Pictured below is one of the "early" catalogs featuring the then new "S&W .44 Magnum." "Gopher Shooter's Supply Catalog #11" This edited version (17 pages) differs from their standard catalog (151 pages) in that it was sent only to various Law Enforcement Dept's. Along with the catalog is pictured the "Police Pricing insert".
The .44 Magnum is featured on both the front cover and immediately inside. (note the affidavit required to receive the wholesale price offered to the Police!)

p.s. - While I have the Catalog - Chuck(29-1) has the Gun!

Pre

I would love to own that catalog, as I have one shipped to Gopher's. It hasnt been all that long ago they were still in business but I guess they are gone now.

Here's the gun...a 5 screw pre-29 with distinctly better finish of the 56/early 57 guns



And the letter



I would love to buy a few for what that book prices them at.

Mr. 29aholic...(I would love to own that catalog)

I have a spare of the "Standard" issue I'd be more than happy to send you - no charge. It's worn but has all its pages and will be a nice fit alongside that beautiful Pre-29!
..send me an email off-line with your address and I'll get it in the mail Monday..)

Pictured together below...

I did a lot of business with Gopher Shooters Supply before they closed. Very nice folks with a class operation!

Curtis, what's the story on your pre-29 lettering as a 4" gun and having a 6 1/2" barrel? Did the factory replace the original 4" with the longer tube?

J.C. you have a couple of rare catalogs. The version I have is the police version. If you ever run across another regular No 11 catalog, I'd love to have one.
Chuck
Chuck

__________________
SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Chuck- Read the posted letter again.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Thank you for the generous offer, email sent

Chuck,
SP is correct the gun originally shipped as a 4" which I am assuming is on the date on the letter (1/11/57).
The barrel was numbered to the gun, as has a sideways "R" stamped in the ejector window.
Here's the pic



It may bother some that the barrel was swapped, but I like the 6.5" better...and it does letter. Its a shame that smithing invoices are next to impossible to find as there is no date on the frame indicating a return to the factory, or any other re-work marks besides the "R"

BTW...this is the gun I got from Lee that has the grips you want.

Glad to get the Gopher catalog to someone that will appreciate it. As Bill and Chuck have said, "Collecting the extras, the provenance is equally if not more challenging and rewarding as the guns themselves."

It'll be in the mail tomorrow!
Best Regards,
J.C.

Mr. Mentor,
If I'd only have known! I passed on another one earlier this year...
I owe you a few....I'll find one for you!

(pssst...By the way, don't tell Bill know about the Mechanix Illustrated issue) I just picked up a spare one of those too!

For those researching or adding to their early .44 Magnum library.....
Try these.....

September-57 Mechanix Illustrated 90-91, 182 article Robert Hertzberg Mechanix Illustrated, Sept, 1957 pg 90. "World's Most Powerful Revolver" by Robert Hertzberg
May-56 All Model Circular .44 Magnum Listed
Jan-56 All Model Circular .44 Magnum Listed
March, 1956 U S Hand-Gunner Review/AD HAND-GUNNER (volume VI, No. 3, cover, page 8 and the back cover - Pub. U.S. Revolver Association
March, 1956 American Rifleman 24 Review Maj. Gen. Julian Hatcher "The Most Powerful Handgun"
April, 1956 American Rifleman 66 Full Page AD S&W AD also appeared in "U S Hand-Gunner" magazine March, 1956
May, 1956 Argosy 36 Article Pete Kuhlhoff "the World's Most Powerful Handgun"
May, 1956 Argosy 67 AD REX Firearms Company AD - Engraved .44 S&W - Small corner AD
May, 1956 American Rifleman 78 1/5th Page AD REX Firearms Company AD - Engraved .44 S&W - no price
May, 1956 American Rifleman 56-57 Centerfold Remington Ad featuring the new .44 Magnum Cartridge
1956 Gopher Shooters Suppy Catalog #11 - Mailer 16 pg Front Cover & inside 16 page mail catalog w/ Police Dept flyer
1956 Gopher Shooters Suppy Catalog #11 full catalog 150 pages Front Cover & inside 150 page dealer catalog
1956 Remington Arms 1956 Catalog 16&17 Ads Remington catalog of firearms and ammunition
June, 1956 Guns 39 Article Kent Bellah "Hottest of the Hot Shots" - great pictures p. 40
June, 1956 American Rifleman 75 AD Gopher Shooter's Supply #11 - .44 pictured on 1956 catalog
June, 1956 American Rifleman 109 AD H.H. Harris Company - taking orders for the "New .44 Magnum"
August, 1956 American Rifleman 11 Full Page AD Peters Remington .44 Magnum Cartridge
August, 1956 American Rifleman 113 Full Page AD Ruger .44 Magnum Introduction AD
September, 1956 American Rifleman 124 1/5th Page AD Updated AD - REX Firearms Company
September, 1956 American Rifleman 120 2" x 4" Ad Gopher Shooter's Supply #11 - .44 pictured on 1956 catalog
October, 1956 Argosy 42-43 & 87-88 Review Elmer Keith The Handgun-Your Ace In The Hole, Elmer Keith, Argosy, October 1956, pp. 42-43, 87-88
October, 1956 American Rifleman 98 1/5th Page AD New price $140 - REX Firearms Company AD
October, 1956 American Rifleman 30 Review E.J. Hoffschmidt K-38 Masterpiece Review/ Article
October, 1956 American Rifleman 9 Full Page AD Ruger .44 Magnum specifications AD
November, 1956 American Rifleman 90 AD New price $140 - REX Firearms Company AD
December, 1956 American Rifleman 75 AD S&W AD - Updated
1957 The New Lucian Cary on "GUNS" 104 Review Lucian Cary "Man-Stopping Pistols"
1957 Gun Digest 11 Article Col. Charles Askins "A Man's Sixgun"
1957 Gun Digest 118 Article Maj. Gen. Julian Hatcher "Hatcher on Handguns 1956-1957"
1957 Popular Handguns 103 Picture Larry Koller Popular Handguns by Larry Koller (Maco Magazine Corporation, 1957), page 103 both hard & soft covers

Nice catalog. I didn't know Gopher was such a big company.

My "Gopher Gun" is a K-22 Masterpiece K362xx shipped to Gopher Shooters Supply Co, Fairbault,MN 12 August 1948. I found the K-22 in a Gun Shop in Great Falls, Montana about 6 years ago.

__________________
Mike
USMCR 84-87, USAF 87-07

J.C. Nice run down of the .44 Mag references for 1956. I've got a couple more to add to your list and will try and dig them out in a day or two.
Chuck

__________________
SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Below find an addition to the list of early ".44 Magnum" articles/ ADs. Police suppliers such as "W.S. Darley" of Chicago along with "Gopher Shooting Supply" of Minneapolis were some of the early promoters/ re-salers of not only the ".44 Magnum" (Pre-29) but also the "Combat Magnum .357 Magnum" (Pre-19).
J.C.
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I bought my first 29 in 1968 or so. At that time the police price was listed in the Law Enforcement Equipment Co catalog at $105. The price went to $120 something before delivery. It seems prices were pretty stable for several years.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Looking over the Gopher catalog...I'll take a few of those "1950 44 Military" with the 4" and the 5" bbls, please? Note that they are somewhat less expensive than the Highway Patrolmans! Must be the fixed sights.

We all know what horse we should have bet on after the race is over.

I bought my first 29 (29-3) in 1985 through the shop I was working for at the time. IIRC I gave $275 for it. It was my first brand new gun, first 44 magnum, and first S&W...I still have it.

I could have bought any number of older guns for less, but wanted a new one...hindsight hunh?

BTT - For those surface scratchers of the of the .44 Magnum...here’s a list of articles to bring you in deeper!