I have posted this photo before, but since there has been some discussion about Harry Jarvis, I thought I would post it again. This ".357" was Class B-engraved by Mr. Jarvis in 1951.

Bill

I have posted this photo before, but since there has been some discussion about Harry Jarvis, I thought I would post it again. This ".357" was Class B-engraved by Mr. Jarvis in 1951.

Bill

Now that's the perfect gun! Absolutely beautiful!

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Regards,

Bill, ya gotta stop this, you are killing me.
Absolutely gorgeous!

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Dick

Exquisite art, thanks for sharing, Bill!

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John

Wow! Its gorgeous.

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SWCA # 2294

Amazing.It is a work of art.

Gosh, that is just beautiful!

Thanks, Bill! I think the Class B engraving leaves a little room for the engraving style to breathe. I find it easier to appreciate the style better.

By the way, 1951 is my birth year ... If you need my address, just let me know.
Regards,

Jerry

I know you've been asked this before but where the heck is the coffee table book that every respectable gun enthusiest would love to have. You could produce it on the net. Do it for us, we love your guns.
Paul

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"NUTS"

Well - I just couldn't resist. Here is my pair of Jarvis .357's - factory grips and all.
One or both of these is signed by Jarvis.





Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike

Where/how are they signed?

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Pace

Mike, very, very nice!

By the way, Bill, please put a card with my name on it inside the box of this pre-Model 27 just in case you ever want to sell off your collection.
This just may be my favorite of all the magnificent guns you've posted here.
I think the Class B engraving on this one is sedately elegant and provides an aesthetic balance--the engraving doesn't overpower the classic lines of the gun, and the gun doesn't overpower the engraving.

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John

Mike

As I recall, its under the barrel. I will check tomorrow morning.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Bill, that gun is simply breathtaking. Like others have said, the B engraving gives itself room to breathe which enhances the beauty.

Mike your pair are beautiful, beyond anything I can ever imagine from stock to sight. A work of art.

Bill's gun is more my style by far. I can see myself shooting it. While art, it retains its' look of solid utility.

Mike's two gorgeous Pinto's should be sold to the National Firearms Museum right away(don't thank me Mike *S*), so all of us can see them in person. I don't think I could ever pull the trigger on anything with that much handwork and craft.

I hope I can see those some day on a visit to Jim Supica at work!!

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S&WCA #2018

Mike, this is indeed a noble suggestion for your pair, however, completely off base. They should first reside next to their cousin at my place. Then when I'm older and grayer, I can move them to the museum.


Engraver: Harry Jarvis (per factory letter).
Shipped: March 7, 1955

Bill...

I think I commented the last time you posted this gun but just in case, simply fabulous...gotta love HBJ.

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Pace

Mr. Jarvis did great work for many years as evidenced by great guns posted here.

Bill

Mike

One of the two guns has H B JARVIS stamped on the lower right front corner of the
gripstrap, under the grip.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Bill,
That is a beautiful Class B. I love it.

Mike,
That is an interesting pair. Tell us about the Red insert, please. How long were they shaped like that?
On the grips- did Jarvis do them also? They look like grips A. White did.

Pace,
That one of yours is also a beauty.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Thanks, Mike. Thats exactly what I was looking for. The signed Jarvis' I'm aware of all are using his first and middle initial.

As an aside, this 6 inch nickel Jarvis 357 HE shipped in October 1952, also lettered with a Blanchard RR front sight.

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Pace

Lee...The Blanchard was the forerunner of S&W's red ramp. It is pictured in the first printing (only) of S&W's 1952 catalog. Subsequent printings show the red ramp. You see a few ".357" Magnums with the Blanchard (as shown in this thread), but they are scarce!! Forum member SRT has a ".357" with a Blanchard front sight blade if I remember correctly.

I assume S&W bought the rights to the sight and changed it their "red ramp" configuration, but that is only a guess on my part.

Bill

Bill

From what I have learned, there was some legal issue between Blanchard & S&W, and it
resulted in the Blanchard insert having a very short life. Presumably it was something
to do with paying/not-paying Blanchard a royalty.

Lee

The grips were part and parcel of both guns. They were delivered this way . Years
ago, Gary Garbrecht and I exchanged lots of pictures of carved grips. I still have the
file, and we were trying to figure out if Alvin White, or someone else, did this carving.
I even arranged for Roy to deliver a copy of the file to Alvin White, but we never
received a response.

Here is what is in the letter , for the pair I have:

" --- your handguns were shipped on Dec 12, 1952, and delivered to Rex Firearms, S&W's
Represesntative for Engraved and Inlaid revolvers during the early 1950's . --- the
revolvers were engraved as a pair and finished in the two-tone blue nickel that was
a favoritte of the Rex Firearms Co. The stocks were target type of specially carved
select wood with ivory diamond inserts around the screw hole. Both the barrels are
3.5 inches and equipped with the Blanchard red insert front sight, that was only used
in 1952( catalog photo copy enclosed ) target hammers and standard triggers. These
revolvers are exceptionally fine examples of S&W Master Engraver Harry B. Jarvis
work, and revolver serial number Sxxxxx bears Mr. Jarvis signature stamp. It is
very rare to find a signed engraved gun by Mr. Jarvis . "

Regards, Mike Priwer

Thanks, Guys.
Very interesting.
One never knows it all about S&W. I think that's what I love- we'll be learning till we die.
I have seen one Blanchard before, and thought it was aftermarket. I have a 1st prtg of the 52 catalog, but somehow did not recall seeing that.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett