Which one is the real Patton .357 Registered Magnum?

[Jetpilot007]

General George S. Patton: An American Hero, An American Legend.

In my opinion I think he would have slapped certain people in the DC establishment.

 

[opoefc]

RK, You're right. I should have been more explicit that I was thinking of RMs of the Patton vintage.
Somewhere in the past, one of the gun magazines ran a story on the 'replica" S&W Reg. Mag and the Colt SAA that were made up for the movie "Patton" but I don't recall which one. Ed #15

 

[MMA10mm]

RM 649

The bottom gun in the OP is a prewar 357 frame ("made in USA" on the side plate, prewar RM hammer, prewar rear sight) with what is most likely a post war barrel which has been cut flush as noted above and had a slight ramp and a front sight affixed to the barrel (I think it is a post war barrel because of the "normal" "&" rather than the more pronounced "lazy" "&"). Also, note the lower side plate screw is of the postwar variety that is shorter with the flat head and is found under the grip horn on post war revolvers.

Fun thread!

I just want to say "WOW!"

I didn't imagine that any RMs still existed in this kind of shape. Would you call that NIB? (Close enough for me!)

 

[colt_saa]

Yeah, who wants some old beat up thing like that?

I very vaguely remember something about Patton having the gold bead installed on the front sight(?)

Here is the LT Colonel's 1935 order form to S&W. You will note that he asked for a McGivern Bead for the front sight and the Large U for the rear sight.

 

[RKmesa]

I just want to say "WOW!"

I didn't imagine that any RMs still existed in this kind of shape. Would you call that NIB? (Close enough for me!)

Not NIB - but very nice, AND she models well for photos.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Here is the LT Colonel's 1935 order form to S&W. You will note that he asked for a McGivern Bead for the front sight and the Large U for the rear sight.

Now THAT is neat!!!!!!!!!!! Can you imagine being able to order a revolver like that today.
Dear Smith & Wesson:
Please prepare and build a Model 27 with the following :
Stainless steel, 3.5" barrel, McGivern bead front sight, large U rear sight, 8 shot counterbored, no IL Modified Magna stocks with grip adapter and regulate it with a 6 O'Clock hold at 25 yards using 158 gr JSP's
Sigh.........

 

[153]

I think it is interesting that Patton, an Olympic pistol shooter specified that his revolver be sighted in at 15 yards.......

 

[PALADIN85020]

I think it is interesting that Patton, an Olympic pistol shooter specified that his revolver be sighted in at 15 yards.......

Useful combat distance. Patton was no stranger to killing the enemy with a handgun. He took out one of Pancho Villa's lieutenants with his Colt SAA; brought the body back to camp strapped to the fender of his scout car. This was during the punitive expedition to Mexico when he was a lieutenant and an aide to then BG Black Jack Pershing. His Colt has two notches on the left grip...

 

[Jack Flash]

Regarding the 15 yard sight-in:
I imagine that if he wanted a target pistol, he would have specified a longer barrel. Considering how flat shooting the .357 Magnum is, bullet drop would be negligible out to any combat range at which a General might employ it.

 

[ButchG17]

Thought I'd add some pics I took of it through the glass at the Patton Museum when I was there a few years ago, it was by itself (the Colt was at West Point) in a display with Patton's self designed tank uniform (called the 'Green Hornet' uniform IIRC?). The attached one is large and close.....

 

[Peter J.]

Ok, we all know the gun will never be up for sale. But if it was put for sale on the open market, what do you guys think it would go for?

 

[j38]

I have no idea .... but it sure would be fun auction to watch.

Regards,

Jerry

 

[mel023]

Never mind the specifications on the order form, did anybody see the price notation in the lower left corner? $48!! I'll take two at that price. If it ever did come up for sale, unless your name was Warren Buffet or Bill Gates bet you'd have to have a credit check before being allowed to bid.

 

[rburg]

About 10 years ago the museum loaned it out to the National Gun Day show in Louisville. Well, both guns and a tank! it was a popular display, to say the least. Most of the time folks were lined up 3 or 4 deep to view the guns. Tanks have more surface area so it was viewed by more folks simultaneously. The gun display was the real attraction for most of us. It even prompted my buddy John to recreate the magnum at the time.

Whenever the gun gets significant exposure, the prices (and demand) for the short guns goes up dramatically.

 

[Jack Flash]

I couldn't believe that $48.00 notation was the price, I thought it must mean something else. Of course, that was a lot of money back in 1935.

"What cost $48.00 in 1935 would cost $745.49 in 2008. " (on-line inflation calculator).

At under $800, it still sounds like a fantastic bargain in today's money, but I don't think an inflation calculator can tell the real story. The US was deep into the Great Depression in 1935. My parents and grandparents had many stories about not being able to come up with a dollar or two for necessities. $48 must have looked like a king's ransom to most common people back then.

 

[JayCeeNC]

Top one-barrel contour-the registered magnums has the front sight and rib ofset about 1/8 from the muzzle-also...

What he said.

 

[mel023]

Jack,
I agree with your observation. Even though $800 seems almost dirt cheap to us today, in 1935 $48 in cash was more than most people could even dream of. But wasn't the Patton family, ahem, "well off"? Even for a Lt. Col. $48 would have been a lot of money, like close to a month's pay?

Colt SAA,
Where did you find the order form? Please don't say you've been able to take possession of it. And look at all the creases in it. You can tell it's been around the block a few times.

 

[MMA10mm]

IIRC his family's wealth was pretty good, but when he married Beatrice Banning Ayer (Patton), his wealth increased 10-fold at least. He was not hurting for money any way you look at it...

 

[Jack Flash]

It sounds like it wasn't a lot of money to Patton. I just wanted to try to give some context for us commoners.

These days, I doubt that anyone in my extended family would have trouble coming up with $48 for something they merely casually want to have. Back in the mid-30s, however, things were a lot different.

There are family stories where spending just a dollar or two for something they really needed was absolutely out of the question.

 

[bushmaster1313]

What is the purpose of the Wesson grip adapter?
Is that the thing behind the trigger gaurd?