1950 FIRST YEAR.. FIRST MONTH .357 MAGNUM..

ditrina

ditrina

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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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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.
 
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.
 
I had S76147, sold it to a member here that doesn't post much anymore. 3-1/2 inch, blue, factory refinished and beautiful.
 
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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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

doc44-albums-unique-s-w-n-frame-revolvers-picture1454-357-magnum-s76000-range-engraved-early-1950s-harry-jarvis-kept-factory-collection-until-being-sold-1966-harry-montique.jpg
 
Doc44 said:
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

doc44-albums-unique-s-w-n-frame-revolvers-picture1454-357-magnum-s76000-range-engraved-early-1950s-harry-jarvis-kept-factory-collection-until-being-sold-1966-harry-montique.jpg
Click to expand...


Doc...
Each time you post a picture we not only get to see Art and Beauty... but we get a history lesson included......:D:D

Thank you sir...

" Ya Gotta Love This Place"
 
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.:D

Thanks Rusty
 
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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