K260003 is the first production Combat Magnum completed on December 15, 1955. It was kept in the factory collection until 1962 when it was sent to Alvin White for engraving and presentation to President John F. Kennedy. The presentation was never made because of his assassination in November 1963 and this Combat Magnum was in the collection of a very well known collector until I acquired it in 2011.

K260005 is a very early Combat Magnum that was shipped or picked up at the factory by Pete Kuhlhoff, Shooting Editor of Argosy Magazine, in January 1956. It is one of ten known to have been shipped in a dark blue presentation case numbered to the revolver. This Combat Magnum was mentioned in Mr. Kuhlhoff's article on the 44 Magnum (also given to him at the same time) published in Argosy in May 1956.

I have posted these Magnums before, but thought I would post them again for new members who have not seen them.

Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

Doc,

As always, your collection makes me weak at the knees. Good show man!

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On the Oak Savannah

What photos, please..

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Always Stay Strong!

Yet another case where the "like" button is completely inadequate.

Bill, those revolvers are still in the care of a very well known collector.
You should post them every so often for new & old members .
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

I can't see any photos either. Maybe this thread belongs in the concealed carry section.

The Kennedy revolver is a one of a kind, and worthy of a magazine article in and of itself. Thank you for sharing this with us!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Hmmm....I can see the photos using Chrome but can't see them with Firefox.

What Photos?

I have used Chrome for quite a few years and post my photos with Fototime. I have not had problems until recently with a few members not being able to see my photos. I am not sure why that is. Maybe Lee Jarrett has an explanation to offer if he sees this post.

I can also see posted photos with Microsoft Edge.

Bill

The computer I use the most uses Chrome. On my other laptop, I use Edge. Both show the pics.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I work in Information Security full time. I also perform penetration testing of applications and networks.

The latest versions of Chrome (which auto-updates), has some built in security features that will deny displaying images from sites, especially if those sites do not employ a certificate.

You can get around this by overriding it in Chrome Settings - Advanced - Content Settings - and then "Show All" under the Images section.

The reason that Explorer fails to present the same problems is that Explorer is a less sophisticated (read: less secure) browser.

I hope this helps. There could be other reasons but this is the usual culprit.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

Thank you for sharing! It's a privilege just to see those photos.

Stunning as usual.

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Sure you did

Two of my favorite K-Frame .357's. Thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I'm using an 11 y/o HP "slimline" with Windows 7 and Firefox. Those pix are beautiful as always. Maybe a "pop-up blocker" needs to be disabled? That "Kennedy revolver" has to be the top K Frame of all time. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

It seems everybody is updating security lately. Microsoft (Windows), Firefox, Chrome, everybody. I guess the Chinese and Russians are misbehaving more than ever.
If you don't see the pics, your browser is probably blocking them. Make sure your browser is up to date- ALWAYS do that anyway for security. Look for a setting that will allow them, or see if you get a choice to allow them.
I'm using Firefox and I see them. Last week, I could not see Doc's pics.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

What serial number was Bill Jordan's?

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Jordan's was 260,001. In Mostly Huntin' he says that he always wondered who got 260,002. Does anybody here know?

I'm a new member, so I really appreciate seeing the pictures. I own one in the 262-and-change range and love these things.

stamper

Not to be too picky, my friend, but Bill Jordan's Combat Magnum was K260001. You should teach yourself to include the whole serial number. The K is significant . . .

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Gee, Richard. I'm surprised you like the Kennedy gun. It has scratches all over it!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Indeed it is. Much obliged.

... and very beautiful scratches by one of my favorite "gun scratchers". As good as Alvin White was at engraving metal and inlaying gold, I think his ivory carving is a notch above his engraving and those carved ivory grips are some of the finest ivory work to adorn any revolver.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Prodigious revolvers! They are marvelous to behold!!

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SWCA #2948
SWHF #431

Bill, I was Just thinking about this gun and the great “debate” between k260001 and K260003 this week. I acquired K 260062 and it’s box this week. Great stuff. Thanks Dave

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Illegitimi non carborundum

K260001 was shipped to William Jordan on January 5, 1956. S&W reserved the lowest serial number for him. I remember as a kid seeing him on "You Asked For It" with his new Combat Magnum. K260002 was shipped to H. L. Dickerson, Brooklyn, NY on January 26, 1956. K260004 was shipped to MG Julian Hatcher, NRA, on January 20, 1956. K260006 was shipped to GEN George Van Orden, Evaluators Ltd., Quantico, VA on January 3, 1956. This Combat Magnum was to be used in tests by the U. S. Marine Equipment Board. It is the first Combat Magnum shipped by S&W.

This accounts for K260001 through K260006.

Bill

Here is some additional information on K260006.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Great information on K260006. Thanks for posting it.

Bill

Beautiful.

By the way my Firefox (updated yesterday) shows the other pictures, but not Doc44s and flags the Forum as an insecure site with no certificate.

Opera shows everything (probably also exposes it to the Russian and Chinese intelligence services, bit who's keeping score?)

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I need ammo, not a ride.

My uncle lived with my grandparents as an adult before he was married and he subscribed to Argosy, True, and other men's magazines. They were popular reading for my brothers and me on Sunday afternoon visits. They were full of articles on hunting, fishing, other sports, and various illustrated stories of a more risque nature.

Thanks for posting those beautiful pictures. I can see them fine with my Microsoft Explorer (Win10).

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You're shy a few manners.

K260006, the rest of the story--maybe.

An old landlord of mine, Capus Waynick, owned Combat Magnum K260006 and showed it to me in the early 1980s.
He was the Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard from Jul 1957-Dec 1960.
He told me he acquired the gun at Camp Perry while there with NCNG shooters, but didn’t say what year this occurred.
Camp Perry matches in 1957 were held from Aug 9-Sep 10, 1957.
Gen. Van Orden, Evaluators Ltd., was heavily involved in the shooting industry during that time.
Van Orden’s son, George, won a trophy at the 1957 Camp Perry match.
It is my belief that Gen. Van Orden would have been in attendance at the 1957 matches.
Waynick did not tell me from whom he acquired the Combat Magnum, but given that Waynick and Van Orden were probably both at the 1957 Camp Perry matches, the time line suggests that Gen. Waynick may have gotten it directly from Gen. Van Orden at Camp Perry.

Or maybe Waynick got it from another party at Camp Perry who got it from Van Orden.
Who knows? But it makes for interesting speculation…

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John

Them sure are some good looking revolvers.