Leave that baby for eye candy and appreciation of a long ago commitment to excellence.

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S&WCA #3012

Congratulations! That is a wonderful find. Don't just let it live in the box. Shoot it.

Curl

As others have mentioned, never say never with S&W. I have Pre 27, 5 screw, 5 inch barrel, blue, in numbered box. Serial # 1731XX shipped Feb.7, 1958. No serial # on cylinder or barrel shroud.