My Beater Registered Magnum

This is an interesting thread, to say the least. It is very impressive that this RM has been brought back to a near-original state. Would any forum members out there be interested in showing their heavily used (not abused) RMs, TLs, or other S&Ws? This has been an enjoyable sideline for me, and I have a few of these hanging around with the safe queens so near and dear to the heart of the avid collector.
 
Should be able to click all of these images and get a huge version:

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The sight arrived. I swapped the blade from the previously posted N Frame target sight (which matches the sight on my .38/44 Outdoorsman and has the S/N on it of 40395) and I think, maybe, just maybe I'm finally there on correct parts.

Interestingly enough the sight has the number 9952 stamped on it:

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I had thought that the Serial Numbers were stamped there, but 9952? Would that have just been a very early Registered Magnum?
 
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A RM Yeoman (Not a Safe Queen)

As a follow-up to my previous message, I will attempt to post a couple of pictures of my RM REG 5xx which justly deserves a respite after obvious heavy yeoman's service. This RM is entirely original, right down to the grips (medallion plating all but worn off) and grip adapter. Mechanically, it is sound and shootable.

I would have to say that this is the most well used piece in my collection of mostly original and near-original S&Ws and Winchesters. Probably it deserves a factory letter.
 

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Interestingly enough the sight has the number 9952 stamped on it:

yfYl6oS.jpg


I had thought that the Serial Numbers were stamped there, but 9952? Would that have just been a very early Registered Magnum?

I don't think so because RM #s began at #45768 in the N frame # range.

More likely it was the gun's assembly #. Occasionally I've seen these used on sight parts.
 
I don't think so because RM #s began at #45768 in the N frame # range.

More likely it was the gun's assembly #. Occasionally I've seen these used on sight parts.

I thought it was too low to be a S/N, thanks for the confirmation.

My understanding was that you would usually get build numbers on parts that didn't have room for a full S/N, guessing that's not a rule.

It's interesting that you would have a build number, would there be some RM out there with that same number stamped on it somewhere?
 
The build numbers must repeat because the longest one I've ever seen was only 5 digits. You may just find that same # on the rear sight blade as well. My two triple locks have the serial # on the sight tang but the build # on one rear sight blade (being a much smaller piece to stamp). And the serial # on the other gun's rear sight blade, but it's only a 4 digit serial #.
 
I thought it was too low to be a S/N, thanks for the confirmation.

I can't recall specifically (I've only taken a few of my RM sights off - those small screws bugger so easily), but I think that the sight may have just the last 4 digits of the serial number, which if that is the case "9952" may be for SN 49952 or 59952, both of which would be in the pre-war 357 SN range.
 
Got it, making sense now.

This old pre-war K Frame rear sight I have has a number of 1497 on it, even though the other N Frame sight has 40395.
 
Richard is on to something ! I only know my one TL rear sight blade has the build # because it matches the build # on the sideplate, yoke and frame of the gun.
 
I just checked my TL that has the s/n on the rear sight blade. Even though my gun's s/n is only 4 digits, the s/n on the sight blade only has the last 3 digits stamped on it and they are stamped vertically so you have to turn the blade sideways and read it from top to bottom.
 
Sixgun: great story, in reading your letter from Mr. Jinks, I would speculate that the original shipping was to R. Zuniga y cia of Laredo ( rather than Zungia).
(He was a customs broker.)
That is an old and respected family in south Texas. Some history in all those Registered Magnums, but yours may have more than many.
I wonder what happened to the other 34 RMs that were shipped to the customs broker in Laredo Texas back in those wild and wooly days.
 
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It's there. I finally found the right screw for the rear sight. At this point this gun is exactly where I want it to be and nothing further will be changed on it.

Except maybe one thing.

If I can ever find a set of Ropers that are as equally beat up as this gun I would love to put them on there. I doubt that will ever happen, but if anyone has a set of ropers in a back drawer they were thinking about restoring, please talk to me ;)

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A $150 RM in shootable condition and a total investment of under $1K it appears. No need to buy a lottery ticket because you've already hit the jackpot IMO!:D

Do you happen to have the measurement of the hole spacing as well as the rib width on those rear sights? I have an HE that was milled for a now missing adjustable sight and your pics have me wondering now...
 
That old timer is just about broke in.. You've got a winner there.
 
The rear sight should have the serial number. Perhaps one of the RM gurus can confirm or object to that. If Serial number (that's my reasoning) this number is likely off a triple lock in that serial number range. The target sight assembly from a triple lock appear identical to those on a RM. I've seen this same scenario before. I don't want to "presume" but all those large frame targets of the era all seem to have the same style size rear sight. Triple lock, 2nd model HE 44, 3rd model HE 44, 38-44 HD (which was the predecessor of the RM)
 
Good story. You did a great job on the restoration.

I generally advocate against refinishing. The only time it makes sense is when the original finish is so far gone the gun is in danger of suffering corrosion damage if not addressed. Well, this gun is there. You have bare metal. That will want to rust. If this were my gun I would have it nicely reblued to protect the metal from corrosion.
 
The rear sight should have the serial number. Perhaps one of the RM gurus can confirm or object to that. If Serial number (that's my reasoning) this number is likely off a triple lock in that serial number range. The target sight assembly from a triple lock appear identical to those on a RM. I've seen this same scenario before. I don't want to "presume" but all those large frame targets of the era all seem to have the same style size rear sight. Triple lock, 2nd model HE 44, 3rd model HE 44, 38-44 HD (which was the predecessor of the RM)

Interestingly, this whole experience taught me a lot about pre-war rear sights.

In my digging I've now seen 3 pre-war target sight variations. The Triple Locks, and early rear sights seem to have 1 screw to the rear, the later ones have 2 screws, the Registered Magnum rear sights were like the later ones with the addition of the horizontal grooves to the rear.

I don't own an early triple lock, but I did find one triple lock or possibly early 2nd model rear sight for sale.

This is the RM rear sight grooving:

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Here's the rear sight on my 38/44 OD without the grooves:

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This sight will fit on the registered magnum, and would work, but it is wrong.

I can't find a good picture of the rear sight on a triple lock, I expect someone can supply one.

As an interesting side note, the K frame rear sights appear to be exactly the same as the N frame, with the difference that the tang is of a different length.

All of the pre-war sights I have come up with are numbered.
 
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I have two factory original TL targets. Unfortunately the only one I have a photo of has an added U notch to go
with the gold bead front sight and the super fine checkering you see. But I can tell you from
comparing them, the factory original sight is identical to your 38/44 sight shown
(with sq notch and smooth rear area), except for one elevation screw, not two.

Factory TL target rear sight but with U notch rear and super fine checkered surface
and Redfield Gold bead front blade (out of focus in this photo):
orig.jpg


Edit: Fototime no longer working. I heard they had a fire.
 
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It's finally done in my book.








Beater, completely molested and mutilated Ropers complete the gun for my purposes. They fit my hand perfectly and despite how butchered they are they are still nice right side palm swell Ropers made for someone with hands of my size. I'm extremely keen to get it out to the range with these puppies on there.

What do you guys think?
 

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