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07-13-2017, 11:30 AM
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For Those of You That MUST Shoot Collectible S and W Revolvers.....
I offer the two Kansas City PD Pre-War .357 Magnums (still wearing original factory blue finish) shown below.
As I stated in a recent post ( How Often Do You See ................) my friend Rich Bower stopped by to show me a couple of his latest acquisitions. One of them was KCPD NRM serial# 61959, the lower gun pictured below. I just happen to also have KCPD RM serial number 59384, Reg# 5008, so we took the opportunity to photograph them together.
My gun, which was one of 250 RM's shipped from the factory on September 7, 1939, still retains its original factory finish (approximately 95%) and configuration including the 4" barrel, Baughman Quick Draw front sight on a King Ramp base, square notch rear sight, and Magna grips numbered to the gun. I understand there may be some question about the originality of the Humpback hammer, but I like it regardless of whether the factory installed it or the KCPD armorer did. My gun was originally sighted at 25 yards with .357 Magnum ammunition using a 6 o'clock hold.
Rich's NRM, serial# 61959, which was one of 26 NRM's shipped from the factory on July 3, 1940, still retains its original factory finish (approximately 85%) and 4" barrel. The Baughman Quick Draw front sight has been replaced with a McGivern Gold Bead, the square notch rear sight has been replaced with a King #112 white outline rear sight, and the fine Magna grips it is now wearing are not original to the gun. This gun was originally sighted at 25 yards with .357 Magnum ammunition using a dead center hold.
Both guns have seen some range time since in our possession. My RM shoots pretty much dead center on plates at 20 meters with 38 Special 158GR Plated Semi-Wadcutter rated at 800 FPS. Rich's NRM was shooting a little high when we took it out this week and we were below a 6 o'clock hold to hit the 20 meter plates with the same ammunition. We lowered the rear sight some after we got back from the range (did not have the small screw driver needed at the range) but were not able to test it so Rich still needs to do some sighting work on the gun.
Having shot both guns a number of times (and mine with 38 Special +P and .357 Magnum ammunition as well as the wadcutters), for me shooting the Pre-War N frame .357's is as good as it gets. In addition to that, owning, researching, and caring for a firearm that performed police service during some of the rough and tumble times in Kansas City is an honor and has been very interesting and rewarding.
Anyway, thanks for letting us share.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Terry Lester
Last edited by lestert357; 04-07-2018 at 07:32 AM.
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07-13-2017, 11:35 AM
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Terry,
I shoot my NRM, it was University Park PD and it has seen a lot of action. I also shoot my Reg Mag. They are a joy to shoot.
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07-13-2017, 11:43 AM
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SWEEEeeeeeet................... I don't shoot my +98% 6 1/2 inch RM....just tooooooooo nice.
But I've got a great 90%ish 27-2 and a half (recessed but not pinned)....... that is perfect to fulfill the "shooter" role!!!!
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07-13-2017, 11:54 AM
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FIRED IS FIRED!
I don't have that problem. If I DID have such a fine example, I'd probly damage it more taking it in/out of the safe & drooling on it. Once it's been fired it becomes too nice NOT TO, VERY CAREFULLY on special occasions.
Last edited by nachogrande; 07-13-2017 at 12:15 PM.
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07-13-2017, 04:39 PM
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Terry:
Both of those KCPD guns are beautiful - a little wear, but obviously well cared for. I have two pre-war Magnums that I shoot fairly regularly - here's a couple of glamour shots of the two:
This 8.75" Barreled RM that shipped to King and was refinished at sometime in its past by the factory:
The other is this 5" cut down RM that started life a 6.5" gun...
Both are fun to shoot.
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Last edited by RKmesa; 07-13-2017 at 04:41 PM.
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07-13-2017, 04:46 PM
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Richard,
Amazing! Even your refinished and cutdown guns are spectacular!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Terry Lester
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07-13-2017, 04:53 PM
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I won't own a gun I can't shoot, so I applaud the OP. Good for you and your friend!
Dave
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07-13-2017, 04:59 PM
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Jeff Cooper's original ".357" Magnum was still going strong when he passed away. And he shot it quite a bit, including with magnum ammo.
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07-13-2017, 05:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lestert357
Richard,
Amazing! Even your refinished and cutdown guns are spectacular!
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Terry:
Neither of the two are anywhere near perfect. The refinish on the long one is very well done and it is a great gun that has had a lot of shooter friendly extras added (King sights, cockeyed hammer, action job, trigger stop...) all before I got it, with the exception of the front blade where a solid black blade was replaced with a gold/brass bead one...
The 5" gun is not nearly as nice in person - that photo was taken on a good day when the light hit it just right. Mind you, the gun is not bad, but that "glamour" photo shows it a bit nicer than it is. The other thing about it is that is has a "ring" in the barrel (about 1" from the frame) that you can only see when looking down the barrel. That happened long before I took ownership and was reflected in the price I paid. Nelson Ford, a local, but nationally respected S&W revolversmith/magician inspected the gun when I got it and said that because of where the "ring" was and the fact that it is really small, that it should not impact accuracy. He was right - the gun is very accurate, and because it is not perfect and has some issues, it is my most used RM...
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Last edited by RKmesa; 07-13-2017 at 08:48 PM.
Reason: grammar correction...
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07-13-2017, 05:32 PM
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Good for you guys...I shoot everything I own and am on a first name basis with my gunsmith because I keep everything I own in top notch condition.
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07-13-2017, 08:33 PM
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I shoot this one on occasion, not worried about the original finish.
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Last edited by hsguy; 07-13-2017 at 09:22 PM.
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07-15-2017, 10:31 PM
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With the exception of one (a CSP Commemorative Python that technically belongs to my son), just about all my handguns are working guns, not safe queens. I suppose I'm the sort of person who, like Jay Leno, would drive my Deusenberg now and then if I could afford one in the first place. It's like the P-51s you see at the air shows. These things were made to send lead downrange, or to outrun and outlast every car on the road (Duesenberg's motto) or to fly really, really well, and there's something sad about them sitting silent in a safe, or a secure storage garage, or a museum, collecting dust. I'm sure there are other viewpoints, but that's mine.
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07-16-2017, 11:15 AM
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Awesome guns guys.thanks
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07-16-2017, 12:04 PM
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Years ago my Dad went goose hunting at the property of a fellow who owned a barge lines in Kentucky. He and a couple other fellows were waiting at the Camp house as this was a full blown hunting lodge type place (just not as fancy as some ). They were all discussing(debating) whose vehicle to take to drive out to the blinds in the fields because it had recently rained. It seems no one wanted to get their car that dirty.
A couple minutes later the fellow who had invited them pulled up apologized for being late and told them to jump into his car. My Dad said they all looked at each other for a second, it was a brand new Lincoln Towncar. One of the guys said, hey you don't want to drive this out there.
The gents reply was " I bought this car to drive, if I cant drive it whenever I want , wherever I want , I will buy another car.
Dad said they piled in but all felt a little small, and he tried to follow that type of philosophy from then on. Bob
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07-16-2017, 12:09 PM
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Carroll Shelby said "These cars are meant to be driven." I take that to heart. No garage queen for me. If I had a registered magnum, I'd apply the same philosophy.
Last edited by Krogen; 07-16-2017 at 12:10 PM.
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07-16-2017, 02:59 PM
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Two ways of looking at this. One, for certain guns, you can take the role of steward of this piece of history for future collectors (and an as investment, the less-used the more valuable) and safe-queen it. Or,you can say, like the guy in the post above with the Lincoln Town Car, it's mine, it's a beauty meant for use, and shoot it.
When I follow philosophy #1, I find I inevitably end up selling anything I feel too guilty to carry and shoot. I love shooting vintage guns, so I look for examples that are used beyond collector interest.
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07-16-2017, 08:15 PM
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Both shooters. Love 'em.
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07-16-2017, 08:41 PM
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Whenever I accumulate collector grade guns, my philosophy is to collect several of the same model that are shooter grade guns. Then when I have that desire to shoot a collectible gun, I just pull out one in "shooter" condition and fire away. I have found that that approach allows me to be steward of the pristine ones and still shoot the same models with all the thrill that entails. No guilt and all the fun! It also makes my collecting more fun...
Collector grade:
Shooter grade:
Collector:
Shooter:
Collector:
Shooter:
Collector:
Shooter:
... you get the picture. BTW - BOTH shooter grade guns and collector grade guns are great fun to accumulate/collect.
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Last edited by RKmesa; 07-16-2017 at 08:45 PM.
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07-16-2017, 11:47 PM
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US Veteran SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hsguy
I shoot this one on occasion, not worried about the original finish.
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John, I didn't see that one at Charlotte. Really nice.
Charlie
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07-17-2017, 04:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
Whenever I accumulate collector grade guns, my philosophy is to collect several of the same model that are shooter grade guns. Then when I have that desire to shoot a collectible gun, I just pull out one in "shooter" condition and fire away. I have found that that approach allows me to be steward of the pristine ones and still shoot the same models with all the thrill that entails. No guilt and all the fun! It also makes my collecting more fun...
Collector grade:
Shooter grade:
Collector:
Shooter:
Collector:
Shooter:
Collector:
Shooter:
... you get the picture. BTW - BOTH shooter grade guns and collector grade guns are great fun to accumulate/collect.
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Now I'm really embarrassed. Your shooter grade are way better than my collector grade.
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07-17-2017, 06:08 AM
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To the OP thanks for starting this thread so now I know I may crazy but I seem to be in pretty good dang company ,oh man I love that quick draw front sight on your RM but thanks for posting both revolvers . RKmesa you may have started a whole new subculture of collecting that is a great idea .to everyone who has responded thanks as I have enjoyed the pics and the comments and especially enjoyed CALREBs Town Car hunting trip story I can just see that ,you guys are great and kudos to Krogen wow registered magnums and Shelby mustangs what a great analogy both factory hot rods and both examples of Americans love of freedom ,I could go on and on but I will cut it short now just wanted to express thanks to all collectors shooter and now my new hobby ( collecting a collector and a shooter ) of each gun I own who knows the wife might get mad enough that she never speaks to me again wow a new hobby and the perfect marriage all in one morning thanks guys .
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