Hello all. I am new here. glad to be here. I have an opportunity to purchase what i believe to be a registered magnum. i was curious if it is worth buying at 700$. it is in good shape smooth action. Buuuut, well the photos should say it all. I have seen these sell in a lot worse condition for a good amount.
Apparently someone tried to engrave the gun. Obviously long ago before they had any idea what it would be worth in today's market. i am on the fence. i seen it one time in person. looked good besides the obvious. looks original. Smoothest action i have ever felt. sadly i did not check the reg. number as i did not know what it was at the time. but i am pretty sure it is a registered based on serial#.
would i be able to make a quick buck on this? i may keep it. sadly there is no paper work or box. just the gun. serial# is 478**

Sure. Go buy it for $700 and I'll give you $750.


You should definitely buy it. It is a Reg Mag. That punch engraving was quite stylish to some in the southwest, and you have a fairly unusual name to research.
Buy it TODAY.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Collector value is gone. Would be a stylish shooter. I would pay $700 but only if I wanted to keep it. I would not count on flipping it. The engraving will turn away 95% of buyers.

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No life story has happy end.

I'll up Lee's bid, $800 as soon as you can get it to me. No way to tell about the "engraver" but it looks a little like Wolf & Klar work. I'd buy it in a heartbeat for $700 and then letter it to see where it originally went. Would be really cool if it turned out to be a W&K gun. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

What Art Doc said. Think I would pay that for the Kool factor!

That is just not correct. That style engraving was used so much by Wolf & Klar that it has become known as "W&K style". If it shipped to W&K, it could be considered an enhancement. If Ide turns out to be a lawman or someone of note, it gets better.
Want me to appraise some paintings for ya?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations. That's how you make an entrance.

For that price, I'd buy it just to have a shooter grade registered magnum that you could use without affecting the value.

The parts on it are probably worth over $700.

At $700 ...... don't think you'll lose money.

Bet it got an interesting history...................


Certainly one of a kind.........................

Even if the engraving looked MILES worse and was done with a rusty nail and a bottle of Jack Daniels, that revolver is worth significantly more than $700.

While it would be a horrendous idea and I hope nobody does it, you could pull off just a few of the non-engraved parts and resell them for far more than $700.

If I were in your shoes, I would be quaking nervously that either someone else has already snatched it or the seller might become more informed of it’s value.

Hell, the hammer is probably worth $700 to someone who needs one.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

If you don't want to buy please just PM me and let me know were it's being sold...

Lee is correct it certainly has the characteristics of the W&K style.
Even though I'm pleased my 3rd model W&K didn't get the treatment, it seems to be pleasing to some collectors and that RM wears it well.

What he said----and there's no "probably" about it!!

Ralph Tremaine

It’s a scarce gun and if you like the style I would recommend buying it, in about three milliseconds.

The next steps would be to order a letter of authenticity from the S & W Historical Foundation, followed by a records search from the same organization. Some fairly amazing documentation and history has emerged from such requests.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

You started this thread 2 hrs ago. I hope you have since raced back to the seller and counted out $700, before someone else does!

What a grand entrance to this great forum.

If you have buyer's remorse, PM me.

Registered Magnum revolvers are LEGENDARY!!!

I’m a buyer too if OP decides to sell!

I actually like the engraving, gives it personality.

Last one I saw for sale was a 6" at the Lakeland show a couple years back. It was in maybe 40% blue, but good mechanical op. A shade under $3K but it probably would have moved at $2500. I ain't seen it since so somebody got it. Get it, figure out "what to do with it" later. $.02. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

thanks guys. i will think it over. next few days i will let you know what happens. i personally think it is worth 3 grand. given the ones i have seen sell recently were in a lot worse condition. my main objective is to get the gun and make a bit of money.

It would behoove you to find the 700 buck were ever you can short of robbery, you won't get this opportunity again. Most of us wait a lifetime for a buy like that.

Absolutely HIDEOUS.

I want it.

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SWCA 3563
10mm aficionado

If you buy the gun for $700 I guarantee you that you will make “a bit” of money. Just add my name to the above list of potential buyers, and PM me when you are ready to sell. Also, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time thinking it over if I were you.

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Terry Lester

Unless you're the only person who knows it's for sale it'll be gone. If someone posted that for sale on this board for $1,500 i'd be surprised if it lasted for 5 minutes.

FWIW buying a gun with the intention of selling it could be considered engaging in the business of buying and selling firearms. Chances are no one will ever go after you for doing it with one gun, but I wouldn't be discussing it online. If you buy the gun with the intention of shooting it/adding it to your collection and end up selling 1 day later it for double what you paid no big deal.

thanks. for the info. will keep that in mind

Remember that old saying, you snooze, you lose.

A whole lot of truth in this case.

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LEX ET ORDO

Questions?????


From the provided pictures, how can you tell it is a RM vs. a non-RM?


Also, any body manage to decipher the engraved name...?
I get RAYMOND. A. IO Is IO a last name or is it RAYMOND?
or did the engraver not plan ahead and ran out of room.....?

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Serial# 478** was provided making it circa 1936, well before the NRM’s. (Also note S&W trademark on left side under the ejector button). However, even if it were an NRM, it would still have similar value as presented.

Last name is IDE I believe.....see the 3rd picture.

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Terry Lester

Here's a possibility. This guy was a criminologist in the Salt Lake area in 1936.

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the engraved name is a mystery to me

interesting

What's there to think about, what's there to keep in mind?

This is what's called a "no brainer".

I don't mean to be a jerk, but if I could buy something and have multiple folks chomping at the bit to pay me considerably more for it relatively quickly, I couldn't get the $700 out of my pocket fast enough.

Unless your pay rate is astronomically high and it isn't worth your while...

Like I said, I'd be pleased to be able to buy this from you someday, if afforded the opportunity!

I hadn't considered your thoughts, something that is a holy grail to most here may just be a old relic to someone that has the funds to do what ever they wish.
This person may be able to afford a Maserati and could care less about a miserly RM.

i was referring to the part about being consider part of the gun business. but i get were your coming from. i know who has the gun. it is not going anywhere. but i have decided to buy it and i will pick it up friday

Man, a 5" RM for the price of a polymer pistol. I like the patridge front sight better than a ramp on a five incher, bet it's a good shoot'n gun.

honestly was the best feeling gun i ever placed in my hand. action was so smooth. clean bore and chambers. it is lovely

I am glad to read the responses on this thread because I am one of the 95% turned off by engraving. To my eyes the gun needs to wear a Hag Bag; But I respect the opinions of those who know more. Also I highly value the description of how smooth she feels.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

I would have hurt myself pulling my wallet out. No way I would have left that shop without it.

Great find!! Another member here, Thinnes, "discovered" one and caught the fever! Here is his thread;

I have a 357 reg magnum with certificate

If you like his thread, you might consider this one. You're off to a great start!

Should YOU Join the S&W Collectors Association?

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PTLAPTA!

Show us the REG number...........or I'm calling B.S............

Based on the countless "should I buy it" threads I've read over the years on countless forums, "what will happen" is usually someone else has already bought it.

But maybe this will be one of those extremely rare occasions where it will end up being yours.

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Watch & Pray

See the previous post, it fits. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

Glad to hear you're buying it! Then get the letter. Sounds like there is a potential story to this one. You found a sweet deal. This is why this hobby can be so addicting.

i sold 2 RM hammers for $1800.

Buy it.

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"Free dirt, you dig."

This engraved RM puts me in mind of an RM i saw and held and photographed at the Louisville gun show a year and a half ago. It was a 61/2” with stag grips. A friend of mine took it in on trade at a value of $2500. He still owns it and wants to hunt a deer on his property with it. He’s 83 years old so I don’t know if he’s going to hang on to it for much longer. Bill

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I'm part of that 95%..........

I think it's ugly as sin ....... but it only takes one to like it ,want it and pay four figures for it!


For $700 I'd grab it as a shooter and the bragging rights of having the ugliest RM !

What he said. ^^^

For $700 I'd buy it for sure.

I don't care for engraved guns but I've seen a few posted by RKmesa that are down right beautiful.

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

edseven:

First of all - welcome to the best firearms forum on the web. It is a wonderful place to spend a few minutes or hours every day. There are always interesting discussions about all things S&W and many other topics as well. As the first and original .357 Magnum, any Registered Magnum will always be a collector's item. The one in your photos has had some questionable modifications, but like was said above - it is now a one-of-a-kind 5" barreled RM.

I'm glad that you're going to purchase it - $700 for ANY RM is a steal. I would suggest that prior to reselling it, that you take it out and shoot it. The pre-war Magnums are a delight to shoot!!! You just may find that you fall in love with it, overlook some of the modifications, and treasure it as your link to a prior era, when guns were used and modified to suit the owner's needs/likes. I also hope that you letter the gun and discover some of its history... and then share that history with the rest of us .357 Magnum enthusiasts.

All the best,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

HOPE YOU HAVE AN FFL WITH THAT KIND OF STATEMENT ON A OPEN FORUM...

Sort of Art Deco. I'd pay $700 for it.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Speaking as the owner of the reigning champ of that title.... this is only a distant second. At best.



Honestly, I think this gun might have some funky "engraving" but its still a endearing gun. The price is certainly a steal for one of the best shooting guns anyone can ever own.

Plus, I think refinished RMs win the title of ugliest RM hands down. When all the markings are polished off, and the edges are all dished out from over polishing...ick. Give me some silly engraving over that any day.

it is still a debate for me to keep it or not. i buy guns and shoot them. but this one as i see it, is best not shot but to be sold to someone who would enjoy it more than i would.