Pre-War 357 Magnum Appreciation Thread

[RKmesa]

My thanks goes out to Lee and the gang for all of the effort that they put into moving this great forum.

With this new forum, I thought that we should christen it with a pre-war 357 photo appreciation thread. I have been a firearm enthusiast for as long as I can remember. However, the beauty and grace of the pre-war 357 Mag, in all its varieties (Registered Magnum, Non-Registered Magnum, numbered pre-war 357 not eligible for registration, etc...) really gets my heart pumping. My favorite threads on this forum have centered around the RM and I have read many of them over and over again. I have drooled at the excellent photography skills of the various members of this forum and I have enjoyed being part of the collective show and tell that goes on here.

My wife just got a new camera and related software, so I of course had to try it out on my favorite subjects - my two RM's. With the wealth of pre-war 357's that are out there with our members, I thought that I would start this thread off with a few new photos of some old revolvers and I would invite you to do the same.

June 1937 7" RM








November 1937 8.75" RM (sporting some Keith Brown wood)





Thanks for humoring me and sharing your guns, photos, observations, questions, and expertise.

[Art Doc]

Are those original or period S&W stocks or modern replacements?

[Onomea]

A KC RM with some serious spiffin' up by Dave Chicoine, Jr., on the steel and Keith Brown on the wood:

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by SaxonPig

Are those original or period S&W stocks or modern replacements?

The stocks on the 7" are original and number to the gun. The stocks on the 8.75" are Keith's reproductions with original medallions and escutcheons. How 'bout posting a photo of the UT Highway Patrol 357 that you have, assuming that you still have it.

Pace:

That is a beauty! I cannot recall the history, if you posted it before. Please remind me/share.

[JayCeeNC]

8.75" Registered Magnum, shipped March,1939:


6.5" Registered Magnum, shipped January, 1938:


Kansas City PD Non-Registered Magum, shipped July, 1940.
Grips redone by Keith Brown:

[OIF2]

Onomea, that is a GORGEOUS restoration. Here's my non-reg magnum, redone by Gene Williams, with stocks by Keith.
Bob

[pace40]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

Pace:

That is a beauty! I cannot recall the history, if you posted it before. Please remind me/share.

Not posted here before, RK. This is its coming out photo. It will be on display in Troy. I'll update here after the meeting.

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by pace40

Not posted here before, RK. This is its coming out photo. It will be on display in Troy. I'll update here after the meeting.

Whew... I know that I'm getting old, but I'm glad that I did not forget the story of that gorgeous piece. Sad that I'm not going to make it to Troy, so... I'll try and patiently wait until you get back.

Everyone - Beautiful guns!

[Art Doc]

Since RK asked I will post the photos. I just figured everyone's seen it already and is sick of it.

I know that 50 of these were shipped to the UHP 1937-38 in three shipments, and the story I was told when I bought it was that only one other is known to be in a private collection with the whereabouts of the remaining 48 unknown. Anyone happen to know who has the other one?





Shoots pretty good with full power 357 Magnum ammo.

[RKmesa]

Pace:

Troy is over. I missed it... Please post the story of your RM..

[ElToro]

i rue the day i passed over a pre war non reg mag for a song just a few years ago. it lettered as a 6 inch but somebody had it cut to 4 and the finish was raggedy..

beuatiful iron fellas

[HK24]

Here is my 1935 6 inch Registered Magnum.

Lynn

[JayCeeNC]

Originally Posted by HK24

Here is my 1935 6 inch Registered Magnum.
Lynn

Lynn, that's a gorgeous RM!

[RKmesa]

6" October 1936:





May 1937 RM - Original barrel length was 6.5" - cut to 5" - Currently sports KB Ropers:

[JayCeeNC]

Linda, that's a fightin' gun you've got there. I can just see it riding the hip of a Texas Ranger in that Myres rig. Very nice!

[DHENRY]

Richard,
Indeed it does.
The owner was a pal of Doug Wesson.
Don

[bettis1]

Richard,

Beautiful work by Keith (as we have come to expect from that artist!), classic Registered Magnum, and a long box to boot! Hard to improve on that picture.

Bob

[JayCeeNC]

Gorgeous long-barrel RM, Richard. You've got quite a collection.

[dacoontz]

Richard,
Any chance you could show us or tell us what is stamped on the inside of the barrel lug under the extractor and or under the grips, if you happen to have the cylinder open or grips off. I don't blame you if you want to just leave it be, if it were mine I would likely hardly touch it. It's so nice I would be afraid to do anything but simply admire it. From and educational standpoint, I would like to know how the factory marked this particular gun from this period. Thanks for the pics, it's a beauty.

[RKmesa]

Originally Posted by dacoontz

Richard,
Any chance you could show us or tell us what is stamped on the inside of the barrel lug under the extractor and or under the grips, if you happen to have the cylinder open or grips off. I don't blame you if you want to just leave it be, if it were mine I would likely hardly touch it. It's so nice I would be afraid to do anything but simply admire it. From and educational standpoint, I would like to know how the factory marked this particular gun from this period. Thanks for the pics, it's a beauty.

The gun looks a bit nicer in the photos than in person and the KB stocks help a ton. Here are a couple of photos...





and a copy of the letter from Roy:

[dacoontz]

Thanks Richard, that's perfect.

[WoodSmith]

RM 989

[calmex]

Hmmm, my old clunker doesn't shine quite so nice as many of the nice examples pictured in this thread, in fact, it's rather weary and weathered. However, it does have a nice history and was passed directly to me from the original owner. Also, it has the distinction of being a Pre-war style Magnum that may have been actually put together during the war. It was certainly shipped after the U.S. entry into the war. 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!
I am certainly happy to have it. About the only way I could have afforded to have something like this was if it was given to me (which it was)...but having it keeps me from needing to sell my soul to get one.

[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.

[S.B.]

Darn, was hoping the owner of a certain Registered Magnum would have posted here? He had documented it as having belonged to a Col. belonging to the New York Explorers Club and having been taken all over the world on hunting trips. He did a great deal of documentation and had papers to prove it. It was a great post! Reread it many times.
Steve

[bettis1]

Steve,
I believe that the collector that you are referring to has moved on from collecting Registered Magnums to classic double rifles and elephant hunting. I think I recall seeing that particular Magnum on a dealers table some time ago but I have no knowledge of its current whereabouts.

You are correct; it was a very interesting and well documented piece.

Bob

[S.B.]

Thanks Bob. I've often done a search and wondered if I put in the right info to get results?
Steve

[Mack]

Any other Mississippi Highway Patrols out there?

[DWFAN]

Bob, he did go on his safari and I believe he brought the Coronals rifle with him. Thanks for reminding me to call him. We haven't had lunch in awhile.
DW

[bettis1]

Paul,

Invite him back to the Forum. We old timers miss his contributions. Hope he will return to the Tulsa show or others sometime.

Bob

[JSW]

I had forgot about this thread. Here is another 357 I picked up since my first post (page 4).



This one shipped in December 1939 to an investigator in the Virginia ABC. It has a 5-Inch barrel with gold Call front sight, plain square notch rear, standard hammer and Magna grips. It was also originally ordered with an extra pair of stag grips but they are long gone.

[RKmesa]

Pre-war 8.375" Non RM with HBH:



I posted this in the 61-80 section and thought that I should also post it here in the pre-war area of the forum for all of you ladies and gents that never venture into the more modern area of the forum...

Enjoy,

[Shooting4life]

Here is my RM with 6.5 inch barrel. Reg #3671 shipped in 1938 with gold beed front sight. It also has roper grips. It is probably the most common configuration but it is mine.


And with a beat up piece of blue and red card board.

[28Shooter]

Beautiful guns guys! Congratulations to all who are fortunate enough to own one.

[jerry 1947]

Elmer keith and Ed McGivern could hit targets at 600 yards with both the 7 and 8 .75 inch barrels. i have McGiverns fast and fancy revolver shooting.its still in print.i got mine at barnes and noble.man does it go into detail about the amazing 357 magnum.great pics btw

[OIF2]

I'll help out...this one has been in here before, but I took a few new pix. It's a non-reg from 1940, shipped to Seattle in March. 6.5" barrel, King mirrored front sight and a hump-backed hammer complete the package. It's fitted with a set of KB Ropers...the original magnas are long-gone. It was beautifully redone a few years back by Gene Williams, when he was still doing S&Ws.
Bob

[Chaosrob]

There are a lot of blessed people in these posts. It is nice to see people who have used the fruits of their labor to purchase and protect some beautiful firearms with great history.

[ditrina]

I'll add mine to the pile.. RM # 379 shipped August 27th 1935.

[Chaosrob]

Originally Posted by ditrina

I'll add mine to the pile.. RM # 379 shipped August 27th 1935.

Perfection. Wow!

[RKmesa]

I thought that this may be useful. Fun reading nonetheless.

















BTW: I'm still looking for an original Type I Brochure (it has the service grips and the grip adapter in the full gun photo on the first page). I have a scan, but I'm hopeful that someone has an extra one that they would not mind relocating to my collection in exchange for some "collectible/negotiable prints of dead presidents".

Enjoy,

[gunfish]

A well used KCPD magnum. The first one I bought. Note the post war rear sight. Some one also filed on the top of the hammer.


New Hampshire SP. refinished by S&W.


4.5 inch barrel. Bought at a gun show after lots of people looked at it and passed it by.

[Hammerdown]

Originally Posted by ditrina

I'll add mine to the pile.. RM # 379 shipped August 27th 1935.

Hello ditrina
Was your RM retured to S&W for that Baughman sight or was it sent to King for it ? If I am Not Mistaken they did not have the Baughman sight offering until Federal Agen Frank Baughman sent in his mechainical drawing for it a Year or Two after they came out with the R.M. Have you checked the S&WHF for any record's on this Gun ? The reason I ask is my Gun shipped in December 1935 and there was discussion between the Buyer and S&W back then through a latter that Charles Bowen wrote to them at what sight they would recommend ? Their response was a Partidge sight and that is what mine got that has a 3-1/2" Barrel. I kind of like the Patridge sight blade it show's up well when shooting Targets for me. Regards, Hammerdown

[bmg60]

Hi
Here is one of 29 made it was owned by John Nunn of the Texas HP was shipped to him in 1938. John was the longest seated Sheriff in Texas 22 Years. John was very Careful with
this Revolver as it is still in 98% condition he used this for special events.
Jim Fisher

[Twogunnes]

Impressive!!!

[lowhog]

Here is my new one. Reg # 3763 Shipped May 24 1938 McGivern Front sight, King 111 rear, Humpback Hammer.user161818_pic10935_1385643061.jpg

user161818_pic10936_1385643061.jpg

[DGT]

KCRM #5004

[S.B.]

By chance, does anyone remember the Registered Magnum that was owned by a member of the N.Y. Explorers Club. The owner had done tons of research and posted all kinds of documentation with a lot of photos, years back?
Steve

[Wyo]

I had forgotten this thread but I'll join in. Here's No. 1070 shipped May 1936 to the Jackson Hole Hardware Co., Jackson, WY.



This is the original owner, W.C. "Slim" Lawrence, in a contemporary photo. He was a ranch hand, cowboy, dude wrangler and firearms fancier. I can't prove it, but I think the RM is hanging in the holster between the two rifles to his left.