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11-15-2012, 09:59 PM
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1950 FIRST YEAR.. FIRST MONTH .357 MAGNUM..
It was my good fortune thanks to Forum member Buckle, to be able to acquire a 1950, first year First Month, Model .357 Magnum..
The list of known first year .357 Magnums ( pre-27 ) is fairly short, I feel fortunate to have a January and a February shipped gun..
For those of you fortunate to know Lee Jarrett and David Carroll and the guns they deal in..... I will rate this gun as a Lee and David solid 98%+
A factory letter request is already on the way to Mr. Jinks..
Below is the last data base I have available, thanks to Forum Member JayCeeNC and Lee who sent it to me.
Early 1950 Model 357 Mags
All are 3.5” unless noted:
SH = Speed hammer
ST = Semi Target
By Date
S75514 – Nov-1949 Barrel length unknown to me
S75523 – Jan-1950 B.R.
S75623 Jan- 1950 THIS GUN
S75947 – Feb 10, 1950 SH MY FEBRUARY GUN
S75581 – Mar 8, 1950
S75866 – Mar- 1950 Holster wear, SH
S75952 – April- 1950
S75935 – May 10, 1950
S76311 – May 26, 1950 3.5 Blue SH? letter
S75929 – June 28, 1950 SH 3.5 Blue letter
S75867 – July 20, 1950, SH
S77125 – Aug 23, 1950 ST Hammer Letter Pic
S75855 – Sept, 1950 Reblue
S79524 – Sept 21, 1950 Barrel length unknown to me
By Serial Number
S75514 – Nov-1949 Barrel length unknown to me
S75523 – Jan-1950 B.R.
S75581 – Mar 8, 1950
S75623 Jan- 1950 THIS GUN
S75855 – Sept, 1950 Reblue
S75866 – Mar- 1950 Holster wear, SH
S75867 – July 20, 1950 SH
S75929 – June 28, 1950 SH 3.5 Blue letter
S75935 – May 10, 1950
S75947 – Feb 10, 1950 SH MY FEBRUARY GUN
S75952 – April- 1950
S76311 – May 26, 1950 3.5 Blue SH? letter
S77125 – Aug 23, 1950 ST Hammer Letter Pic
S79524 – Sept 21, 1950 Barrel length unknown to me
Here are two that I have that can be added to the data base.
S76552 - shipped August 19, 1950 - 3.5" barrel - Semi Target Hammer
S77982 - shipped August 21, 1950 - 5" barrel -Semi Target Hammer
JANUARY 1950 .357 MAGNUM
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Last edited by ditrina; 11-15-2012 at 10:28 PM.
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11-15-2012, 10:05 PM
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Wow! My Lord man, that IS Nice!! Quite the find Doctor!
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11-15-2012, 10:10 PM
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Great gun, Sal!
I pretty much keep up the serial number list you have above, I added this latest one to it. I was going to message you about it, anyway.
Thanks for showing it off.
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11-15-2012, 10:33 PM
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Can I have your 27-2's now? 
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11-15-2012, 10:38 PM
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Holy cow Sal, that is almost too pretty to be true.
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11-15-2012, 11:05 PM
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I'd just about give up my left one for a Magnum like that, '50 is my birth year...
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11-16-2012, 12:03 AM
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How many of those are in nickel?
I hadn't thought about it before now but I guess this one is a first year gun.
S79680 shipped 9/20/50 to Charleston, WV.
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11-16-2012, 12:12 AM
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Hi
I have S76166 but I don't have a ship date.
Jim
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11-16-2012, 01:02 AM
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I wonder if S77088 would be in there some where?
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11-16-2012, 01:18 AM
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SP, so far 3 nickel 3.5-inchers on the list shipped September 20 and 21, 1950, in the S795xx and S796xx range.
dhallz, there are two other S77xxx guns which shipped in August, 1950.
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11-16-2012, 01:49 AM
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006........
S76006 that is. This gun.
Haven't gotten around to the letter yet.
Very nice pistola, Sal. These early ones are just fantastic pieces of craftsmanship.
Ned
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11-16-2012, 03:16 AM
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I had S76147, sold it to a member here that doesn't post much anymore. 3-1/2 inch, blue, factory refinished and beautiful.
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11-16-2012, 09:32 AM
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I don't know how you come across these guns as I have never even found a 27 in any condition in any shop I have ever been in.
Beautiful piece my friend!!
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Last edited by mesinge2; 11-16-2012 at 09:34 AM.
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11-16-2012, 09:33 AM
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Per the letter, this ".357" Magnum, S76359, was manufactured in the first production run of this model at the new factory on Roosevelt Avenue. It was given an extra high polish and Class B-engraved by Harry Jarvis. The revolver was kept in the factory collection for sixteen years. It was sold to a member of the IBM Shooting Team in 1966 who was visiting S&W.
The original stocks are checked Magna numbered to the revolver. These carved stocks are by an unknown maker.
Bill
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11-16-2012, 11:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
Per the letter, this ".357" Magnum, S76359, was manufactured in the first production run of this model at the new factory on Roosevelt Avenue. It was given an extra high polish and Class B-engraved by Harry Jarvis. The revolver was kept in the factory collection for sixteen years. It was sold to a member of the IBM Shooting Team in 1966 who was visiting S&W.
The original stocks are checked Magna numbered to the revolver. These carved stocks are by an unknown maker.
Bill

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Doc...
Each time you post a picture we not only get to see Art and Beauty... but we get a history lesson included...... 
Thank you sir...
" Ya Gotta Love This Place"
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11-16-2012, 07:58 PM
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To all that have posted pics on this so far THANKS. The education and history one can get here is just amazing. Let alone the the fine craftsmanship and artist work. My hat goes off to those of you who score these fine .357 Magnums.
Thanks Rusty
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11-16-2012, 09:23 PM
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75956 shipped April 2, 1950 to Powell and Clement in Cincinnati Oh. in Blue, 3 1/2.
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Last edited by Nightowl; 11-16-2012 at 09:23 PM.
Reason: add year.
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11-17-2012, 12:38 PM
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Great guns !
Is that narrow hammer spur style only found on early post war .357's ?
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11-17-2012, 09:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
Great guns !
Is that narrow hammer spur style only found on early post war .357's ?
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While I do not know IF ALL were like that Both the January AND the February have similar hammers..
JANUARY 1950
FEBRUARY 1950
JANUARY 1950
FEBRUARY 1950
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11-17-2012, 09:51 PM
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You can see from Ditrina's list above (SH for Speed Hammer, ST for Semi-Target hammer) that the Speed Hammer looks to disappear somewhere in the 76xxx serial number range. Of course, this is a small sampling and probably not enough to pin it down definitively.
In this picture the two blued pre-Model 27's with Speed Hammers (middle two) are in the 75xxx serial number range. The nickel gun is serial number S 79xxx and has the Semi-Target hammer. The other ST hammer gun is S 82xxx.
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11-17-2012, 11:37 PM
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Its the subtle variations and revisions that make this hobby so interesting,
For instance in JayCeeNC's pic above the early N frame diamond Magnas all appear to have the same tall shoulder at the top,
and look just like the early K Magnas did,
Im guessing they went through the same transition as the K diamond Magnas where the very early ones have the untapered shoulder,
and later ones are more tapered at the top just below the cylinder release ?
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11-18-2012, 12:11 AM
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Engine49guy, you're right. The early N-frame Magna's had the sharp shoulder profile. The ones on the upper left gun in my picture are not original, it came with some aftermarket target grips so I replaced them with a later set of Magnas.
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12-09-2012, 04:01 PM
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I started a thread on my 3 1/2" pre-27 here.
My 3 1/2" .357 Magnum!
I'll post a picture anyways! 
Ed
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08-03-2013, 02:32 PM
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Here's S 76748
Last edited by loeman; 10-16-2013 at 04:46 PM.
Reason: fix grammar
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