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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 07-13-2018, 01:19 PM
CrossRanger CrossRanger is offline
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Default .357 Model and Value

Greetings. My father was a collector and I inherited a few of his pieces after he passed. The good folks over at Cal Guns were quick to direct me over to you guys to better understand the value of the revolvers I was looking to sell.

I was stumped because I found no model number and was encouraged when I read the "Identify your gun" post which directed me here. I'll also note that the top strap is checkered, which I was told also helped in identifying.

Any help at better understanding how to describe this piece and a fair market value would be greatly appreciated!

Serial Number: S 134118
S&W..357 MAGNUM
Barrel length: 5.5"
Adjustable rear sight
I count 4 screws




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Old 07-13-2018, 01:28 PM
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Hi

Sorry about your father. He left you at least one fine revolver!

The model name is .357 Magnum. At the time your gun was made, they did not have model numbers, but eventually this would become the Model 27.

The barrel is 6" long - it goes all the way to the front of the cylinder.

There are five frame screws, not four. The one in the front of the trigger guard counts.

The serial number puts production in the 1954-55 period.

The value will be relatively high, but I'll leave that to the N frame collectors here on the Forum. I like N frames a lot, but I don't collect them, so others will have a better idea of the price for your fine revolver.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:30 PM
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Oh yes. I forgot one item. The stocks on your gun are nice, but they did not accompany this revolver out the factory door.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:31 PM
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It is a "357 Magnum" from the mid-50's. A nice one too. It became the Model 27 around 57-58. There is a fifth screw under the top of the right grip so it would be called a 5-screw gun.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:33 PM
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No expert on gun values, but from what I’ve seen I’d imagine your “pre-27” would bring somewhere in the ballpark of $1500 fairly easily.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:37 PM
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The closest SN I have listed to S 134118 is S 1317XX which shipped in 11/54. This one probably shipped in early 1955. The barrel is probably 6" (measured from the front face of the cylinder). I won't guess on a value, but probably at least $1200 easily. Does it have its original box, paperwork, and tools? That would boost the price significantly.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-13-2018 at 01:38 PM.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:41 PM
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Does it have its original box, paperwork, and tools? That would boost the price significantly.
Great question. I know that he has some boxes and will have to check if this one is among them.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:43 PM
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While you are at it, CrossRanger, see if you can find the original stocks. Those will also boost the price. If they are of the Magna style and not target stocks, the gun's serial number, minus the S, will be impressed into the wood on the inside of the right hand panel.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:43 PM
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Maybe the original stocks are in the box. Hope you find it.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:51 PM
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The correct box will add $100 as will the original stocks. Yes, 6" barrel (most common). The was the top of the S&W line. I think at least $1,200 as is. More with box and correct stocks.

BTW- "I inherited this from my dad and need help selling it" is exactly why I generally advise against the practice of buying or building "heirloom guns" to leave offspring or other descendants. No guarantee he/she/they will share your interests.
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Old 07-13-2018, 02:01 PM
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I could be wrong, but if you measure from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel, I think you will find the nominal barrel length will be 6 1/2 inches long. It will still be considered 6 1/2 even if it is a little short as there were some fitting that took place that would shorten the barrel length a bit, some could be up to an 1/8 or so short.

The Hogue stocks are worth $80-100 if in good shape as they appear to be. Best deal is that you be able to find the original box and stocks. Makes collectors drool and may even bump the value to near $2000.
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Old 07-13-2018, 02:02 PM
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! There also was a blued steel, 8 or 9 row knurled-handle screwdriver that we call a Sight Adjustment Tool (SAT), cleaning tools and paperwork that may also be in the box. All these add value.


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Old 07-13-2018, 02:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightowl View Post
I could be wrong, but if you measure from the front of the cylinder to the end of the barrel, I think you will find the nominal barrel length will be 6 1/2 inches long. It will still be considered 6 1/2 even if it is a little short as there were some fitting that took place that would shorten the barrel length a bit, some could be up to an 1/8 or so short.
Thanks for the insight, Nightowl! I corrected my measurement locations and find 6 1/2" from barrel tip to the interface with the cylinder.
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Old 07-13-2018, 02:42 PM
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I wrestled with that too, when I looked at your picture with the ruler in it. It appeared that you shaded the end of the rule a bit closer to the cylinder, beyond the frame bridge, leading to an apparent measurement of about 5 1/2". By adding the frame thickness at the front, that would take the ruler end back to the face of the cylinder for a proper measurement. Using the photo and those calculations, I determined it to be 6" barrel (apparently incorrectly). But I also know that 6" barrels on the .357 Magnum during the 1950-1956 period are more common than 6 1/2". That no doubt lent weight to my conclusion.

If you have now more carefully measured it and it is indeed 6 1/2" long, that makes the gun more interesting. As stated before, I'm not an N frame collector. But I believe if I were in the market for another 5 screw, postwar .357 Magnum, I would probably be willing to pay a tad bit more for one with a 6 1/2" barrel over a 6" barrel. Others may not agree, which is okay too.
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Old 07-13-2018, 05:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrossRanger View Post
Thanks for the insight, Nightowl! I corrected my measurement locations and find 6 1/2" from barrel tip to the interface with the cylinder.
And the 6 1/2 inch barrel adds a premium to the price as they are very hard to find.

If you try to sell it to a gun store, you will only get about half the market value. You will realize a better profit selling here, or on Gunbroker or one of the other gun sale sites.
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Old 07-13-2018, 06:23 PM
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Yes, gun dealers live on 100% markups on used guns, so private sales can bring more to you. Some dealers may do consignment sales and take maybe 25% of the sale price, but that percentage can vary from dealer to dealer and depend on other factors.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-13-2018 at 06:37 PM.
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Old 07-13-2018, 06:56 PM
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A very nice revolver. Folks here will debate which barrel length is the most desirable, frankly I'm happy to find any of them in that condition. If you use the search function at the top of the page you can find lots of information about the current model 27s, the previous dash numbers (e.g. 27-2), the pre 27s and their predecessors the Registered and Non-Registered Magnums. As to value, here's a five inch, probably 1956, that I found two years ago and the price then was about $1500; no box/papers/etc. just the gun. As others noted, you do not have the correct stocks which might be as those in the pictures below (numbered to the gun) or might be the larger "diamond targets" which most likely would not have been numbered. And as others also noted, if you can find the original box/papers/tools you can add more $ to the total. Either way, you've got a great gun. Enjoy.

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Attached Images
File Type: jpg Pre 27 5 inch.jpg (175.3 KB, 34 views)
File Type: jpg Pre 27 Magna Stocks.jpg (111.8 KB, 27 views)
File Type: jpg Pre 27 5 inch (2).jpg (155.7 KB, 27 views)
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