Wife Just Inherited a What is it?

[HouseDouglas]

.357 Magnum S&W
Hand Eject
Three sets of numbers behind the yoke
1st, “REG. 5069”
2nd, “43381”. Same number is found on inside of yoke
3rd, “59656” which is same number on the butt which I understand is the serial number

The letter “B” appears about 5/8ths of an inch towards the end of the barrel underneath the ejector plunger (for lack of proper nomenclature) preceding the serial number.

3 screws on frame plus 1 screw ahead of trigger guard
Blued steel
4” barrel.
Rear sight is adjustable

Front sight is shined brass on top of blue steel ramp. Words “King” & “Pat. Pend.” On the ramp.

In 1960s up until early 1980s Titan II nuclear launch silos were based in Arkansas. The Air Force hired civilian guards to patrol perimeters & halt civilians before they approached heavily armed AF security warriors. My late father in law was such a guard. He carried this pistol, and I shows a lot of holster wear but little wear in the barrel. Wife just inherited it from her late brother.

 

[Gunhohulk]

I don’t know enough to comment with any authority but I’d say that your wife’s new pistol should be considered a very valuable family heirloom and cared for appropriately.

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard!

S&W named that the ".357 Magnum Revolver", but collectors call it a Registered Magnum. Your wife's gun probably dates from the late 1930's. It has a "humpback" hammer, period correct Magna stocks and a King front sight. That's a desirable gun, even though it appears to have been refinished and is well worn.

You're in good company!

 

[Frailer]

That seems to be one of the 250 Registered Magnums purchased by the Kansas City Police Department in 1939. The department subsequently sold these to distributors in the late 1950s.

It is a very desirable revolver.

 

[rct269]

The bottom line of all the replies you will receive is this is an example of what is likely deemed to be THE holy grail gun to virtually all S&W collectors. Its origin is such that reams and volumes of information on each individual gun have been gathered and preserved by, and are available from the S&W Historical Foundation (See their section in this forum.)

It's current value is compromised by the fact it's been used (and possibly refinished------the kiss of death for many collectors).

Ralph Tremaine

 

[clang444]

And many collectors would be proud to have a Reg Mag like yours in their collection. We all don’t have as deep pockets to spend on this hobby as the more snobbish collectors, so a well used but not abused gun like yours will still bring a pretty penny.

Added bonus is you can handle and shoot it as much as you like without affecting its value. I think it’s a beauty.

 

[s&wchad]

That seems to be one of the 250 Registered Magnums purchased by the Kansas City Police Department in 1939. The department subsequently sold these to distributors in the late 1950s.

It is a very desirable revolver.

The OP may find this thread interesting...

Click here> https://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-h...d-pre-war-357-magnums.html?highlight=Humpback

 

[wetdog]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[cracker57]

cherish your heirloom....but please shoot it.....

 

[Bald1]

And many collectors would be proud to have a Reg Mag like yours in their collection. We all don’t have as deep pockets to spend on this hobby as the more snobbish collectors, so a well used but not abused gun like yours will still bring a pretty penny.

Added bonus is you can handle and shoot it as much as you like without affecting its value. I think it’s a beauty.

Clang, deep pockets does not make someone a snob or snobbish. Being a snob is an attitude or personality trait. It has nothing to do with their financial status.

 

[Hawg Rider]

.357 Magnum S&W
Hand Eject
Three sets of numbers behind the yoke
1st, “REG. 5069”
2nd, “43381”. Same number is found on inside of yoke
3rd, “59656” which is same number on the butt which I understand is the serial number

The letter “B” appears about 5/8ths of an inch towards the end of the barrel underneath the ejector plunger (for lack of proper nomenclature) preceding the serial number.

3 screws on frame plus 1 screw ahead of trigger guard
Blued steel
4” barrel.
Rear sight is adjustable

Front sight is shined brass on top of blue steel ramp. Words “King” & “Pat. Pend.” On the ramp.

In 1960s up until early 1980s Titan II nuclear launch silos were based in Arkansas. The Air Force hired civilian guards to patrol perimeters & halt civilians before they approached heavily armed AF security warriors. My late father in law was such a guard. He carried this pistol, and I shows a lot of holster wear but little wear in the barrel. Wife just inherited it from her late brother.

Welcome to the Forum! Wow...what an entrance with that "Registered Magnum"! As others have stated, your wife has inherited probably one the most sought after S&W revolvers ever produced. The .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935 to provide police with a powerful cartridge (and revolver) to stop the gangsters of that era. Only about 5200 of these were made and they came with registration letters for the owners with serialized registration numbers on the revolver (in addition to the serial number). In 1939 S&W stopped marking registration numbers, and the subsequent .357 Magnums are commonly known as "Non-Registered Magnums". Your s/n and Reg number indicate that your revolver was manufactured in 1939, not long before S&W stopped marking registrations. These revolvers are valued in the many thousands of dollars (depending upon condition) and are extremely collectable. I'm sure that some of our Forum gurus that are RM experts will chime in shortly. Your wife's revolver is a nice family heirloom with lots of provenance. Congratulations on inheriting a beautiful revolver, enjoy!

Oh BTW...your revolver is actually a 5-screw. There is another screw on the right sideplate under the wooden stock (grip). 4 on the sideplate and one in front of the trigger guard. Just FYI.

 

[lestert357]

Your wife’s inheritance is a S&W Pre-War .357 Magnum, known to collectors as a Registered Magnum, that was originally shipped to the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) on September 7, 1939 as part of a 250 gun shipment. It has been refinished, as were over 92% of all KCPD Pre-War Magnums, the front sight blade has been modified, and most likely the grips are serialized to a different KCPD Magnum. The Hump Back Hammer is the original correct configuration. The Magnum pictured below, REG 5008 serial number 59384, was in the same 250 gun shipment to the KCPD with your gun. Also pictured below is a close-up of the front sight from REG 5008 so you can see how yours appeared prior to being modified - it is named the Baughman Quick Draw and is mounted on the plain (non-reflector) King ramp base. Congratulations on a great inheritance, one that many readers on this forum would be proud to own!

 

[HouseDouglas]

yes, I see that 5th screw now. In light of the responses it goes to a commercial vault now. Not going to keep it at home.

 

[DARE]

What an entrance to the Forum. I hope you will stick around. A lot to learn here.
An historic firearm with law enforcement and family history.
Does not get much better than that.
We love the Registered Magnums.

 

[Frailer]

yes, I see that 5th screw now. In light of the responses it goes to a commercial vault now. Not going to keep it at home.

Far be it from me to tell someone what to do with their own property, but while this gun is worth several thousand dollars it isn’t a Picasso.

If you or your wife enjoy shooting there would be no harm whatsoever in keeping it around to shoot to your heart’s content. Doing so won’t harm its value.

I will say that if you don’t shoot, or if your wife would like to convert her inheritance into cash I would strongly advise you to *not* take it to your local gun shop. There are people here who could help you maximize your return by getting it in front of a larger pool of potential buyers who are always in the market for such things and are willing to pay the prices they command. (For the record, I am not such a seller, nor am I a potential buyer, so I’m not saying any of this out of self-interest.)

 

[RKmesa]

In light of the responses it goes to a commercial vault now. Not going to keep it at home.

Congrats!!! What a fun gun for your wife to inherit. Although the gun has commercial value of several thousand $'s, to me the real value is the personal/family historic value - that it was carried and used by a family member. It has been refinished, as were a significant number of the KCPD Magnums, so shooting it will not diminish any value. It should bring a smile to your face to shoot it. It was a working gun and should continue working well as a home protection gun. No need to keep it in commercial vault. That said, if you do decide to keep it at home, make sure that you lock it up (even if it is a one- or two-gun safe) to keep it out of the hands of children or grandchildren.

When you and your wife shoot it - please come back and share your experience. ALSO - we love photos!!! Please feel free to take a bunch more and post them here.

Thanks for sharing,

 

[raljr1]

Unless selling if for a few thousand dollars is going to save you financially, I would never sell that. If it could only talk. It's been around the block and likely has some stories to tell.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Just beautiful. Congrats!

 

[Krogen]

As said above, it's a working gun. Collectors lust after pristine examples. That's not me; I'm fascinated by working guns with a history. So many times I hear "if that gun could talk." That gets my imagination going. In your case you have a working gun and know a good bit of its history. That's cool!

 

[mchom]

Congratulations OP

From what I have learned here on this forum Most of the known KCPD RMs and NRMs are refinished. Perhaps Some by S&W and some presumably by KCPD gunsmith John Heilman (He did re-blue Dept guns)

I consider owning any KCPD gun quite a treat and to repeat what others have stated it’s their history that makes them uniquely special

mine are refinished. Although I have to admit, I never get tired of seeing pics of Terrys original finish gun

I am just now thinking …did op check to see if stocks # to gun ?
Apologies if previously mentioned above