When I first stated collecting N Frame 357's I thought that anything with barrels longer than 4" were front heavy, awkward, and just too dang long. ...then I purchased an 8.75" Reg Mag and the lights went on - these long tube 357's are BEAUTIFUL (and they shoot like a dream)!!! Since they only made the 8.75" barreled guns pre-war, I decided to try and collect every engineering change or model designation that was pinned and recessed with 8.375" (8 3/8") barrels. For the period of about one month last year, I thought that I might be able to accomplish my goal, but a certain mint in the box 8.375" Transitional 357 blew past my max bid and sold for somewhere near $30K!!

So, until a certain member here wants to gift me the Julian Hatcher Transitional, I'm stuck with an "almost" collection of 8.375" P&R 357s...

I finally took photos of a sample of my 8.375" guns, so here is the 8.375" photo thread that I have been meaning to post for a long time.

Pre-war 8.375" Registered Magnum (estimated 38 of them made). Ship date: May 1937






Pre-war Non Registered Magnum with a Humpback Hammer (I know of very few Non RM's in 8.375"). Ship date: February 1940






Transitional 357 Although Chad did not gift me The Gun , he did give me permission (see post 11 below) to post his photos of it here. Ship date: June 1948









Post-war 357 Magnum ("Pre-27"). Ship date: Nov. 1954






Model Marked 27 (no dash) with a set of early Keith Brown Thumb Rest Ropers. Ship date: November 1960






27-1 with a set of Cokes restored by Keith Brown. Ship date: March 1962






27-2 with a set of Kurac Smooth GA Targets. Estimated Ship date: 1976





I love all of the long 357's and would love to see photos of yours...

Thanks for letting me share,

__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan