Wife Just Inherited a What is it?

[lkabug]

OP, what a great way to start down that road of history.
As you have just discovered, folks here are willing to share their knowledge about your wife's piece of history. Start your journey, you'll be amazed at what you may find.
We're family here, you're now part of that family.

 

[reflex264]

Great entrance with a great piece! I know that there are collectors that only want pristine guns but I would be proud to have a registered magnum in that condition in the heard. I have a friend that has 4 that look like they are new. Not refinished. That is what makes him happy. I would take that gun to the range and enjoy the fire out of it. That make me happy. That gun has stories to tell.

 

[Frailer]

While I'm sincerely glad there are people who collect and preserve these old guns in "high condition" with all their accoutrements for the rest of us to see, I'm not one of those guys. "Honest wear" is my collecting neighborhood.

This particular gun is a trifecta: historic model, unquestionable provenance, and a family connection. Win-win-win.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Only thing I could think to add would be if/when you and your wife shoot it by all means use .38spcl. Easier on the shooter and the firearm.
Welcome to the forum!

 

[boykinlp]

HouseDouglas, welcome to the forum, and what an entrance! Your father in law had great taste, and was definitely carrying a gem. A few other things that might be of interest to you. Each revolver was built to order, with customers specifying a blue or nickel finish, any barrel length from 3½" to 8¾", and numerous front and rear sight options. Guns were sighted in at the factory from many different distances, using either .38 special or the new .357 magnum ammunition from either a 6-o’clock or “dead-center” hold depending on whatever the buyer wanted.

But most notably, in addition to its serial number, each gun was stamped with an individual registration number and came with a registration card. When this card was filled out and sent back, the owner received a certificate (signed by Douglas Wesson) confirming the owner’s name, registration number and customized features. Unbelievably, half of these registration cards were never mailed to S&W.

For your viewing, this is a picture showing how one of the certificates looked, and at the bottom of the picture, is the tube that the certificate would have come in. BTW, you wouldn’t believe how much an original box, certificate, and tube would bring at auction! Thanks for sharing your story, and as others have mentioned, we’d love to see more pictures of your revolver.
Larry

 

[pasound]

HouseDouglas, that is amazing. Registered Magnums are among the rarest of the rare. Fired or not, it's THE Smith collectable.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

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.

My condolences in your family's loss.

I would keep it at the Gun Safe at home. Also I would not refinish it because I prefer honest wear. It appears to be well maintain. I posted a link so you can get an ideal of the value. Thank you for sharing.

S&W Registered Magnum

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum. As others have stated, the registered magnum is prized and sought by many S&W collectors. So the gun does have an intrinsic value. Many of us will also tell you that a firearm handed down through your family has additional value. Many consider that priceless. There were thousands made and sold however only one came down through your family and with a significant family use history as well. It didn't just sit is a sock drawer but was carried and perhaps used.

I have several family guns in my collection and would not sell them for Jeff Bezos kind of money.....

 

[AlHunt]

.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.

Condolences and congratulations, all at once.

I love these threads. "Pappy left me a little patch of land with a sinkhole full of these yellow rocks ... "

 

[dobegrant]

Congratulations, that is such a cool piece of American history. I would keep it at home and I would shoot it and take care of it.

 

[Truckman]

In light of the responses it goes to a commercial vault now.

A humidity controlled one I hope...And wrap it in a silicone treated sock before putting it away......Ben

 

[rct269]

A perhaps minor point having not to do with the gun, but with its history and the history of S&W----which may explain why those of us whose focus is confined to the guns might get mixed up. The 38/44 S&W cartridge and the related guns are those developed (about five years preceding the 357 Magnum) and those directed towards providing law enforcement with a more effective weapon---more effective than the .38 Special----and it did just that.

Given the philosophy that "Some's good, more's better, and too much is just right!", it led to the development of the 357 Magnum cartridge (and guns). The totality of the circumstances of the times, and the Registered Magnum program should lead an observer to the conclusion that the entirety of the program was an expertly designed and executed marketing plan to raise desperately needed cash so as to save S&W's butt---and it worked!! Doug Wesson gets the credit for the plan, and Philip B. Sharpe gets the credit for the cartridge----never mind some of his development efforts had Wesson biting his fingernails down to his elbows at times.

It's an interesting, even fascinating story, but you have to pretty much write it by yourself, and the gun itself is clearly a by-product---simply a necessary part.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Buick]

Sweet gun, shoot it and enjoy it. It will fire .38 special cartridges as well.

 

[rct269]

Sweet gun, shoot it and enjoy it. It will fire .38 special cartridges as well.

Yes it will------but not as accurately as will a similar revolver chambered for the .38 Special round. The difference is small, so no problem if your target is tin cans, but if you're shooting for score, forget about it.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[toddimusnimski]

Wow, you sure know how to make an entrance! Your first post, now with 100+ Likes. Sorry for your family's loss. Your FIL had great taste in sidearms.

Please stick around and post more photos and stories.

Todd

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes it will------but not as accurately as will a similar revolver chambered for the .38 Special round. The difference is small, so no problem if your target is tin cans, but if you're shooting for score, forget about it.

Ralph Tremaine

Most folks can't get all of the accuracy out of a handgun.

Back in the day, I shot NRA Police Expert with a 4" M19, using .38 special wadcutter ammo. My score was 93%. Could I have gotten a higher score with a M15? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[DWalt]

Many famous people owned the .357 RM. In addition to Patton, J. Edgar Hoover, Gary Cooper, and Clark Gable had one. Probably many other male celebrities of that time period I don't know of. Sort of the handgun equivalent of a high end wristwatch or custom sports car for the rich and famous, and top of the line for S&W. The humpback hammer shape (available as an S&W option in the late 1930s) is a little unusual as it was optimized for use by target shooters in single action mode. A HBH is very desirable today.

Patton's .357 used to be on display at the Fort Knox museum. I don't know where it is today, maybe it's still there.

Even more unusual is the "unregistered" .357 Magnum. They were made just prior to the US involvement in WWII, and not many of them left the factory before civilian handgun production ceased.

 

[clang444]

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.

I absolutely agree. My comment was in response to an earlier one that has since been edited. Next time I will quote it so it was here for posterity.