Was perusing the list of guns on one of the auctions going on this weekend and spotted this one hiding amongst the rest.
Details were vague, was simply listed as a hand ejector 357 with the serial number 55046 with a 5" barrel. I decided to take a chance on it, don't know if its a registered magnum, guess ill find out when it shows up. Already got a nice set of medallion grips waiting, although the ones it came with look interesting.
A few pictures from the auction.

Yes, with that serial number from 1938 it’s definitely a Registered Magnum. Please post some additional pictures and the Registration Number when you receive it. I would just add that the 5” barrel and Baughman Quick Draw front sight on the King Ramp base was a popular law enforcement configuration, so perhaps you will want to obtain a factory letter for your RM.

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Terry Lester

Good for you! Congratulations. You hit the jackpot. Diligence pays off! Yes, more pics pls. Dave

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Can you post a link to the auction, since it’s completed?

Fantastic find with a great look! Grips look interesting, love the craftsmanship of the period even from the unknown makers

With that barrel length, that front sight, those grips and holster wear, I also bet that is an LEO gun. Congratulations! I definitely think an SWHF letter is in order.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Good for you. I wouldn't be too hasty replacing those grips. They might be as old as the gun.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

That 5" RM looks to have been lovingly used for its intended purpose. We are excited to learn more...

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Sure
Restricted handgun Smith & Wesson model Hand Ejector, .357 Mag six shot double action revolver, w/ b

The grips I have kicking around are about 10-15 years older than this gun so i haven't %100 decided to use them, will at the very least hang on to the grips as received.

Unfortunately at least one other person saw it for what is was and i had to spend a few bucks on it.
Im not sure the going rate of comparable models down south, but in the end ill be into it for just shy of the equivalent of $1900USD once the various auction fees and taxes are added on.

It certainly isn't a mint gun but i look forward to shooting it.

$1900, or just shy of that. A bargain!

Isn’t it rather curious how that works? Someone clearly knew something about this one, to bid it up that high. IMHO, once you get over a grand or so, you weed out the folks who don’t know what it is, but want a neat old revolver. At $1900, someone knows something, which makes me wonder why they didn’t bid this one up to at least 3k. Still a bargain and can be flipped, if desired.

I have a Target Model Triple Lock I obtained a few years ago just like that. In the bargain range, so I was bidding against someone who knew something about it, as it was beyond the casual bidder range. Why my competition didn’t go higher is a mystery. IIRC, I had to work the day of the sale and my left bid was considerably higher than what it hammered at.

Congratulations. Looks like a nice buy. Please update us when you receive it.

I think you did well. I would have paid that. It has a pretty good drop ding on the muzzle, but the hole still looks round, and it appears the rear sight is dinged. Still worth the money!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I wonder what “ mechanically appears to function reasonably well” means.

Wow, what a great find. Learning the history of that one will be enjoyable, to say the least. I like the stocks a lot and would keep them on it.
I think most people here would love to stumble on a revolver like that. Very envious. 😎

The link states that this is a “restricted” handgun. Is this Canada? What are
the restrictions associated with ownership of this fine handgun?

Without getting to into to much detail, onerous is the word i would describe owning handguns in Canada. Basically its the following:
-To own any gun (except antiques) you need to get a license to own firearms which requires a 2 day classroom course, background check and several month wait.
-All handguns are registered to you with the goverment and the transfer of this registration takes anywhere from a day to several months to complete depending on how backed up they are.
-Only place you can shoot them is a government approved range, no shooting on your private property or hunting allowed.
-No concealed carry
-Handguns in 25 or 32 caliber and/or handguns with barrels under 106mm/4.2" are banned outright. Unless you owned one when they were banned back in the early 90's you cannot own them.

That is the gist of it, there are several more convoluted and ridiculous rules but it only gets more confusing from there. On the plus side though we can mail order any gun we are allowed to own directly to your home, don't have to go through a local dealer.

Auctioneer got back to me with some more details, including the REG #, 3572.
Ill be sending off for a letter on this one once I get a hold of it.

A mechanically functional RM for $1900?
Yes please! May I get two?

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Finally managed to get it home, actually looks much nicer in person, I swapped out the grips for the only other set of pre-war N frame grips I had lying around. The grips it had looked to have been on there a while but definitely not its whole life, bit of wear under them, especially on the bottom of the but, looks like it was used as a hammer a few times in its like.
Rear sight did have a bit of a bruise but luckily doesn't affect the sight picture at all.

Nice find. Thanks for showing us.

You guys were probably bidding against someone who knew what it was but was still looking for a bargain wholesale price. It is easy to get cold feet at any auction when the money is going up fast too.

Is it my imagination or is this frame cracked?

That's the gap between the sideplate and the frame......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

The rear sight blade is stamped from sheet metal----.040" as I recall, and child's play to make (assuming you have access to the proper tools).

Ralph Tremaine

Just saw this thread, congrats on a desirable RM at a fantastic price!!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

I finally got around to getting a letter for this one, and as predicted by a few here it, it was a law enforcement order. It was shipped March 22nd 1938, along with 5 others in the same configuration, to Zork Hardware Co of El Paso for the city of El Paso police department.

Configuration is exact match except it was listed as having a butt swivel, whereas mine does not appear to have ever had one.
And of course mine no longer has the original grips.

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IMG_5558.jpg (104.0 KB, 61 views)

Congratulations....i love seeing folks ge bargains like this. Sometimes a bidder knows what he's looking at, but simply doesn't have the available funds or can not justify the higher bid. I have been in that place a number of times, knowing what I am looking at, but unwilling to go beyond a certain price point, because you never know your opponents resolve or pocketbook.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

What does w/b mean in the auction description? I thought "with box" but no mention of a box.

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Hand tighten only

Looks like it is cut off in the title; it is repeated in the description as “w/ bbl length”

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Terry Lester

yeklop, thanks for posting a picture of the shipping invoice.

Even though you have listed the shipping information, would you mind posting a picture of the last page of the factory letter?

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Terry Lester

Sure, here you go.

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IMG_5560.jpg (112.2 KB, 55 views)

Looks like the serial number is incorrect on the letter…..



Since the letter states “service stocks” I’m wondering why there is no mention of the Wesson Grip Adapter, either attached or unattached. The Wesson Grip Adapter was provided and offered at no charge, either attached or unattached, with pre-war .357 Magnums ordered with “Regular” service stocks - see the below order form for this period which asks the customer to select his preference…..


Also, if there is no indication of a butt swivel having ever been installed on your gun, I suggest you send good pictures to the historian showing the butt from the bottom and side view with the grips removed - perhaps this could be double checked. Is the serial number on the butt centered (indicating no butt swivel) or offset to one side ( indicating a butt swivel may have been installed)?

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Terry Lester

Good eye on the serial number typo, I missed that. The reg# is correct so i am assuming it was just a typo on the serial number on the letter.
I have no answer regarding the grip adapter.
This is a picture of the butt that I included with the letter request, serial number is centered.

Attached Images

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