I found a 6" registered magnum today at, of all places, Cabelas. I put the gun on a 5 day hold (no strings attached) and took some pictures. I'll need some input before "pulling the trigger" on this one. The gun is in excellent condition and all numbers appear to match. We pulled the grips off and they number as well. I'm wondering if this gun appears "legit"... Is it? Is the front sight correct? What's it worth?

How big of a deal is it not to have a letter with this gun? I presume one could be obtained from S&W?

Thanks, hope you guys are having a good mothers day today!

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A few more pics

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What are they asking for it. Might be a good place to start???

1. I agree. If you stated their asking price you can get yes or no from many folks.

2. Does it give any appearance of being refinished? That's a HUGE deal with value.

3. Bear in mind there are many variables in gun values and none more so than the RMs. Box? Docs? Tools? Condition? Letter?

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No life story has happy end.

Price is $2999. Gun is as it is shown with no other paper, docs, etc.. Does not show evidence of refinish to me.... Maybe you guys can tell! I'd say easy 95+ % condition, maybe 97%

One more of front sight

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I think I'd go for it at $3K, even if I had to pay sales tax and no letter.

Hi
Front sight looks correct hard to tell about the finish but it looks original the grips are nice.
3000 is a fair price. the grips are worth 500.
so your have a 2500 dollar gun. i would buy it
jim fisher

Can a letter be obtained? How much does this add to value if it proves to be legit? Any other concerns? Please pick this thing apart guys!

Awhile back I started a thread titled - Registered Magnum. Ponderings. Education.
The main point of this post was a similar question as your question. I was looking at a RM at Cabelas in Kansas City. The RM in KC is not as nice (grips are modified) and they are asking $6999. The main thrust of the posts were to figure how to fairly value a RM in general and specifically the one at Cabelas in KC.

This RM looks legit to me but consider I have never owned one and have only objectively evaluated a grand total of one. The price of $2999 seems fair for this one. The main thing I would try to figure out is if it's been refinished. If it has not been refinished and is as it appears and as you describe then $2999 is probably a very fair price. I suspect if you mention at which Cabelas it is located it will be picked up by one of the members here within the week.

Hi
the letter cost 50.00 and takes 12 to 16 weeks and all it is going to do
is confirm what you have but for 3000.00 you are not out any money because
if something is not on the letter you can still get your 3000 back.
Jim

Agree with Jim (an easy thing to do in almost all cases), it appears original and unmolested. Here is the link to obtaining a factory letter:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

Also, by contacting (and preferably joining) the S & W Historical Foundation, they can do a search for any specific factory paperwork associated with this gun, like the order form, correspondence of any kind, etc. You have to have the factory letter above first.

You are buying it, right? Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

$3K for that considering the going rates on other revolvers (27,29,57, Pythons, etc.) seems to good to be true. I am an uneducated skeptic. I will wait for the resident experts to chime in.

I would have it home by now for $3k. I'd say that's a steal. I'm surprised Cabellas would have it priced that low.

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Brad

I do not see any of the tell-tale signs of a refinishing. The stampings are deep and sharp. What else is there to look for?? The finish is "mirror like" and outstanding. I read in my "blue book" that there were 2 different hammers offered. Which one does this have?

This one has the standard hammer; the other is called the "humpback", with the upper portion lacking the usual dip just in front of the checkered area.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I picked the gun up, brought it home and wiped it down. It is nicer than I thought. I'm not seeing any real evidence that it has ever been shot.. What a beauty!

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Didnt find any "rework" stampings under grips. No stampings at all for that matter! Grips do number. STOKED!! I'll get a letter ordered tomorrow. The guys at cabelas said this was the "best deal" they've ever seen come through as well since the store opened last year. This came from a collection of over 250 guys from a gentleman in Wyoming. They said the price was "low" because they "bought it right"... It was in the case for less than 24 hours!

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If that came in to the Cabelas near me, forget it lasting hours, it would've never made the case. Congrats.

3 grand!!!!! Stop typing and go buy buy buy. It's a Reg Mag. Would sell for 5 grand on this forum rather quickly IMHO

Can you pull the grips off to check and see if it has been sent back to S&W for service? It will be on the side with the cylinder release. Look for dates such as 4.50. This would tell you it has gone back for service. I believe if it were reblued it would have a B in a circle. But if it were sent to someone like Fords it would not have any markings.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

That is a STEAL,Go pay off the Layaway NOW!

... off to Cabelas I go. I'll put up some more pics later. THANKS GUYS!!

If the Gun was Factory refinished I would still buy it for 3K in a Heartbeat.......The fact that the Stocks match the condition of the Gun and number to the Gun makes me think it is 100% legit.

I'm going to guess its a refinish,3k is just too cheap for a 95+ RM.
If really an original finish someone is asleep at that Cabels.
Mark

Sir, I have often been accused of being overly polite, But go buy the damn gun now.

If thats a refinish, its a super good one, looks original to me. I know les about RMs than probably most anyone and I'd buy that for 3 G.

You don't have your location in your profile If you did, I might beat you to it

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Steve, SWCA # 2802

He already stated that the Gun is on Layaway........

People fall asleep all the time at Cabela's,I have seen it happen numerous time.

I agree with Jim and the others. I can see no down side to buying that gun.

I would first insist that they pull the grips. If there is indication of a factory refinish I would use that fact to try to negotiate the price down a bit. (Since they priced it as they did, that particular mgr. may not be too current on RM's).

If they don't negotiate, don't despair. Put the money on the counter and take your new gun home.

Bob

Don't let the fact that if the King isn't factory deter you. That would be a common, period correct replacement, and wouldn't devalue the revolver much. Agreed, it's a steal for 3k, especially if there are no rework marks and the grips number. If so that revolver would easily fetch 5 to 6k. If it letters to a noteable individual, the sky is the limit.

It is a fairly early Magnum dating to 1936. I would buy it for $3K.

Bill

That gun is only 10 off of mine, mine being a 6 1/2" Reg. No. 1070 shipped in May 1936. Yours looks legit. to me, and I can assure you I wouldn't sell mine for $3000! I would be on that gun like white on rice!

I would have it home already,with a letter request in the mail..
Even if it has a date code on the frame,that doesn't signify a refinish-only a trip back to S&W.

From examination of the pictures, not the same as having it in-hand, I'd say the finish is either original or a very good re-finish. How about the earlier question as to whether S&W will issue a new registration certificate or a copy of the original? I doubt they will, but I have no idea.

Congrats!!!! Steal of the Month!!!!

You did good on that one! I'd say someone was definitely asleep at the switch at Cabelas. Can't believe they let it get away so cheap!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Looks great! Based upon a lengthy debate on this forum about RM's in this state - excellent condition, no box, no documents, no registration - you got that for roughly half of what a number of us decided something like that might be worth.
I could not find that pistol in Cabelas on-line gun library listings earlier today so I'd guess it just arrived at the store within the past few days? Right place. Right time. A little luck.

While Cabelas' prices are usually somewhere beyond the high end of the market, I have seen one or two stories on this forum about them being way low. It's uncommon, but happens. I am glad to see you snagged it.

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NHI, 10-8.

Nicely play'd thar ol' boy!

Great purchase.


Dave


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Looks to be lightly fired if at all, from the appearance of the recoil shield, and with the original finish.

However, I do shudder slightly as to what they might have given the Wyoming gentleman (or his estate) when they "bought it right"...if everyone's happy, no harm, no foul.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Congratulations on finding a great revolver at an unbelievable price. I'm as surprised as everyone else to see that you got your deal at a Cabelas' gun room.

Sir you hit the jackpot in a very big way. You can more than double your $. Beautiful RM you found. Once I hit the jackpot at a local Cabela's. I found a minty pre war M&P snub rb valued at over 2k for 850.00.

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Halfway and one more step

Dang, I'd love to get the chance to buy an RM with a red post type front sight for $3000 in that condition. I think you paid at least 50% of retail. Great score.

Congrats! That's a whole lotta gun for $3K. You can talk about that one for years to come.

Jerry

My blue book says this is a "non-standard" barrel length with (839 of approx 5,500) units produced in a 6" barrel... Pretty cool how rare this gun is!

Congrats on a bargain, I figured a refinish because of price but at 3k it did not matter. You hit a home run!
Mark

Congratulations!! That was an outstanding buy on an outstanding RM. I have seen RM's in pretty worn condition priced at $7000-$8000 at Cabela's and Gander Mountain. And that was 2-3 years ago. The only problem I see is that is too nice to shoot!! Well, not too much anyway.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

68:

Congrats on a great buy. Just an FYI - I have a bunch of RM's with King reflector front sight bases and yours is the only front sight base that I have seen attached to the rib with a screw rather than a "proud" pin. BTW - If I saw that in the store with a $3K price tag on it - it would never have been put back in the counter - I'm pretty sure that my S&W alarm would not have allowed me to leave the store without it.

Once again - Congrats and thanks for sharing.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan