That needs a letter. There are some Pinto 357's in the world. Better photos would help, but I see the proud heads of the sight base....And the non-relieved presentation stocks add to the possibility.....maybe
[That needs a letter. There are some Pinto 357's in the world. Better photos would help, but I see the proud heads of the sight base....And the non-relieved presentation stocks add to the possibility.....maybe ]
srgranke,
Besides what SAFireman has noted...The fact it has the Trademark Rollmarked on the Left Side rather than the Right...Also leads me to believe Your Pre-Model 27 was Special-Ordered!! Most definitely needs a Letter!!!
And by the way..."PLEASE" get rid of that Trigger Shoe...Ha!!-Ha!!
Great score...They sure don't come around very often!
I'm going to order a letter from S&W historical Foundation, however can anyone look up when it was made? Sorry, I was never that good at waiting. hehe.
I was back at the gun shop today, and I found out that this firearm is from a former DEA agent. There was a note that he inherited it from his Uncle. He recently passed away and his family is selling his collection. I also bought a 1920 Colt pocket positive in 32 new colt police (32 S&W long). The was 2 other guns a colt commander and a S&W Model 27-2. I was actually looking to buy the 27-2 but when I came back with my credit card the gun was sold .
Matching barrel and frame serial number and with the "Pinto" finish... definitely need to get a letter of authenticity from S&W. This could be a fake or it could be a very rare revolver.
Can you verify if there is a "N" stamped on the barrel or cylinder?
Also, is there a numerical factory rework date stamped on the left side grip frame?
I would say things are looking really good in your favor, especially if all the serial numbers match up........even if it was sent back to the factory to be pinto'd. But let's keep our fingers crossed it was originally shipped in it's current configuration.
It is a 3.5 inch barrel. I see no N stamped anywhere. Not sure what a factory rework stamp looks like, but I don't think it was reworked. Understand, I am no Smith & Wesson expert, even though I love them. I just noticed that I'm in the wrong category as it is a 5 screw revolver.
{Can you verify if there is a "N" stamped on the barrel or cylinder?}
srgranke,
In reference to the question posted above by (tenntex32)...Unless I'm mistaken sure looks to be a poorly stamped laid-down (N) in the photo you posted after the Barrel Serial No.!!
Also...If there is an (N) stamped on the Cyl. ..It will be stamped on the Cyl. under the Extractor..Thought that might help!!
The marking on the yoke are X, you can see that on the follow on pictures. Just out of curiosity what does the N stamp mean? There is a N under the extractor star. Okay, I see that means it has a nickel finish....good to know.
Just out of curiosity, if this revolver turns out to be the real deal, what kind of value am I looking at? It's looking like by all indications it is actually the real deal.
It always surprises me that a family would just sell heirloom. My father had a Rohm model 63, and even though the revolver is a P.O.$ I would never sell it. I'm still upset that he cut up a 32 S&W ctg revolver thinking it was a Saturday night special. I told my dad, how could you destroy a gun, and then go out and buy the biggest P.O.$ gun in the world.
I had to piece together what type of gun he cut up, my mother just gave me a little pouch filled with old 32 S&W cartridges.
It sure looks legitimate. I think it certainly has a value quite a bit more than a straight blue. It's really hard to tell true condition from photos. By that I mean there is a lot of difference to me at least between a 95% gun and a 98% gun of that rarity. I am going to venture a guess of 3 to 5K. Maybe more to someone that considers it their grail gun.
Thanks, I really enjoy neat and different guns. It looks like I really lucked upon this one. I figured even for a cobbled together Smith 357 it was worth 500 dollars. It's really luckily that I missed out on the Model 27-2 If I would have bought that, I would not have looked into the weird no model number 357 smith hidden in the coroner of the gun case.
no doubt, I almost feel guilty about this. Well, as it turns out I'm going to have to buy another "shooter" model 27....I know such a hardship! Here is the companion gun that I bought with it.
Looks real good to me too and I agree with the previous comment with regards to the "Z" stamped on the barrel most likely being a sideways "N" as well.
So you have an "N" (nickel) marked cylinder and barrel and a "B" (blue) marked lower left side grip frame. No later applied factory rework date codes, serial numbers match, and the barrel markings look centered up properly. I'd say, unless I'm way off base here, that it most likely left the factory that way.......minus the trigger shoe of course!
Thanks for the additional pics, as I was curious as to what to expect if I ever run across such a unicorn. (Doubtful, but sometimes you just get lucky.)
Congrats, I too believe everything seems to point to the 'real deal' so far including:
In particular I see an O following the barrel serial #.
I agree with Masterpiece that there is also a partially stamped sideways N (because it's a curved surface) stamped in the barrel shroud after the serial #.
Most of the Pintos were blued guns already produced, then taken from inventory to be reworked into Pinto models in the service dept. At the time your gun was produced/reworked the Service Dept was in a separate building known as the Outside Svc Dept. Work preformed there before the gun was sold did not get a date stamp on the left side of the grip frame, as one would if returned by the owner to the factory for rework.
When the outside svc dept needed work done in the factory like plating a blue barrel with nickel, they stamped the barrel with an O for Outside to assure that it came back to them instead of being put back into assembly like the other 200 some odd barrels blued or plated that day. When the Service Dept. was moved back indoors, parts sent from there to the bluing/plating departments were stamped with an S for Svc Dept. instead of the O.
Your excellent photos really help! I think you got a winner at a winning price!
Congrats, I too believe everything seems to point to the 'real deal' so far.
In particular I see an O following the barrel serial #. Most of the Pintos were blued guns already produced, then taken from inventory to be reworked into Pinto models in the service dept. At the time your gun was produced/reworked the Service Dept was in a separate building known as the Outside Svc Dept. Work preformed there before the gun was sold did not get a date stamp on the left side of the grip frame, as one would if returned by the owner to the factory for rework.
When the outside svc dept needed work done in the factory like plating a blue barrel with nickel, they stamped the barrel with an O for Outside to assure that it came back to them instead of being put back into assembly like the other 200 some odd barrels blued or plated that day. When the Service Dept. was moved back indoors, parts sent from there to the bluing/plating departments were stamped with an S for Svc Dept. instead of the O.
I think you got a winner at a winning price!
Very good to know info.
While I see the O you speak of on the barrel I do not see an O on the cylinder. Would not both parts typically have an O if sent out to be nickeled?
Maybe srgranke can verify if there is or isn't an O stamped on the cylinder that may have been obscured by the extractor rod in his pics?
While I see the O you speak of on the barrel I do not see an O on the cylinder. Would not both parts typically have an O if sent out to be nickeled?
I have not usually seen an O or S stamped on the cyl, perhaps on the front face but I doubt it. The S on the rear face is of course the S from the serial #.
I have a pre-27 'Pinto', with a letter from Mr. Jinks saying that it was shipped from the factory in a two tone configuration. Here are pictures with the stampings that have been mentioned here. Good luck with your purchase, I think you got a heck of a bargain on a great revolver.
I have not usually seen an O or S stamped on the cyl, perhaps on the front face but I doubt it. The S on the rear face is of course the S from the serial #.
So now you've got me wondering why the service dept was concerned about marking the barrel for proper return back to them after being sent out to be nickeled.........but not the cylinder?
Maybe the removed barrels and cylinders were reliably "married" in a manner in which only one had to be marked for return back to the service dept?
While I understand you may mean that there was a need for the exact s/n barrel to be returned to the service dept since it had already been originally been fitted to the frame.............but wouldn't there also be a need for the previously serialized cylinder to also be properly returned to the service dept?
Or for whatever reason did they start anew with a different/unfinished cylinder to be nickeled due to the tolerances involved?
No tangent intended, and certainly not trying to be argumentative, just curious as to if we fully understand the why on the lack of the O marking on the cylinder.
Seeing I'm a new owner of a 357 Pinto, I'm curious on how you acquired your Pinto. I'm a pretty big fan of different firearms, in fact my first firearm was a Winchester Model 71 that my Grandfather gave me. That is what really got me into guns and handloading. BTW I see you handle is VettePartz, and I would assume you are a Corvette Fan? I was the lead supplier engineer for the C7 air induction system. Now I actually work for GM, and my first project was the CT 6 4.2 L twin turbo blackwing air induction system.
I would like to thank the members who took the time to answer my question, this thread has been super interesting and vary informative. I am super thankful for the assistance in letting me know about the Unicorn that I came across. When I first bought it I knew it had some value, and a good story, however I was not attached to it just yet. However, through the learning process, I now feel a connection to it....I know that might sound strange but I really enjoy history and a good story, and this piece of history seems to fit the bill.
I actually got my Pinto off of Gunbroker earlier this year. I usually don't go to that site as they have become ridiculous with some of their auctions, but I got lucky this time.
Yes, I do like the Corvettes. My first was a 1962, when I was much younger, and four of them later I now have a C7. Old age is setting in and this will probably be my last.
I also have a Winchester 71 which I had out shooting about a month ago. I am not as young as I used to be and that old .348 sure beat me up.
Wow, that is amazing you like Vettes, 357 Pinto's and Winchester Model 71's. Man I wish I lived closer to you, I would be trying to meet you in person! I have not fired my model 71 in 10 years, although it is my most favorite gun, it is now a safe queen waiting to be inherited by my Son. It was my Great-Great-Great uncle Ralph's gun. It was also the fist centerfire cartridge that I ever fired.
I don't own a Vette, but someday I will buy a used C7. I do have the last F-body, a 2002 Z-28 Camaro. It is a garage queen and I drive it about 500 miles a year to keep it lubricated.
Good news, I received my Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation Letter today. Shipped on November 9, 1953 to RE Firearms Co. New York, NY. It shipped with a 3.5 inch Barrel with a ramp front sight, two tone blue and nickel finish and smooth rosewood target grips. The shipment contained two units in the above configuration and they were billed at the whole sale price of 153.28.
srgranke, great news on your treasured 357. I have been following this thread and I am happy for you. I too am a lover of Smith's and also greatly enjoy my black 2014 M7 Stingray coupe. Camaros are cool also, especially the ZL1.
Good news, I received my Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation Letter today. Shipped on November 9, 1953 to RE Firearms Co. New York, NY. It shipped with a 3.5 inch Barrel with a ramp front sight, two tone blue and nickel finish and smooth rosewood target grips. The shipment contained two units in the above configuration and they were billed at the whole sale price of 153.28.
Wow, a genuine factory pinto 357 Magnum (pre 27) for $500?
I wanna go shopping with YOU cowboy!
I'm guessing its market value is 5 or 6 times what you paid?
I've found a few bargains, but my hat's off to you!
Hello SS57, that is a pretty machine. I remember my first knowledge of the C7 was a document that listed the project as C6M, it was written before it became the C7. Originally it was just a midcycle enhancement. That team is the best group of people, and they pulled off a miracle squeezing all the performance out of a mid front engine vehicle, especially at that cost. The first time I Iayed eyes on her, I was love. It was a flat black vehicle without camouflage, all the lights were prototype, giving it a very futuristic appearance. The rear prototype taillights look like they were off the bat car from batman. It's hard to believe that was over 10 years ago.
What did I just buy?
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Here is the companion gun that I bought with it.
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