New member looking for help with an identification. I recently came into possession of a well worn S&W 357. Having a bit of trouble finding information on this one. The S/N is 568xx. No letter. As for the model, I find "REG 3799". Is this a registered 27? Anyone help with the year? It was a find by my father and a gift so the value really isn't important, but I would welcome that information as well.
Help identifying S&W 357 mag
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Welcome to the forum! You have, from the pictures, a Registered Magnum that appears to have been rebarreled at some point in it's history. These fine weapons were made prior to WW2, and one of the best ways to find out more information is to contact Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks for a letter. My guess is your revolver has an interesting past. More detailed pictures would certainly help, particularly of the barrel as well as the right side and pictures with the grips off as well. The grips appear to be after market, possibly staghorn. Congratulations on your revolver!
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It's a.......
Registered Magnum # 3799 looks like. '37, '38, probably. Send for a letter from Mr. Jinks/ Smith & Wesson. Nice one.
Ned
Registered Magnum # 3799 looks like. '37, '38, probably. Send for a letter from Mr. Jinks/ Smith & Wesson. Nice one.
Ned
No problem! And, there are a LOT more folks on here that know a LOT more than I do, so expect more and better information soon!
It's...shall we say...well worn. Still worth a good clean up and some time at the range to see how it handles.
sbeatty1983
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Range time....
It will shoot great, guarantee it.
Ned
It will shoot great, guarantee it.
Ned
thats character
Very true, but those grips gotta go. Have a feeling finding replacements might be an issue. Additional photos attached.
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According to
info I have here in the S&W Journal, volume 24, no's 3 & 4, RM 3799 was produced in 1938, and is known to have been made with a HUMPBACK HAMMER. Your gun still has it. I think your barrel is good too. Spend the money, get the letter. Take very good care of it.
Ned
One of mine, RM 4752, also a known HUMPBACK gun with real stags
info I have here in the S&W Journal, volume 24, no's 3 & 4, RM 3799 was produced in 1938, and is known to have been made with a HUMPBACK HAMMER. Your gun still has it. I think your barrel is good too. Spend the money, get the letter. Take very good care of it.
Ned
One of mine, RM 4752, also a known HUMPBACK gun with real stags
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info I have here in the S&W Journal, volume 24, no's 3 & 4, RM 3799 was produced in 1938, and is known to have been made with a HUMPBACK HAMMER. Your gun still has it. I think your barrel is good too. Spend the money, get the letter. Take very good care of it.
Ned
One of mine, RM 4752, also a known HUMPBACK gun with real stags
Thank you Ned! 1938. Now I'm curious. Again I appreciate this!
Welcome to the forum.
Great way to introduce yourself! The numbers on the bottom left side of the grip frame ( 8-50, 6-52 ?) indicate that it went back to S&W twice for rework.
Great way to introduce yourself! The numbers on the bottom left side of the grip frame ( 8-50, 6-52 ?) indicate that it went back to S&W twice for rework.
Very good eyes my friend. It's 562 and 8.50. Thank you. As for introductions, I suppose proper procedure would have been to handle that before jumping right in with a question. My apologies to the board. But I do appreciate the feedback.
The typical Registered Magnum barrel (of any length) protrudes beyond the barrel rib by approximately 1/8". The photos shown here seem to show the end of the barrel flush with the end of the rib. Are the barrels of these guns (serial) numbered to the guns?
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
Welcome. A good gift from your father. It looks like the rear sights have been replaced, they are larger than the orginal rear sight. It reminds me of a Kansas City PD gun that I have. Get the letter. Here is a pic of the KCPD with altered sights.
It is not unusual to find RMs with modifications.
It is not unusual to find RMs with modifications.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The RM is very valuable and very sought after. Unfortunately, yours has been extensively modified. The barrel is the later type and the rear sight is also a newer replacement. the stocks are cheap plastic jobs totally out of place on this revolver. I suspect it was made with a longer barrel and someone sent it back to S&W and had the sexier 3.5" barrel installed. Perhaps the rear sight was changed out at that time, as well.
Still a great heirloom and a good shooter, but what was once a $4,000 gun has been turned into a $600 shooter.
Still a great heirloom and a good shooter, but what was once a $4,000 gun has been turned into a $600 shooter.
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Two comments. In the first post there is a stamped number in the ejector rod housing; this will let you know the vintage of the replaced barrel. Also, here is how you request a factory letter:
Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson
Be sure to say "thank you" to your dad! Any story as to how he found it?
Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson
Be sure to say "thank you" to your dad! Any story as to how he found it?
Yes indeed. I noticed this as well when looking at some photos of other registered magnums online. The barrel's number is the same as the one on the butt. I suspect it was one of the modifications performed at the request of a previous owner.
Great information. Many thanks. As I suspected, I'm having some difficulty locating stocks for this one...and I agree...they have to go. I might have to grab something to make do with at the range until I can find a suitable replacement.
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