Wanted info on .357

[Brassbullets1]

This is my first post, bear with me.

This gun is dirty, its not mine, just wanting info on what you can tell me.
If I get pics on , they are not great quality.
I think it has been refinished, grips are aftermarket.
.357 nickle nickel plated, hammer and trigger not plated.
Its hand ejector.
5 digit
No model number
5" barrel
Adjustable rear site, looks like post war, 2 screws on top near rear sight, another at end.
5 screw
Has strain screw.
It has nickle chipped in spots.
Just like to know a general history
And bottom value. It shoots good.

 

[Brassbullets1]

Looks like pics didnt go on.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Look again at the serial number and see if there is an S in front of that number. Also provide the number at least the first 2 or 3 digits and X out the reminder so that we can gauge the approximate shipping date.

Guy

 

[lestert357]

"2 screws on top near rear sight" sounds like pre-war....probably a Registered or Non-Registered Magnum.

 

[Brassbullets1]

I have looked with a high x magnifier, there is no. S. The first 3 are. 620
The other serial # is inside
The cavity where stem for ejecting
The shells, rotates into. Not on yoke. It

 

[Brassbullets1]

I will try to get pics on having a hard time.i might have to send 1 at a time.
Thanks

 

[KalamazooKid]

I will try to get pics on having a hard time.i might have to send 1 at a time.
Thanks

Email me pics if you can and I'll post them.

[email protected]

Here ya go:

 

[Brassbullets1]

Thanks for posting

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Open the cylinder and look inside the Yoke cut for a REG stamp followed by a number. If that's not there , it's a non-registered magnum.

Guy

 

[Brassbullets1]

No, it's not there, what that exactly mean, this is my first time dealing, with this, it's a friend old heirloom .
So what year is that approximately.
Thanks

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Around 1940. Someone who tracks these things will be along shortly and can give you a better answer.

The .357 Magum was introduced in 1935 as S&W's premiere handgun. It had a registration number stamped inside the yoke cut and a certificate that could be returned to S&W to "register" it. The owner received a registration certificate. It was expensive to make so S&W dropped the registration process in 1939 and it continued as "The .357 Magnum." We call these pre-war .357's a Non-registered Magnum. The RM and NRM have special status among S&W collectors. They sell for thousands of dollars with the RM typically bringing top dollar. Your friend is a lucky man...or woman.

 

[Brassbullets1]

Thanks you have been really helpful.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

BTW, that NRM has a humpback hammer which adds to the value of the gun. Your friend really should purchase an historian's letter of authenticity for $100 from the S&W Historical Foundation. It will pay for itself at sale.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Here is a recent post about a gun of the same vintage:

Non Registered Magnum: I'm its' next caretaker!

And here is the form for the letter of authenticity, if the owner is interested:

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.com/swhf_letter.pdf

Finally, many of these guns have "paper trails" in factory correspondence, and the records of the era have been digitized and can be searched once the above letter is done. Here is the form for the secondary record search:

http://www.swhistoricalfoundation.com/swhf_form.pdf

 

[rct269]

Is it the pictures or my old eyes that say this thing has been the victim of a not too judiciously applied wire wheel?

Ralph Tremaine

 

[lestert357]

Brassbullets, an original nickel Non-Registered Magnum, even with replaced grips, could be quite valuable. Do you see the letter "N" (for nickel finish) stamped anywhere in the ejector shroud or on the grip strap under the right side grip? Or do you see a "B" (for blue finish)?

 

[Nightowl]

I didn't see a serial number on the rear of the cylinder. Perhaps the glare covered it up. Makes me wonder if the cylinder has been replaced.
There were only around 1500 non registered magnums produced in the 39, 40, 41 years. They are quite sought after and that one would bring very many pretty pennys!

 

[GaryHK]

I didn't see a serial number on the rear of the cylinder. Perhaps the glare covered it up. Makes me wonder if the cylinder has been replaced.
There were only around 1500 non registered magnums produced in the 39, 40, 41 years. They are quite sought after and that one would bring very many pretty pennys!

I see it right where the cylinder is making contact with the frame. It's small but is definitely a number.

 

[rct269]

I suppose more unusual things have happened, but out of the 1,418 non-registered Magnums produced, there is exactly ONE with 620 as the first three digits of the serial number.

Strike that. The line above shows 87 guns with consecutive numbers starting at 61936, and ending at 62022-----and then there's what I first thought was this lonesome lady at 62097.

Ralph Tremaine

And now that I read the fine print, I see it says "----------a list of most serial numbers-------is supplied in Table #5.". I just love the weasel words, don't you?!!

 

[Brassbullets1]

I'm a machinist, my pictures are not good. But this is not wire wheeled. This is definently nickle or so kind on silver plating. There are a few very small places its chipped.. short of taking the grips off I haven't seen any
N or B on it. What else do you suggest. Its within the serial number you said.