Registered Magnum. Luxury item, or not?

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mrcvs

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I had assumed the Registered Magnum was a luxury item--the apex of Smith & Wesson production (although, personally, I prefer the Triple Lock), with such features as knurling along the top of the frame and barrel, concentric arcs that follow the radii of the curvature of the hammer, target sights, many, many custom features. Which sounds like a luxury item to me, during a curious time, the Great Depression. With a price tag of $60.

With nothing to compare it to, the price tag, I assume, seemed high. Except it wasn't. The average wage during the middle of Registered Magnum production (1937) was $1780/year. 68 hrs of wages could purchase one. As compared to today's wages, easily under 2k. Using online calculator comparisons, possibly closer to 1k. Hardly a luxury item. Discovered today that the run of the mill Winchester Model 54 cost $61.40 in 1933. More than the Registered Magnum cost 2 to 6 years previously. Sometimes, with discounts, a Registered Magnum could be had for $39.

So, did the Registered Magnum ever turn a profit for Smith & Wesson? Or, was it simply a means of keeping craftsmen employed during a very bleak time--"busy work" if you will--in the hope that when the economy improved, said Registered Magnum revolvers could be sold at a higher price, or simply discontinued and craftsmen better utilized machining profitable products?

In comparison, today you are hard pressed to purchase a decent Registered Magnum revolver for under 5k. Today, 5k can buy you several, or more, Winchester Model 54 rifles.
 
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From what I can tell the Reg mag was also used as a marketing item as well as a firearm made to fit a need. By getting buyins from law enforcement a sporting celebrity figures it added a lot of glamor to the S&W line as a whole so even if they did not make a lot of money with them the Reg mag served multiple purposes for S&W. Now if I can just find one cheap:)
 
I would LOVE to have a RM but never will. :(

To me I think they are the pinnacle of all S&W revolvers. But that's just me.

The closest I'll ever get is my 1955-56 .357 Magnum.
 
I think the comparisons of purchasing power are interesting, but to give you an idea, my Dad's family rented a house for $8 a month in Coleman, Texas during the Depression. It was a crummy shotgun house, but still...
 
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The registered magnum represented the implementation of several new and important ideas. It was not a big seller; coming in the depression, it may simply have been priced too high. And, WW2 was starting.

Be that as it may, it was not a gimmick in any way. First, it was a brand new cartridge, and a heavier frame to support the cartridge, which was the most powerful cartridge that the factory had ever produced. Second, the innovation of the barrel rib provided a couple of opportunities. Since there was no need to worry about the forged front sight base, one length of barrel would accommodate any barrel length, simply by cutting to the desired length. Not only did this do away with the need for multiple forging dies, but for the first time, they could offer any barrel length. They chose increments of 1/4" from 3 1/2" to 8 3/4".

Not all the offered barrel lengths were popular, but a there were a good number of unusual barrel lengths that had never been offered previously.

The registered concept may have been a bit of marketing ploy, but in retrospect, it was a good way to document exactly what had been ordered. Generally, S&W was in the gun business, and not catering to collectors. In the instance of the registration option, they did, perhaps unintentionally, do the collectors a big favor. Unfortunately, the process was very difficult to implement, and after a bit over 5000 guns, they had to terminate the registration option.

Regards, Mike Priwer
 
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I believe it represented the then-cutting edge. Kind-of how some folks felt/feel about the FN 5.7 pistol or the .500 S&W when it was introduced. They're awesome old revolvers and I'd love to have one someday but as much as I like them, when I have $5k+ to spend on guns, it's usually another FAL or Valmet.
 
It's surprising to see the number of RMs that have put in a hard life of use! Returns to the factory, even when just a few yrs old, for refinishing or repair seem to be not that uncommon.

Contrast that to the rather high number of, say, 125th Anniversary M25s, left NIB.

Yet, the former seem to have a lot more appeal!

Jim
 
6string said:
It's surprising to see the number of RMs that have put in a hard life of use! .....

Contrast that to the rather high number of, say, 125th Anniversary M25s, left NIB.

Yet, the former seem to have a lot more appeal!
Click to expand...

I think you actually nailed the reason.

The RM was not MADE to be an expensive collectible, just a high-quality gun made to be used. Quite in contrast to the anniversary guns.

I'm probably not the only one who thinks that guns MADE to be valuable collectibles are by definition less attractive than those that BECAME such through their historical significance.
 
I would vote for the RM being a luxury item for several reasons.

A $60 (retail) rifle may not have been thought of as an extravagance in 1937, but for many a $60 handgun would have been. Handguns are smaller so they should be less expensive, right? :)

Also, an average yearly wage of $1800 sounds like a lot for the time, but in an era of 10-20% unemployment rates the buying pool for such a gun would have necessarily been smaller. Those lucky enough to be unaffected by the Great Depression by working or family wealth might still have thought long and hard about such an expensive item.
 
Absalom said:
I think you actually nailed the reason.

The RM was not MADE to be an expensive collectible, just a high-quality gun made to be used. Quite in contrast to the anniversary guns.

I'm probably not the only one who thinks that guns MADE to be valuable collectibles are by definition less attractive than those that BECAME such through their historical significance.
Click to expand...

I have a 125th anniversary and I'm letting it go due to a lack of interest in it. At first I thought it was way cool but for some reason its just not all that appealing to me anymore.

I have a 1959 6.5" M-27 that I will keep forever.

On edit: I also have a 6.5" 27-7 that may have been made as a collectible. Its never been fired outside of the factory and its a keeper too.
 
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To me, the RM was a great marketing idea. Build a revolver specifically for the newest handgun cartridge available, and then give the consumer the chance to order one built exactly as he/she wanted it. And by "registering" it, the rest of the world would know that this was a custom gun, not just something found at the local hardware store.
And since all collectors love guns with provenance, the RM's have given us the chance to research history, and to learn more about the original buyer.
Mike
 
Registered Magnums

According to the 1937 price guide:
Reg police. $32
Heavy duty. $37.50
Mil & police. $33.00
1917 Army. $37.50
K 22 Outdoorsman $38.00
Mil & police T 38.00
22/32 HFT. $35.00
38/44 OD. $45.00
Safety Hammerless. $28.00

The Registered Magnum cost $60, significantly more than Smith's other fine offerings. A luxury item, yes most definitely. But this was quite a gun, unlike any others at the time. Not a, but THE Registered magnum. I'm very glad Grampa splurged. Even though he was law enforcement he paid $60 for his, because, I believe, he had to have it personally.
 
I think what cuts against the RM being a high-end luxury item is the number of police departments, like KC, that made orders. I can't speak for modern LEO's but I don't think any of their departments have been seeking to bathe them in luxury equipment.

I suspect the RM was viewed simply as an advancement in caliber, quality and stopping power. And there is nothing wrong with any of that!
 
Don't forget the market and competition!

In the late '20's law enforcement was falling behind the gangsters as the bad guys were using ballistic vests and steel automobiles in their work. The puny ammo of the police wasn't as effective in combating them.

Colt made a significant impact with the introduction of their .38 Super in the 1911 and this negatively impacted S&W's market. A major factor in the introduction of the .357 Magnum was the effort to get back to the top of the market.

Bob
 
Of course, it was a luxury item! It was marketed as such. And as a glamor gun, often bought by wealthy celebs, like Clark Gable, whose gun had Roper grips and a King hammer and trigger.

Frank Buck went to considerable trouble to obtain one about 1946. Prior to then, he wore either a .38-44 Heavy Duty or a Third Model .44. Maybe a Triple Lock. Can't tell which in photos. Barrel length was five inches.

D.B. Wesson sent one to Sasha Siemel, who promptly shot some jaguars with it.

This was great advertising for S&W.

This doesn't mean the way a Korth is now a luxury gun. But it was meant to be the top of S&W's line and the most powerful revolver, unless you handloaded, say .44 Special to higher pressures, as Elmer Keith and others did.

Just having a choice of barrel lengths and sights was a luxury.
 
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Hello Bill, just a minutia question? $17.00, cost of goods, represents
material and labor? with no overhead or profit for S&W.
What the heck were those fitters making in 1935? Mike
 
For those who say they will never be able to afford a RM, In the past 5 or 6 years I have picked up 2, One from an individual that bought a 1939 3 1/2 in at a LGS for $500 and wanted to turn a quick profit. I gave him $1500 and no argument. a year or so I walked into a local pawn shop and purchased a 1936 3 1/2 in advertised as a Highway Patrolman for $350. It depends where you look as to how much you will pay. prices are high at auction sites ETC, but if you frequent enough gunshows, pawn shops and small LGS you will come across some bargains.
SWCA 892
 
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