I decided to read every thread here about Registered magnums. I feel like I know you guys personally. I read 53 pages of threads, 10 threads per page.then I learned there were 760 pages of threads or 7600 diff threads! Wow. Questions for the experts here:
1. I decided not to shoot grampa s RM. I decided not to sell but to treasure it. Thanks for the offers but im not going to sell. I really want to shoot an RM so I have decided to buy a "shooter". Is it improper to ask the forum if anyone is selling.?rebluing or renickeling would be ok. Grips don't have to be original but the rest of the gun should be.barrell length not important
2.Im guessing s/one on the forum has rm no. 1 cuz somebody saw it awhile back. COOL! My thought is that the gun was presented to the man in 1935 and not the agency. Why not bring it out?
3. Can someone send me the R Jinks article from 1989? [email protected]. Also kwills article about certificates? And anything else you might have to educate me? When I came online I described myself as "not a gun guy" but I sure am now.
4. Does anyone have a number near mine- 2787. I think Mike P had one close.

5. Does anyone have a law enforcement RM untouched with the entire package? Box tools adaptors etc.I'm guessing it's pretty rare. Thanks. Waiting on ltr from SW historical foundation.Pumped up!

I believe you will find RM #1 not with a forum member (unless it's changed hands recently)---but stranger things have happened. That said, let me backpedal a bit, and say active forum member. RM #2 does live with a forum member----close enough?

Ralph Tremaine

Stop fretting over Grandpa's RM and go shoot it. take care not to place the wood grips close to a bench rest when shooting, but other than that, you can't hurt it. Factory 357 or 38 spl ammo. Go enjoy Grandpa's gun.

Charlie

Welcome to the FORUM! SHOOT it & CARE for it. What harm are you going to do? Bob

Have to agree...... your's is a family heirloom gun........not sure I'd put 1000s of hot magnum rounds through it...... but shoot it? YES

I've got my Dad's 6" 1938/39Colt New Service in .357 with sights and action work by Kings........ he carried it and shot it for 39 years as a police officer Sgt, Lt. and Capt............. I took it too Alaska twice in my 20s.........

it gets shot once in a while...... mostly 38s but still looks the same as it did when Dad gave it to me .......... about the turn of the Century!!!!!

Learn how to properly care for that gun and it will outlast you. Shoot it with sensible loads, clean and lubricate afterwards and you will not hurt the value. These guns were made to be shot and anyone who passes on a range session on one of these is missing out (does not apply to LNIB, unfired except from factory guns).

My father and I both shoot ours and have really enjoyed the experience.

Please post some photos of yours when you have a chance. (we all LOVE pictures here )

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On the Oak Savannah

Your grandad would want you to enjoy that firearm and a big part of enjoying it is shooting it .While there is some satisfaction in the pride of ownership nothing compares to taking it out and fireing it .I try to shoot my dads firearms on his birthday fathers day ect as a salute to him .When the day comes I pass them on to my sons ( hopefully many years in the future ) I hope they will do the same .

If you buy a copy of "Magnum: The S & W .357 Magnum Phenomenon" by Mullins (Collector Grade Publications) you will find a photo of RM #1 inside. That is as close as anyone may get to seeing it .

I would also carefully use your current RM, but there is no harm in posting a Wanted to Buy ad here for a shooter grade one. You may find they work exactly the same.

There was a recent post here by someone who had inherited (?) what appeared to be a complete RM package with certificate, don't recall if it was a LE gun but I think not. (Edit to add - this person may have been you ).

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Gary Cooper's RM is coming up for sale in the next Rock Island auction if you are interested.

Shoot it with sensible loads and keep it clean. Don't carry it in a holster. The value isn't going to change after a few rounds. Now taking it backpacking in the woods, and shooting a bunch of hot magnum loads and not cleaning it will have a substantial impact on value.

Life's too short to not enjoy your grandfathers revolver.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I'm a guy who believes that you can collect shooters and safe queens of the same guns. I have RMs that I shoot and ones that stay waxed and are lovingly taken in and out of the safe for viewing pleasure only. I too agree that shooting your Magnum will not hurt it - but it is a bear to get it all the way clean and polished up again! My shooter grade Magnums get shot, cleaned well with Hoppes and a quick coat of Ren Wax. But if there is a little powder residue here or there in those tough to clean spaces, I don't worry about it.

Your grandpa's package is something special with the certificate, tube, box, gun, brochure, and the history!

There are always a few RMs for sale on Gunbroker, some are shooter grade and some are collector grade. None of them are inexpensive...

Finding the perfect shooter grade Magnum is a lot of fun - good luck and enjoy the hunt.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

What he said!!!! What would your grandpa say?

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I also urge you to shoot granddaddy's RM. If you do not intend to ever sell it, I would even go so far as to buy a quality holster and carry that one afield. Guns were made to be carried and shot.

I once bought a nickel 8 3/8" Model 27 (the latter day version of your RM). It was new in the presentation case and had only been fired at the factory. I shot it and then found a 5" nickel barrel and had that installed. It was a great shooter.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Go to this link: http://smith-wessonforum.com/wanted-buy/ to post your "used RM want."

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Fred
S&WCA 3238

If I remember correctly, you have a really nice Reg Mag. If you don't want to shoot it, but want something similar, look for a nice Model 27 or pre-27. You will save lots of money vs a shooter grade Reg Mag and get a similar experience. a Highway Patrolman/Model 28 or pre-28 would also do.

Typically, older is better on these guns. At a min, I prefer pinned and Recessed guns.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

I sure am glad you used the term "similar"-----"something similar"----"get a similar experience". Otherwise, I fear you would have been pounced upon and beaten severely about the head and ears by those who've perhaps imbibed too much of the Kool Aid.

So what's the difference between a pre-war Magnum and a post-war Magnum? One has a "long" action---the other has a "short" action.

Don't get me wrong---I have an RM---a really spiffy one--about as spiffy as you can get---a sure enough "Cheely gun"---from the hands of the man himself---a straight up trade for another (configured as he wanted and didn't have---as difficult as it may be to imagine there was a configuration he didn't have). I have it because it (the cartridge actually) represents a significant milestone in the history of S&W.

So what about the gun itself? Is it really special---or was it afforded a really special sales pitch? I've been told the checkering on the top strap and rib was done by hand. I was told that by someone who clearly believed it. Same church, different pew----I've been told they were polished by hand. Really? How about the barrel lengths-----whatever you wanted---in quarter inch increments? Is that special? Yep! And the sighting in----that's special, right? Yep! Anything else? Yeah---you could get a certificate. Anything else?

The Registered Magnum was a stroke of genius product and marketing plan at a time when a stroke of genius was desperately needed---that and the cash----and LOADS of publicity.

What about the cash? $60 a piece, that's what about it. Marketed direct to the consumer, that's what about it. Well distributors could buy it at a discount, right? Yep. Their price was $47 and change. Let's see now, that leaves $13 gross profit to be split between the distributor and the dealer----slim pickin's, right? You think maybe the distributors might have been inclined to invest their money in other inventory? Seems likely. You reckon maybe that fact was not lost on those who set the distributor prices? Me too. So how much did it cost to make one of these things? I don't know---but here are some clues: It cost $14.55 to make a K-22/40 ("with grip adapter attached"). It cost something less than $17 to make a .44 HE 2nd Target. (That little tid-bit arises from mine-----one of "39 units of this model in the target configuration and they were billed at $17.00 each.") Sounds like a close-out, right? Yep! You reckon S&W lost any money on that deal? Me neither.

So----are RM's special guns? Yeah---sort of. Are they as special as we make them out to be? Good question! Are they worth what we pay for them? I certainly hope so!

Ralph Tremaine