Pre-War 357 Magnum Appreciation Thread

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by calmex

A more complete story on it may be found, for those who have not read it yet, under the thread:
Penultimate Pre Postwar Magnum is in Mexico!

Calmex - that thread on your gun has always been one of my favorites. I have followed it from the start and always read the latest installment with pleasure. I'm glad to see that your letter finally made it into your hands.

Happy New Year!

[calmex]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

Calmex - that thread on your gun has always been one of my favorites. I have followed it from the start and always read the latest installment with pleasure. I'm glad to see that your letter finally made it into your hands.

Happy New Year!

Thank you, RK. Just for you, I'll go add something right now.

[long colt frazier]

Here is one of my RM shipped to Frank Baughman FBI this was the 3rd gun equipped with the buaghman front sight.Notice the hammer and grip that has been adapted by a previous owner.

[RKmesa]

LCF:

The modification to your RM hammer looks an awful lot like the modification this Walsh RM? I have seen photos of several RM's with the hammer modification like yours.

[Nedroe]

Went to the Evansville Board of Public Works & Safety, in May of '39, part of a 13 gun shipment. Shipped with a 4" barrel & magna's, was sent back & re-barelled as a 5" in '42.



Ned

[bettis1]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

LCF:

The modification to your RM hammer looks an awful lot like the modification this Walsh RM? I have seen photos of several RM's with the hammer modification like yours.

Richard,

That is a great picture of Agent Walsh with his RM. There also appears to be a distinct similarity of his gun with the Utah HP gun that Saxon Pig has pictured several times.

There are at least two explanations of why so many of these guns seem to have this modification. 1)Many users came to the same conclusion that it served their purpose to either modify them or have some gunsmith do it. 2) Many users dropped their gun and broke the spur off the hammer. I would discount the latter possibility because the modifications seem to be concentrated in a particular type of handgun (i.e. one used for defensive purposes) and it is hard to imagine that someone who depended upon their firearm to protect themselves would be that careless..

There are numerous examples of hammer spurs being modified to satisfy the users needs. Here is another LEO owned RM that has a different spur.

Bob

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by long colt frazier

Here is one of my RM shipped to Frank Baughman FBI this was the 3rd gun equipped with the buaghman front sight.Notice the hammer and grip that has been adapted by a previous owner.

Hello long colt frazier
That's a neat looking R.M. I have to wonder why it was the Third gun equipped with his sight design as it was he that submitted that design to S&W through sketch drawings that they still use today ? Regards, Hammerdown

[long colt frazier]

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

Hello long colt frazier
That's a neat looking R.M. I have to wonder why it was the Third gun equipped with his sight design as it was he that submitted that design to S&W through sketch drawings that they still use today ? Regards, Hammerdown

Hammerdown that info was according to Mr. Roys letter. This gun was in a shipment for two that Mr. Baughman ordered.
I'll dig out the letter and scan and post soon.
Mark

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by long colt frazier

Hammerdown that info was according to Mr. Roys letter. This gun was in a shipment for two that Mr. Baughman ordered.
I'll dig out the letter and scan and post soon.
Mark

Hello Mark
Now, that Makes Perfect sense. Evidently MR. Baughman ordered Three Registered Magnums all at the same time. I could not figure out why S&W would be shipping "a third gun" being equipped with a Sight MR Baughman had designed and submitted to them, to anyone else asking for one prior to him getting the First one. The Baughman designed sight has to be the most common sight blade S&W sold after it's release...

[long colt frazier]

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

Hello Mark
Now, that Makes Perfect sense. Evidently MR. Baughman ordered Three Registered Magnums all at the same time. I could not figure out why S&W would be shipping "a third gun" being equipped with a Sight MR Baughman had designed and submitted to them, to anyone else asking for one prior to him getting the First one. The Baughman designed sight has to be the most common sight blade S&W sold after it's release...

Yes that was the way I understood the letter.
Off topic : Due to your post on the k frame conversion to 327 mag. I have purchased a 16-4 and will send the cylinder to HB when it gets here.
Thanks,
Mark

[Toyman]

5 inch Registered Magnum #1677 that is shown on page 148/149 of Jink's and Neal's book on S&W. The best part of the gun is it is complete with box, certificate, mailing tube, bore brush, sight adjustment tool and literature.