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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 10-01-2017, 04:53 PM
mmck mmck is online now
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Default Non-registered magnum *Letter added 10/20/17*

I am going to have to quit going to gun shows every Saturday or get some adult supervision to slow my accumulating down.

Stopped at three shows yesterday. This non-registered magnum was at the second. While it immediately caught my attention, the poorly done refinish gave me serious doubts. I did some research on my phone during lunch and was tempted to go back and try to close the deal, but ultimately decided to move on to the third show.

After arriving home last night, I spent several hours searching the forum and learned a lot about these and the registered guns. The serial number, 610XX, had me wondering if this might be one of the KCPD guns. It seems they are known for being refinished.

I was up early this morning and on the road again at 6:30 a.m. Upon arrival at the show, the table with this gun was completely empty with the owner nowhere in sight. After going through the entire show again, I was ready to head home empty handed. I glanced that direction one last time and saw him arriving about 45 minutes after the show had opened. He still had the gun and after a complete grips off examination, we had a deal.

The numbers on the butt, barrel, cylinder, extractor and yoke all match. The front sight is a King. Function in both single and double action is good.

My initial thought was to have it restored, but now I think I will let the letter drive that decision. If it has some discernable LE history, I may just get stocks with a more original appearance and maintain it in this condition.

Matt
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Last edited by mmck; 10-20-2017 at 09:22 PM. Reason: Added letter
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:12 PM
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I think I'd leave it as-is no matter what the letter says. I might look out for some nice contemporary grips, probably a better use for your money.

Last edited by DWalt; 10-01-2017 at 05:14 PM.
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:29 PM
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Default Non-registered magnum *Letter added 10/20/17*

Looks like the correct configuration (except grips) for a KCPD Non-Registered Magnum - 4” barrel, Baughman Quick Draw front sight on a King Ramp base. Your idea of just adding some pre-war Magna grips sounds like a winner to me - and then if it does letter to the KCPD maybe getting something to display it in like this.

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Old 10-01-2017, 05:38 PM
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I see nothing that needs refinishing. I would dress it up with some sambar stag grips, a T-grip adapter and shoot it.

Charlie
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:44 PM
apollo99 apollo99 is offline
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I picked up a 27-2 with a blemish on the barrel, I was going to get the barrel refinished, but then after shooting it I decided I was going to shoot the heck out of it. I know if I refinished it, it would lose value, but then I still would be afraid of holster wear and turn lines. Now I have the pleasure of shooting a great revolver, cleaning it, and doing it again next range trip. I think if I had your new purchase I would find a nice holster for it and it would see a lot of range time.
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:50 PM
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Looks like a good shooter.
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Old 10-01-2017, 05:58 PM
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Default mmck

I will not suggest what you should do with your great new addition, its not worn out and is made well enough to perform as designed for another 60 or 100 years, shoot it and enjoy. Your return trip and patience paid off big time. Congratulations, super find!
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Old 10-01-2017, 07:42 PM
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I appreciate the thoughts on leaving it alone. Most of mine are in nice condition, probably high grade shooters to true collectors. They are enjoyed visually more than shot. Since this may have been a real working gun, it could be viewed differently.
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Old 10-01-2017, 08:25 PM
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Congratulations! That looks to be in pretty good shape - and certainly worth shooting. My eyes may be deceiving me but I think your gun may have a standard hammer - and I think the KCPD guns had humpback hammers. I would letter it myself to be sure. And I would certainly enjoy shooting it!
Jerry
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Old 10-01-2017, 09:02 PM
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I'm envious - 3 Gunshows in One weekend !

I say keep it as is & shoot that old War Horse. With all those gun shows around, you'll find some better shoes for her in no time...
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Old 10-01-2017, 09:07 PM
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Nice catch. I like it as is. I might refinish the grips and get some period originals but that's it.
I have a Non Registered that's come up from Texas LE with a factory 5 1/2 barrel. Let us know how she shoots. Mine works great with the warmer loads.
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Old 10-20-2017, 09:20 PM
mmck mmck is online now
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Default Letter received

I received the letter today. It is one of the KCPD guns from January, 1940.

It looks much better now with the pre-war magnas. Thanks to forum member howiema for this improvement.

The letter has an extraneous "22" in the ship date. Is it possible to get Mr Jinks to send a corrected letter? The wording in the final paragraph is a little different than others from this shipment I have seen here on the forum.
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Old 10-20-2017, 09:35 PM
Shark Bait Shark Bait is offline
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Nice, like everyone else here, I want one.
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Old 10-20-2017, 09:38 PM
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Quote:
The letter has an extraneous "22" in the ship date. Is it possible to get Mr Jinks to send a corrected letter? The wording in the final paragraph is a little different than others from this shipment I have seen here on the forum.
YES, send the letter back and ask that a corrected copy be sent back.

As I have mentioned several times before on the forum, Roy Jinks uses a letter template for each model so that the entire letter doesn't have to be typed every time. Sometimes within the cutting and pasting, words, numbers or parts thereof are inadvertently left behind. Mistakes are many times overlooked when proof reading your own work. Roy doesn't have a secretary so all of the emails, letters and phone calls are handled by him personally. I have been in his office and the phone rings constantly. It's a wonder that he even gets time to respond to letters.
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Old 10-21-2017, 12:37 PM
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As usual, curiosity got the better of me, so I looked up Chief Read. Couldn't find anything, so emailed the Kansas City Library, and they got right back to me. His name was Reed (two e's). Quite the career!

Here's what they sent:

Kansas City, Missouri Police Officers Memorial


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Old 10-21-2017, 06:22 PM
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Thanks for that document 357magster. I will print that out and keep it with the letter.
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Old 10-21-2017, 07:44 PM
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In the letter I got back on my recent Triple Lock acquisition, there are several errors, including grammar, the number of guns made in that run, and even starting out with "Dear Mr. Parsons..."
I'm not Mr. Parsons.

Hondo suggested I ask for a re-do, but the letter did have the right serial number, and did include the original shipping date and the company it was shipped to, which were my two primary concerns, so I won't bother Roy for a re-write.

I imagine he IS quite busy, and I knew there'd have to be a form letter template used, which I certainly can't blame him for.
Denis
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Old 10-21-2017, 08:04 PM
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I did extensive research on L.B. Reed for a display at the Kansas City S&WCA show.
Reed was involved in the wrongful shooting of a women while trying to serve a warrant in NYC.
Reed was a reserve army officer while a F.B.I. agent and the statement that he retired in 1940 is suspect to me, he was only 4o years old. Maybe called into some sort of Army service with WW 2 on the horizon.
Reed operated a private detective agency in Virginia before his death, I have a badge will need to get photo.
Lastly Reed was hired to clean up the corruption in KC but accepted a gun from the S&W area sales rep for buying S&W guns.


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Old 10-21-2017, 08:43 PM
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The KCPD info indicates that a committee appointed by the Governor selected Reed to take lead the Department when it was taken over by the State. It mentions Hoover but the word on the street is that Hoover personally hand picked Reed. With the knowledge of Hoover's power at that time no one else would have been suggested.

The KC Police Department was the only municipal police department which was under the control of a state. It remains so today and the State signs their checks.

Bob
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Old 10-21-2017, 09:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyman View Post
Lastly Reed was hired to clean up the corruption in KC but accepted a gun from the S&W area sales rep for buying S&W guns.

Has this NRM ever surfaced?



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Old 10-21-2017, 09:29 PM
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There was another 3 1/2 RM in the same shipment as the Reed gun, guns were consecutive serial numbers, the only 2 3 1/2 inch guns shipped to KCPD.
I believe that Reed took the gun with him when he left KC.
I attempted to find family of Reed with no luck.

Bob Bettis: Look at members of the governor's committee, former president Calvin Coolige who would have had easy contact with H. Hoover.
Hoover was very upset with the massacre at KC train station and he wanted KC cleaned up.
In the Human Wolves book Reed states he took the job after consulting with Mr. Hoover.
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Old 10-22-2017, 03:15 AM
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I haven’t done as much research on Chief Reed and the KCPD as some of you, but I have found several press photos of Chief Reed at online auction sites that were taken during his rather stormy period at the helm of the KCPD. The photos are below along with the description as listed on the back of each photo:









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