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02-21-2020, 07:27 PM
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R.J. Smith Engraved M27?
Hi all new to this forum, My Grandpa left me his custom engraved gun he had done by Russell Smith. He told me he went to dinner with him and what not to talk about what he wanted on the gun. it was very special to him and is to me. i am just trying to find more information on it. I have googled Russell Smith master engraver and found a post on another forum that said he also engraved a M29 for Ronald Reagan and a M29 for Elvis. does anyone else know if this is the same Guy? i will post pictures from my phone after I post this. any info will be great, thanks!
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02-21-2020, 07:31 PM
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Here are some pictures
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02-21-2020, 07:57 PM
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oh my Gawd thats nice
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02-21-2020, 08:09 PM
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Russ (RJ) Smith engraved for Smith & Wesson from the 1955 to 1984 and did many fine pieces for customers. Your Model 27 looks like a fine example of his work. There is a book on Smith & Wesson engraving by Mike Kennelly, published by Mowbray Publishing. If you buy this book, it will provide a complete biography of Mr. Smith as well as many fine photographs of his work. Mr. Smith did engrave a Model 53 for Elvis Presley. He may have done a Model 29 also, but I am not sure of that.
Bill Cross
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02-21-2020, 08:27 PM
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the serial number is a 70-72 range number and it says "engraved by R.J. Smith G72" above the grip. idk what the "G" stands for but the 72 lines up with when it was made. It also says "Buddy" above the trigger that was my Grandpa's name, i dont think the pictures uploaded that clear to see any of that.
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02-21-2020, 11:43 PM
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I would keep an eye out for a set of target grips with your Grandfathers things. By the look of the gold trim around the grip area it looks like it was edged around a target grip.
By the way,great gun and what a special gift to have.
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02-22-2020, 12:08 AM
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This copy of the Reagan gun is actually signed by Russell J. Smith. He signed it last year, 2019.
As Russ has penned on the copy it is the last engraving project he did while working at Smith and Wesson.
It's a Smith and Wesson Model 29-3 with the 10" barrel with the front adjustable sight.
bdGreen
And, the full color image.
Last edited by bdGreen; 02-22-2020 at 12:39 AM.
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02-22-2020, 12:31 AM
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Here is a sampling of R.J. Smith's patterning. The hand written text in the upper right was written by R.J. Smith.
bdGreen
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02-22-2020, 12:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paplinker
I would keep an eye out for a set of target grips with your Grandfathers things. By the look of the gold trim around the grip area it looks like it was edged around a target grip.
By the way,great gun and what a special gift to have.
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I have old pictures of it with wood grips. I can Try to look around for them when I get back up there.
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02-22-2020, 05:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomer44
I have old pictures of it with wood grips. I can Try to look around for them when I get back up there.
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If it will help I have a pair I removed from my 29-2 when it was new and I will be glad to trade and pay postage.
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02-22-2020, 05:31 PM
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boomer44 - welcome to the Forum and thanks for sharing pics of you Grandfathers gun.
Please share pics of the the “old pictures of it with wood grips”.
I’d guess they are fancy presentation grips like these.
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02-23-2020, 12:33 PM
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That is beautiful engraving.
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KM
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02-23-2020, 09:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VM
boomer44 - welcome to the Forum and thanks for sharing pics of you Grandfathers gun.
Please share pics of the the “old pictures of it with wood grips”.
I’d guess they are fancy presentation grips like these.
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Hey here are the pictures he took the wood looks really nice very obvious light and dark wood looks awesome. Blurry pictures tho. It’s the one in the middle on the second one.
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02-23-2020, 10:10 PM
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Very Very Nice Revolver!
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02-23-2020, 11:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomer44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomer44
...Blurry pictures tho.
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I just had to crop, rotate and re-post the photos big! Beautiful Gun! I love Russ' work. And yes, the grips in the blurry photo would have been the most likely grips that shipped with the gun. Based on the date and the small S&W roll mark on the left side of the frame, it is likely that that gun was factory engraved and left the factory that way. It definitely is a gun that you should get a historical letter on. I collect the engraved 3.5" guns and would love to see some more detailed photos of that beauty. Thanks a ton for sharing that family treasure!!!
For comparison, here's another engraved 3.5" 27-2 (SN S331454) that was engraved by Russ Smith at the factory in July 1969:
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Last edited by RKmesa; 02-26-2020 at 12:15 AM.
Reason: grammar
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02-25-2020, 01:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomer44
...it says "engraved by R.J. Smith G72" above the grip. idk what the "G" stands for but the 72 lines up with when it was made....
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The photos are not clear enough for me to make it out, but the "G" could be a "C" with a circle around it "(C)" for copyright. Here are a few other Russ Smith Signatures - sorry but I don't have the photo credits...
Once again, I would love to see some more photos of that beauty.
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Last edited by RKmesa; 02-25-2020 at 01:54 AM.
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02-25-2020, 01:57 AM
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Different locations for markings.
enjoy,
bdGreen
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02-25-2020, 07:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
I just had to crop, rotate and re-post the photos big! Beautiful Gun! I love Russ' work. And yes, the grips in the blurry photo would have been the ones most likely that shipped with the gun... Based on the date and the small S&W roll mark on the left side of the frame, it is likely that that gun was factory engraved and left the factory that way. It definitively is a gun that you should get a historical letter on. I collect the engraved 3.5" guns and would love to see some more detailed photos of that beauty. Thanks a ton for sharing that family treasure!!!
For comparison, here's another engraved 3.5" 27-2 (SN S331454) that was engraved by Russ Smith at the factory in July 1969:
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Beautiful gun
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02-26-2020, 12:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
I just had to crop, rotate and re-post the photos big! Beautiful Gun! I love Russ' work. And yes, the grips in the blurry photo would have been the ones most likely that shipped with the gun... Based on the date and the small S&W roll mark on the left side of the frame, it is likely that that gun was factory engraved and left the factory that way. It definitively is a gun that you should get a historical letter on. I collect the engraved 3.5" guns and would love to see some more detailed photos of that beauty. Thanks a ton for sharing that family treasure!!!
For comparison, here's another engraved 3.5" 27-2 (SN S331454) that was engraved by Russ Smith at the factory in July 1969:
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Could it be “factory engraved” and still have his name on it? I know my grand dad said he went to dinner with Russ before the gun was done? I may be confused on what factory engraved means...
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02-26-2020, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boomer44
Could it be “factory engraved” and still have his name on it? I know my grand dad said he went to dinner with Russ before the gun was done? I may be confused on what factory engraved means...
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In general, the factory discouraged its engravers from signing their work, much to the frustration of us collectors. HOWEVER, some factory engraved guns (that letter as such) were signed, often times very discretely, before they left the factory.
To answer your question as to what "factory engraved" means, I'll give you three scenarios of how your grandfather's gun came to be engraved:
1) Smith & Wesson hired engravers who were employees of the Company. They worked at the S&W factory. Guns engraved by these factory engravers at the factory were billed, shipped and invoiced by S&W as such and are referred to as "factory engraved" guns. Individuals could order a custom engraving job from the factory and specify what they wanted to be engraved on the gun (including names or initials). Factory engravers would take an unfinished gun ("in the white") and engrave it to customer specifications. When completed, the engraved gun was shipped to the customer, usually through a distributor or local dealer.
2) Individuals could also purchase a plain gun, then decide at a later date that they wanted it to be engraved by S&W. They would contact the factory, tell them what they wanted and ship their gun to the factory, which would then be engraved by a factory engraver, refinished to spec and upon payment from the individual it would be returned to them as an engraved gun (most of the time with S&W paperwork or certificates stating that the gun was engraved at the factory by a factory engraver). These guns are also "factory engraved", but they will not letter as originally shipping as an engraved gun, as they originally left the factory as plain guns. Records for repair work or engraving projects on customer owned guns either do not exist, were not kept or are not readily available for historical searches.
3) It would not be unheard of for some factory engravers, like Russ Smith to "moonlight" and take engraving projects on his free time - essentially engraving these guns at home for friends or known individuals. These guns, although engraved by a factory engraver, would not be "factory engraved".
So, if you request a Letter of Authenticity from the S&W Historical Society, the Historian (Roy Jinks) will research your gun by serial number to see how it originally left the factory and send you that information in a letter, along with a copy of the invoice if it is available. If your grandfather ordered the engraved gun directly from the factory (scenario 1 above), it will letter as shipping as a "factory engraved" gun.
As to your grandfather going to dinner with Russ Smith before the gun engraving was completed - engravers have to eat, and I'm sure that if your grandfather paid for dinner, it was a pleasant experience for Mr. Smith, regardless of how the gun came to be engraved (factory or moonlight).
Here is a link to request a Letter of Authenticity if you would like to get one.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/SWCA-Do...quest_form.pdf
Once again, thanks for sharing that beauty with the rest of us, and please feel free to post some more photos.
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Last edited by RKmesa; 02-27-2020 at 05:03 PM.
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10-09-2020, 03:14 AM
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Engraved Russel Smith to Rex Firearms Dec 7th 1956
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10-03-2023, 05:21 PM
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M27 RJS
I too have an amazing grandfather. Quite a bit of early research into this. Now that I have it I’m hoping to have the whole history on it and what it’s worth.
You have a beautiful pistol. Look forward to chatting
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10-03-2023, 06:02 PM
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The first thing I would do if the revolver was mine is obtain a letter of authenticity from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. The letter will tell you if the revolver was shipped as custom engraved with gold inlays, and provide the shipping date and location. Since the .357 Magnum has the small S&W logo on the left side of the frame, chances are quite good it was shipped as it is now. Factory engraved and gold inlaid revolvers are scarce to rare and are quite valuable. I have seen them sell at auction for over $10,000.
Bill
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10-03-2023, 06:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigl1911
Engraved Russel Smith to Rex Firearms Dec 7th 1956
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Very cool. You don't see a gussied up 39 very often, or a Pre-39 at all. Do you know the story behind it? That's an intriguing pistol....maybe it's own thread?
EDIT: and here it is....
Pre 39 Engraved -Thanks George!
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Last edited by A10; 10-03-2023 at 06:31 PM.
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10-03-2023, 07:41 PM
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Just for reference, what would it have cost to have the revolver shown, engraved and gold inlaid as show, back in the day?
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10-04-2023, 09:00 AM
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Cost "back in the day" would be $450 to the dealer and around $650 to the end consumer.
Bill
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