Early Nickel Combat Magnum

[handejector]

Roy tells us that the first block of 5000 serial numbers for the Combat Magnum (Pre Model 19) was 260001 to 265000.
This new model was so popular that those 5000 serial numbers were used up in the first 6 months of 1956.

Nickel guns in those first 5000 numbers are extremely uncommon.

If you have a NICKEL Pre 19 in the range K260001 to K265000, please post it!

This gun was apparently held back awhile at the Factory, and did not ship till Aug, 1958.







Early 4 Screw guns are numbered like 5 Screw guns-
Butt
Barrel
Cylinder
Yoke
Extractor

NOTE the N following the K on the barrel number-





Other little Ns you'll be delighted to find-






It was probably used as a Factory display at Camp Perry-



If you want to see REALLY large pics, go to the album-
Click Here for LARGE Pics

[crsides]

Very Nice Lee.


Charlie

[Aircrewman]

Fabulously beatific!!!!

[Bob L]

One beautiful revolver!

[JayCeeNC]

Excellent specimen of a fairly scarce gun.
Thanks for sharing.

[RKmesa]

Lee:

Great gun and wonderful photos.

Thanks for sharing,

[KSK]

Beautiful Combat Magnum. It appears to be in remarkably nice condition.

[ars1876]

My nickel 4",Ser # K264772,was shipped June 14 1957.I have a letter from Roy dated Nov 1975 no destination given just the shipping date.I carried it on duty from 1973-76 when I switched to my 5" m 27.The guy I bought it from carried it as a duty gun for several years before I bought it from him when he retired.It is still in good shape & no flaking.

[Bakebfr480]

Good looking shooter!

[jmace57]

Muy fabuloso!

[Doc44]

Very nice Lee!!!

Bill

[bravastar1]

Mine is K-264146 which shipped in June 1957. These are quick phone pictures taken this morning. This would be a tough one to sell off. Trust me,it looks much better in person.

[wheelgun610]

Do any of the ones pictured here have the S/N on the inside of the right stock? The only numbered K target stocks I've ever seen were in the lower K 260,000 range.

Mark

[Bullseye 2620]

Yer killin' me, Lee. These nickeled revolvers with pinned blued front sights are just the ticket.

[sbowenjr]

Boxed and lettered!S/NK264945.
Just barely made the serial range cutoff!
Thanks for the thread and letting me share!
Sorry for photo quality!

[S&WsRsweet]

Man don't you guys have any ugly guns ? I mean combat magnums are great but nickel and I just love nickle ,I think I'm gonna cry

[charlie sherrill]

The serial number appears to be positioned to accommodate a lanyard ring. Has anyone ever seen this model with one?

[sbowenjr]

I have not.

[Doc44]

The letter and the numbers were separated on the bottom of the grip frame until around 1959/60 when the letter was moved next to the numbers. Lanyard rings on Combat Magnums are extremely rare. I know only of a couple shipped that way by special order.

Bill

[handejector]

Originally Posted by sbowenjr

Boxed and lettered!S/NK264945.
Just barely made the serial range cutoff!
Thanks for the thread and letting me share!
Sorry for photo quality!

You have the only box I have ever seen for a nickel Pre-19.
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEE!

[Leatherhead23]

There's only 11 or so on the list of 'known' nickel Pre19's...

Stu...you still have that list of serials? Is Lee's on it?

[sbowenjr]

Originally Posted by handejector

You have the only box I have ever seen for a nickel Pre-19.
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEE!

Wow sir. Thank you. Thank you for this forum!

[sbowenjr]

Originally Posted by Leatherhead23

There's only 11 or so on the list of 'known' nickel Pre19's...

Stu...you still have that list of serials? Is Lee's on it?

I will look through some old emails and see ic I can find it.

[handejector]

Pic of the invoice added.
Awaiting Letter.

[smith17]

Interesting that on the invoice, it is referred to as a M19. Probably not a surprise since they had begun calling them by their model number by 1958.
Ed

[lawman445]

Mine is SN K264183. I should probably be ashamed of myself for not lettering it by now. I was lucky and picked it up from an online auction back when Gunbroker and Auction Arms were a new thing. Most of the folks I considered "rich old guys" hadn`t figured out the new technology yet so there were some bargains to be had in those days.

[sbowenjr]

Keep them comming guys. BTT!

[BigBill]

Some just don’t get it when I say the world famous s&w nickel finish is were it’s at. They are awesome.

[Loma]

My father passed away recently and I inherited his nickel 357 Combat Magnum #K264260. He was a Texas Highway Patrolman and Special Texas Ranger from 1959 -1979 and then Private Investigator/Security until he retired in 2013. This was his service revolver and the only handgun he ever owned. It is still in pretty good shape for an all original 50+ years everyday carry weapon.

I am very proud to take over caring for this weapon.

Please forgive the photography, this is the first time I have ever posted to any forum.

357 -1.jpg

357 -2.jpg

[Club Gun Fan]

Very nice!!! If your not keeping it, and I hope you do, I'd be interested in it.

[Nightowl]

I noticed on the same invoice two m27s with serial numbers in the S138xxx range. Serial numbers most usually associated with guns made several years earlier. I wonder if they were stamped M27? I doubt it.

[Art Doc]

Wow. There are 11 of them and 6 have been posted (so far) on this thread.

I like the shiny ones.

My nickel 58 also shipped to Jesse Harpe (any info on this dealer?). I guess the shiny ones were popular in Florida.

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by Art Doc

Wow. There are 11 of them and 6 have been posted (so far) on this thread.

I like the shiny ones.

My nickel 58 also shipped to Jesse Harpe (any info on this dealer?). I guess the shiny ones were popular in Florida.

Two words: salt air.

[geoff40]

Let’s make it 7. Here is K264008, one of the 11 on the list. Some of you know, maybe, this gun had a set of Charles Wendell’s stocks on it when I got it. The gun belonged to one of Charlie’s best friends, who preferred smooth wood versus the oak-leaf classic style he usually carved. The pictured stocks came from one of the Maine gents, not active on this forum too much these days. Much thanks and credit out to him for getting me a set of the stocks that would likely have been on this revolver when it left the factory.

I also got charlie’s very own 19-2, an early 63 or 64 nickel 6” gun with a K-frame size set of Kearsarge stocks, with his own initials carved in to them.

[geoff40]

Guess I need to letter this hunk of iron, huh?

[RKmesa]

Throwing this thread up for another round at the top. Great guns, great photos and fun information for those of us who love the Combat Magnums.

[LPD256]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

Throwing this thread up for another round at the top. Great guns, great photos and fun information for those of us who love the Combat Magnums.

Thanks Richard. We sort of new guys always learn something from these older threads. Usually I find myself sending two or three “likes” before I look at the date of the thread.

[Club Gun Fan]

Hey Lee!!!
I have a great COMBAT MAGNUM presentation case your/my Nickel Combat Magnum would look perfect in.

[lestert357]

Originally Posted by Club Gun Fan

Hey Lee!!!
I have a great COMBAT MAGNUM presentation case your/my Nickel Combat Magnum would look perfect in.

Where’s the picture Don?

[.357magger]

Very nice Magnum.

Always learning something here.

Thanks for sharing it (them).

[Engine49guy]

I must have missed this thread in 2017.
Combat Magnums are my favorite so I track the early ones,
A few observations, first is that I have yet to see a nickel one pop up with the early 6 groove tangs, closest was K261678, 7/56 but was reported to have 10 groove tangs and is the lowest serial 10 groove tang gun on my list.
The other nickel gun on my list not listed above is K264241, 9/56 .

On a side note the 6" version was introduced in 1963, since the practice of pinning the FS ramp to the barrel continued until about 1969-70 there is only about a 6 year window where nickel 6" combat Magnums would have have a pinned blue fs ramp.

[TLflag]

I have serial number # 264730 Nickel Combat Magnum. I don't know how to do pictures, so you will have to tough it out. Has T T: T H: White Outline
rear sight; 10 groove

[boykinlp]

Originally Posted by geoff40

Let’s make it 7. Here is K264008, one of the 11 on the list. Some of you know, maybe, this gun had a set of Charles Wendell’s stocks on it when I got it. The gun belonged to one of Charlie’s best friends, who preferred smooth wood versus the oak-leaf classic style he usually carved. The pictured stocks came from one of the Maine gents, not active on this forum too much these days. Much thanks and credit out to him for getting me a set of the stocks that would likely have been on this revolver when it left the factory.

I also got charlie’s very own 19-2, an early 63 or 64 nickel 6” gun with a K-frame size set of Kearsarge stocks, with his own initials carved in to them.

There are some really special guns in this thread. It is one of the reasons I enjoy it here so much. To have a group of 11 special/rare guns, and be able to see 7 (hopefully, the 8th soon) of them here is fantastic! It just goes to show that the "right" folks participate in this forum. BTW, Geoff we would love to see your letter.

The bold part of this post immediately caught my eye. I would love to own a pair of Kearsage grips, but actually owning one of "the man's" guns with a pair of grips with HIS initials on them is just too awesome!!! Must have been one of his favorite guns to put that set of grips on it too. Geoff, you have probably shown this gun here before, if not, please start a new thread on it. It you have shown it before, please give me a link. Thanks.
Larry