The J Edgar Hoover 22 “registered magnum” ??

[Model29-26.5]

What would this be worth? Ballpark?

What is currently known about it or its possible whereabouts?

If you saw it in a pawn shop and picked it up for $800, either knowing what you were buying and concealing your excitement, or discovering what it was after you got home…. what would be your next immediate action?

 

[Bald1]

What is it? #22 RM or a model 48 registered to Hoover ?

 

[Model29-26.5]

What is it? #22 RM or a model 48 registered to Hoover ?

From what I have read, S&W presented him with a pair or revolvers.
A registered magnum in 357, and a “registered magnum” chambered in 22 LR that (so I just read) stamped “22 Colt” on the barrel?

 

[Model29-26.5]

I may be misinformed or have misunderstood?
From what I have come to understand, J Edgar Hoover was presented with a pair of registered magnums?
Is this false info?
Thanks

 

[SWOH]

"His" and "hers" for him and Tolson?

 

[Doc44]

Mr. Hoover was given a .357 Magnum with Registration number 1. The Magnum was delivered to D. B. Wesson for presentation to Mr. Hoover. The revolver has an 8 3/4-inch barrel, blue finish, 1/10-inch Patridge front sight, rear sight to match, sighted in at 20 yards with .357 Magnum ammunition, 6 o'clock hold, grip adapter attached.

There was a pair of Registered .357 Magnums with an 8 3/8-inch barrel that was ordered by a mining company in California for a patron. One was in .357 Magnum caliber and the other in .22 Long Rifle caliber. The latter cost $150 (approximately three times the cost of a Registered Magnum) if I remember correctly. Collectors have searched for this pair for many years, but it has never been located. This is the only Registered Magnum chambered in .22 LR.

Bill

 

[shawn mccarver]

From what I have read, S&W presented him with a pair or revolvers.
A registered magnum in 357, and a “registered magnum” chambered in 22 LR that (so I just read) stamped “22 Colt” on the barrel?

I do not believe this is correct.

Mr. Hoover received REG. 1 (8 3/4 inch barrel) as a personal gift from Doug Wesson.

The single 22 LR RM was part of a special order for two RMs, one in 22 LR and the other in .357 Magnum. The order was placed by the American Potash and Chemical Corporation. The 22 has never been located. I am not sure about the consecutive number in .357.

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’d think a Lady Smith might be a good choice.

 

[Model29-26.5]

Mr. Hoover was given a .357 Magnum with Registration number 1. The Magnum was delivered to D. B. Wesson for presentation to Mr. Hoover. The revolver has an 8 3/4-inch barrel, blue finish, 1/10-inch Patridge front sight, rear sight to match, sighted in at 20 yards with .357 Magnum ammunition, 6 o'clock hold, grip adapter attached.

There was a pair of Registered .357 Magnums with an 8 3/8-inch barrel that was ordered by a mining company in California for a patron. One was in .357 Magnum caliber and the other in .22 Long Rifle caliber. The latter cost $150 (approximately three times the cost of a Registered Magnum) if I remember correctly. Collectors have searched for this pair for many years, but it has never been located. This is the only Registered Magnum chambered in .22 LR.

Bill

Thank so much!
In writing this post, I came across a post from 2013 where you gave this information about a gentleman in Trona.
I am familiar with this area, and the Trona pinnacle, which are very close to Death Valley.
Somebody also said they knew where it was? I’m not sure if they were kidding or not..
I always wondered about a 22 in an N frame.
Unnecessary, of course, but that is not the point.
This 22 RM, and the actual Dirty Harry 29 used in the opening credits of “Magnum Force” would be my two grail guns.

 

[Doc44]

The Model 29 used by Clint Eastwood in "Magnum Force" is in the NRA museum. Jim Supica, Former Director of the Museum, brought the gun to Tulsa a number for years ago for Show & Tell at the Southwest Bunch meeting there during the Tulsa Arms Gun Show. I had a photo of me holding the 44, but the photo was lost when the photo hosting site I was using suffered a catastrophic fire many years ago.

Collectors have posted want ads in local papers offering a reward for information about the .22 "Magnum", but nothing was ever learned about it.

Bill

 

[Riposte1]

I trust the research staff at Rock Island Auctions when things exceed my expertise (which is a pretty low bar )

Here is what they have to say, which pretty much backs up what Doc and other say above:

Smith & Wesson - Registered Magnum 357

Extensively Documented, Historic Early Registration No. 2 Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver Shipped to Ballistics Expert Phil Sharpe with Case, Factory Letter and Registration CertificateThis historic Registered Magnum, Reg. #2, is the earliest Registered Magnum ever...

www.rockislandauction.com

The gun in the picture is Registration #2 that went to Phil Sharpe. I don't think I've seen a picture of Hoover's gun, though I may have and have just forgotten it.

Riposte

 

[DARE]

Roy Jinks wrote an article titled "The Revolver that Changed the Direction of Handgunning."
Roy said the pair were built for the American Potash & Chemical Corp., Trona, California. Shipped November 21, 1936. Serial number 49710, registration number 1590 in .357 Magnum and 49736, registration number 1591 in .22 LR. Both 8 3/8", blue finish. Front sights were King ramp reflectors with red post. King 112 rear sight. Magna stocks. The Magnum was $60 and the .22 LR was $150. The .22 is listed in the Pre-War .357 Magnum Database.
Dr. Jinks article was published in the Winter 1989 S&WCA Journal. It is available online to SWCA members.

 

[kwill1911]

I have a couple of very poor pictures of Hoover's RM 1. I don't think any pictures or other evidence of the RM in .22LR have ever shown up anywhere. I don't doubt that it was made and delivered, but it seems to have been lost to history.

 

[Model29-26.5]

The Model 29 used by Clint Eastwood in "Magnum Force" is in the NRA museum. Jim Supica, Former Director of the Museum, brought the gun to Tulsa a number for years ago for Show & Tell at the Southwest Bunch meeting there during the Tulsa Arms Gun Show. I had a photo of me holding the 44, but the photo was lost when the photo hosting site I was using suffered a catastrophic fire many years ago.

Collectors have posted want ads in local papers offering a reward for information about the .22 "Magnum", but nothing was ever learned about it.

Bill

Thanks so much.
I will be booking myself a gig in Tulsa asap!
I have to see this one.

 

[MelvinWalker]

....and the actual Dirty Harry 29 used in the opening credits of “Magnum Force” would be my two grail guns....

The guns used in all of those movies were probably owned and provided by Stembridge gun rentals in CA....At one time, their arsenal was as big as a small country. I think the US Government borrowed some firearms from them once.

They are now owned by ISS or "Independent Studio Services". They seem to keep good records and I would imagine they know where that particular gun, (or multiples of it used in filming), is located.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

… One was in .357 Magnum caliber and the other in .22 Long Rifle caliber. The latter cost $150 (approximately three times the cost of a Registered Magnum) if I remember correctly. Collectors have searched for this pair for many years, but it has never been located. This is the only Registered Magnum chambered in .22 LR.

I am sure whoever inherited them does not realize what they have. They could also be in the attic of a ranch house and long forgotten.

 

[Model29-26.5]

i ought to check out every LGS around the area every time I’m out that way.
You never know what you might find or who doesn’t know what they have.
As a guy who has only been in the game for about 18 months and knows very little, I am amazed at some of the Gunbroker listings of old Smith’s by sellers who give so little info and mis label and miss things they ought to know about if they’re running a business.
That 22 registered mag might just show up in a store and get missed because the owner doesn’t recognize the model.
Stranger things have happened.
Here’s hoping…

 

[MelvinWalker]

i ought to check out every LGS around the area every time I’m out that way.
You never know what you might find or who doesn’t know what they have.
As a guy who has only been in the game for about 18 months and knows very little, I am amazed at some of the Gunbroker listings of old Smith’s by sellers who give so little info and mis label and miss things they ought to know about if they’re running a business.
That 22 registered mag might just show up in a store and get missed because the owner doesn’t recognize the model.
Stranger things have happened.
Here’s hoping…

Truth....I routinely see S&W revolvers in Tampa pawn shop cases listed as "S&W .38 special model unknown" that are actually Victory Models. Because the model number isn't stamped, they don't go any further to identify it.

 

[SWOH]

I am sure whoever inherited them does not realize what they have. They could also be in the attic of a ranch house and long forgotten.

Or turned in for $100 gift certificate in a buyback scam.

 

[Flygas]

John Milius, the writer of Dirty Harry, told me he owned the .44 Magnum used in the movie. Or at least that was the case quite a few years ago, and I don’t think he’s sold it.