I am not sure if this gun has been posted previously or not but I just acquired it so I thought I would join up and post it. I am a Colt person at heart, I do not own any other S&Ws, but I have handled a RM or two in the past and have wanted to acquire one for a while. So when the opportunity presented itself through one of your members here who is also on another forum I jumped on it.
The gun was ordered in December of 1935 by Joseph A. Lorch (Colt sales rep in D.C. though I have also read claims he also worked for S.& W. but do not know the validity of such.) and delivered January of 1936.
According to the verification letter from Roy Jinks it was ordered with a 6.5" barrel, McGivern front sight, square notch rear sight, 3 pair of Magna Grips, and blue finish. It was sighted at 25 yards with .357 magnum ammo.
The S&W historical foundation sent copies of the original order paper work and letters from Mr. Lorch and D.B. Wesson regarding the order. Which Mr. Lorch apparently specified that the barrel and chambers be of the exact dimensions for the .357 as "this customer is very picky". Also in November the gun was sent back as the customer in question had noticed a creep in the action had developed. Order was received in the factory on Christmas Eve of '35. It was assigned Reg # 739.
The gun has a King Mirror sight on it today instead of the McGivern, but it appears to be a factory install and I can find no * markings indicating that the gun was ever refinished. There is however a date stamped on the grips of 7-42 which would surpisingly indicate work done in July of '42 but I didn't think civilian work was done during the war years? So I guess it is possible the king sight was added then...
It only has the one set of Magna Stocks still with it. I also have an original box, though not THE original one that came with it. It is a beautiful pistol and I enjoyed thoroughly taking it to the range yesterday with my Python, .38 Shooting Master, and .45 Evolution Armory 1911. The grip is a bit different than my colts, but I didn't find it as much of a hindrance as I expected at 20 yards(especially considering how little I have shot pistols recently).
The gun was ordered in December of 1935 by Joseph A. Lorch (Colt sales rep in D.C. though I have also read claims he also worked for S.& W. but do not know the validity of such.) and delivered January of 1936.
According to the verification letter from Roy Jinks it was ordered with a 6.5" barrel, McGivern front sight, square notch rear sight, 3 pair of Magna Grips, and blue finish. It was sighted at 25 yards with .357 magnum ammo.
The S&W historical foundation sent copies of the original order paper work and letters from Mr. Lorch and D.B. Wesson regarding the order. Which Mr. Lorch apparently specified that the barrel and chambers be of the exact dimensions for the .357 as "this customer is very picky". Also in November the gun was sent back as the customer in question had noticed a creep in the action had developed. Order was received in the factory on Christmas Eve of '35. It was assigned Reg # 739.
The gun has a King Mirror sight on it today instead of the McGivern, but it appears to be a factory install and I can find no * markings indicating that the gun was ever refinished. There is however a date stamped on the grips of 7-42 which would surpisingly indicate work done in July of '42 but I didn't think civilian work was done during the war years? So I guess it is possible the king sight was added then...
It only has the one set of Magna Stocks still with it. I also have an original box, though not THE original one that came with it. It is a beautiful pistol and I enjoyed thoroughly taking it to the range yesterday with my Python, .38 Shooting Master, and .45 Evolution Armory 1911. The grip is a bit different than my colts, but I didn't find it as much of a hindrance as I expected at 20 yards(especially considering how little I have shot pistols recently).
