I have an opportunity to purchase this S & W .357 Magnum Revolver. It has no model number on the box, no model number on the revolver. There are numbers inside the Barrel lug and on the butt of the grip. I think the serial number is on the yoke "73023" and the number "7" under it. I was only able to take a few photos as the shop was closing. The box was gold with blue lettering. This is my first purchase of a S & W revolver, as I have been hoping for a "special one ". BTW, price $1k OTD....firm.

Thanks for any comments and advice.

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The SN will not be on the yoke. That is an assembly number. The SN will be on the butt. Yours is likely to be from the mid-late 1950s if it is not model numbered in the yoke. With the box and with the 3.5" barrel, $1K is a good price. BTW, that wood block in the box is a nice plus.

Thanks for the quick responses.

The previous owner told the shop it was a "pre-model 27" and it was shot a few times. Yes, the wood in the box was in great condition...nice bonus.

BTW, the number on the butt was different from the numbers on the yoke. In addition, there were numbers under the Barrel lug?

I will try to stop by the shop tomorrow and take more photos. I have a couple of days to make a decision....starting to get excited.

If you don't buy it it will soon be long gone at that price.

The model is "357 Magnum" as stated on the box top. The serial number begins with an"S" and will have 5 or 6 digits after it. It should be marked on the butt, inside the barrel and the back of the cylinder at a minimum. If the stocks are original, one of them will be stamped inside. They look age appropriate. The box may have a faint grease pencil written serial number on the outside bottom part.

I am excited for you!

Welcome to the Forum.

"BTW, the number on the butt was different from the numbers on the yoke. In addition, there were numbers under the Barrel lug?"

The assembly numbers aren't supposed to match the serial number. The number inside of the ejector rod shroud should match the serial number stamped on the butt. That SN should also be stamped on the inside of the right grip.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thanks everyone for the clarifications.

I don't have a 3.5 inch 357.
This is a nice one!
I would be a buyer at $1k!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Okay, apparently based on my cell phones photos; the serial number is "158701" with the mark of S & W before it.If I recall correctly that was the same number on the butt.

Oh, boy ....is my wallet in trouble, now?

Question, what exactly make this model more desirable than many other
S & W models? Frankly, I was intrigued by it's condition, age and the box.

The craftsmanship and detail on that model make it a treasure to own.

The .357 Magnum, starting with its introduction in the mid 1930s, was the flagship of the S&W line. You probably noticed the checkered top strap and barrel. No other S&W revolver, not even the .44 Magnum, received that treatment.

The pre WW II .357s were first offered with any barrel length, from 3 1/2" to 8 3/4", in 1/4" increments. It was sighted in at the factory with your choice of ammo and distance. It was a special order handgun and it could be "registered" in your name. It also cost more than any other revolver in the S&W line up, $60.00, which was a ton of money during the Depression.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You answered your own question. Condition, age , and box. Oh and the barrel length. It would have never left my hand. Hope it's there for you Monday.

I would have brought it home. Unless, it has a bunch goobers or cold bluing on it that's a buy it now.

Thanks for the history and education. I was aware Smith & Wesson made a lot of excellent revolvers. I was not aware of the lineage of this specific model.

I also, love revolvers that are 4" or less.

Nice gun. We are all looking forward to more pictures and a range report.

If you could post the name and address of the gun shop, I'll run over first thing Monday morning and put it on hold for you.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Watch out Bonecutter! James' "hold" would be permanent. Then you'd have to go to Massachusetts to visit "your" gun.

I agree with the others. That is a very good deal at $1,000.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I would have not walked out of the shop without that gun! I hope it is still there when you go back Monday morning. Kyle

Yes, I'd grab that one in a heartbeat. BTW, not trying to be the forum police here, but it's against the rules to post a link to a live auction. Completed auctions are ok, but not ones that are still active.
Hope it's still there tomorrow at the same price.

Here are a couple of photos from my phone I found, sorry, I am not tech savvy. There was a photo of the grip butt, however it was too blurry.

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S 158701 would date shipment as probably around mid-1955. I list S1588xx as shipping in 10/55 (also a pre-Model 27). Along with everyone else, and as I originally said, $1K is a good price. If you can afford it grab your wallet Monday AM. If it's not already gone.

The shop owner have very good friendship; as we are both "brothers-in-arms". He is a Marine Vietnam Vet and I Airman Gulf War & OIF/OEF Vet.

However, I will heed everyone's advice and at least secure my hold with a monetary deposit, in the morning....as, believe someone may be booking a flight as I type.

Thanks again, a Great Forum!!!

I would call the shop and leave a message on the answering machine if they have one that you will take it,and arrive at the shop 20 minutes before it opens. If for some reason you decide not to buy let this fellow Arizona resident know where it is!

For the love of God man, buy it!

There is no way I'd even think of passing on a pre model 27 in that condition for $1000, buy it fast before someone else does


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hopefully you were the last one out of the shop as he locked up for the weekend and your schedule permits you to be the first through the door Monday morning. Spectacular find, and one you don't want to miss!!

You mentioned before that you were told that it is a Pre-27. That is also correct. In 1957 (or so) they started giving out model numbers. One like yours would have been called a Model 27.

Like others have said.. Be standing at the door tomorrow morning and hope somebody didn't beat you to it.

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Eccentric old coot

Hey AZBonecrusher, I'm in Yavapai county. Do me a favor and send me the address of the gun shop so I can put it in my GPS tonight and I can be there before he opens in the morning. I don't mind driving a hundred miles to pick up a "pre" in that condition with the box at that price.
You won't regret it, Monte

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Fred
S&WCA 3238

Like a duck on a june bug.
Mark

I hope you get that beauty this morning. I think I would have been camped out on the shop owners front stoop....probably all weekend.

I'm standing at the door but no one is here yet.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Just as an aside-IMHO the S&W Model 27 and it's non-model numbered cousins are the best big bore handguns made. I like them much better than the highly regarded Colt Pythons. Its a win/win both collectable and great guns.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Should this vintage .357 (pre-27) have a checkered rear sight? The rear sight on this .357 appears to not be checkered. I have read that the pre-war .357 did not have a checkered rear sight. If so, this particular specimen likely has a pre-war rear sight that hid in the parts bin for a few years. Just wondering about the rear sight - and my eyesight.

Yes, it should have a checkered rear sight. It appears to be wearing a replacement from another N frame. The M28 rear sight is smooth.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Additional reading leads me to think that the pre-war .357 had the smooth, high-polish, contoured rear sight leaf. There are also references to these sight leaves being narrower than the post-war rear sight leaves, whether grooved or checkered. Sorry to drag everyone along my slow learning curve.

From earlier learning sessions, it is quite likely that this .357 made it out the factory door with a grooved instead of checkered rear sight for a number of possible reasons.

Don't fail to purchase this handgun this morning! That is a treasure and is not to be passed up. When you get it home remove the stocks (grips) and check for a serial number on one of them.

I would have a competent armorer/gunsmith remove the side plate for a cleaning and lubrication along with the usual armorer's check. If you can do that without scratches or buggering the screw heads ..... have at it.

We would really like to see more pictures...........

WELL? The whole world is watching.

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Eccentric old coot

Oooh that wood block! Wooooood block....

Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll?

Considering the condition of the rest of the gun I find it unlikely that the rear sight is not checkered. It's just that from the angle that we are viewing it, we can only see the grooves that run along the length of the sight. The topstrap of the frame and barrel also only look grooved from this angle, to me. I'd guess it's righteous.

Enough talking .... buy it NOW!!! ( or I'm going to hack the GPS on your phone and find out where it is!!)

Got that right!
This gun is super desirable, near new condition , box and all.
A gun re-seller - speculator - gunshow guy will buy this one at this price.
Been going into gun stores, pawnshops, etc for over 50 years.
Don't recall ever seeing one of these in this condition.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Pretty common practice at S&W. Here's mine with box numbered to gun. Plenty of room for that wooden block. Also have a 4" Combat Masterpiece with numbered 6" box, they just pasted a tag over the end calling it 4".

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Surveilance video caught AZBonecrusher on his way to the shop, meeting JSR III:





Hence the wood block. Kinda like finding the factory chalk marks on your muscle car.

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TEAM DNF

Well, the .357 Magnum Revolver (see photos)is now secured in my name and will hopefully be in my collection next month.

I really want to thank everyone for their comments, expertise and advice.

Lord willing, this will be my first Smith and Wesson Revolver and hopefully not my last.

God Bless America!

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Congrats! Finally the waiting is over...haha. I haven't seen that much build up for a gun purchase in awhile lol.

Congratulations ! You started off with a bang.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Nice find
(hook is set with sound of reel playing out in background zzzzzzzzzzzzzzeee)

Interestingly all of the S 155 serial range guns seem to be .38/44 Heavy Duty's (Pre-M20's) with a sprinkling of .44 Magnums.

My closest two serials are .44 Magnums just above and just below your serial and both shipped in 1957.

Congrats! Enjoy it. Collecting Smith & Wesson revolvers is
a sickness. It's all down hill from here.