Well I finally got off my hands and sent off a letter request to Mr. Jinks. I have put this off for about 8 years will be interesting to see what comes back. With the who,what,where and when I have an idea what year but that is it. The history should be interesting.

Thanks RB

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Beautiful gun. I'd letter it too!

Man that thing is a beauty,be sure and post info after letter arrives

Very nice.

Wolf and Klar perhaps?

Its always interesting to see where they go. Mine went to an ax maker in Duluth Mn., Kelly-How -Thompson. The letter is like the lottery. If it went to someone famous, it makes it more interesting and valuable. Nice gun, Larry

Good looking RM! I'll look forward to hearing what you learn about that gun as well as any back story you might wish to share about how you happened upon it..

Thanks,

Jerry

Well here it is hope you can read the attachment. It was not cut down and the front and rear sights are what it shipped with,The magna stock are long gone and re-blued but can't change that. Kind of curious as where the twin is? I had told my wife I bet it shipped to some place in Chicago and sure enough. Some of you wanted the back story so here it is. My youngest daughter had bought me Smith and Wesson standard catalog 2nd edition for Christmas. I read it front to back and when I came to the section on the .357 Magnum it caught my attention and my interest. Then in Feb. I had gone to the local gun show as I was walking around came across a fellow that had it on his table and honestly the ivory grips caught my attention first! asked if I could look at it and he said sure. Picked it up and opened the cylinder the make sure it was unloaded. Then as I looked it over it started jumping out at me what it was. Played it cool asked if he would come down on the price? His comment was that is as low as I can go besides you know what it is. My comment back was yes I know and I also know they are hard to find. This fellow was from the suburbs of Chicago he did not have any real history on it that he was willing to share. I bought it 8 years ago just never got around to the history until now. Now it would be nice to know where it went from Von Lengerke & Antoine Co.

Thanks RB

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at least the lettering is still crisp on the reblue.
whoever did it knew what they were doing.

beautiful revolver.

As I remember VL&A was part of Abercrombie & Fitch. In the mid 1960's the Abercrombie & Fitch and Marshall Field's gun shops were gerat places to look at quality firearms. I fondly remember the huge Kodiak bear on the second floor of Marshall & Fields sporting goods sections.

rbswede, You are only 1/2 way home on the info. available from the factory archives on your reg. mag. Get the S&W Historical Foundation research package which will give you all the background on who ordered, the gun, original order specification, correspondence between S&W and the orderer, etc. V,L & A was the distributor. Find out who ordered the gun through them, etc. then you will know "The Rest of the Story" Ed,

Nice Reg. 357!
Now, get it's twin...

I was toying with that idea especially now with the info. of a twin. I would like to know the rest of the story. The fact that it really did not travel out of the area in 75 years.

Tsquared That is good info on the history my Mother in law is 94 and still sharp as a tack. She was born and raised in Chicago going to pick her brain on V,L&A


STCM(SW) Interesting thought who knows if it is even around

Thanks RB

rbswede's, your R.M. is one of the best looking revolvers I've ever seen in my life, I'm sure you do, but please enjoy that guy.

Well I put this off for a while! got to thinking though. As much as I like history there could be more to this story! Figure if I did not send off for the info. I'll never know. Also sent off for a membership, with the way things are these days our history is never more important. I know this is a great undertaking to gather and research all the info. I also know that it could turn up absolutely nothing more than what the factory letter has in it. I'm good with that as well, knew that going into it as you said I will know "The Rest of the Story".

Thanks Rusty

Well I got an e-mail the other day just saw it, the news was nothing special. The S&WHF found just the the original order form and invoice to the dealer. I will most likely wait until after Christmas and get the info they have. Now this being said, I knew that the chances were there that this was all the info. to get. I still feel very blessed that I found this bit of history and was able to buy it. So who originally bought and owned it stays a mystery ( A Chicago Mystery )

Thanks Rusty

Very nice Registered Magnum and the ivory grips are fantastic!!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Very nice! Can't wait to read more about it.

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John
S&WCA Life Member

Man that is good looking Registered Magnum. If it could only talk.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

hope this is easier to read...

Hi Rbswede and everyone else,

Congratulations. It's a great story. I hope this doesn't appear to be a thread killer, it sure isn't meant to be.

I am really curious about the stocks. Are they ivory or what?. I ask because my Pre Model 27 (shipped 1950) had those same stocks but were black. They were made of some kind of plastic or bakelite, but not sure what. I took them off and put on period correct Magnas and pretty much forgot about them until I saw your pics. I'm sure I still have them around here somewhere. Anyway, if anyone knows more about them, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

Loeman yes they are ivory, and as far as where or who made them I have no idea. When I bought it they were on it and the gentleman who sold it to me had no info. They have no marking on the back side.

To all that have posted on this thread Thanks for the kind words. I think the only way there will be any more history info. would be by pure chance. It does bug me though because I do like history, and you know there has to be some even if it is just average everyday history.

Thanks Rusty