REG 4638, 1 of 12 Shipped to New London County CT Sheriff George Hoxie…..

lestert357 · #1 11-30-2022, 05:09 PM

on 04/10/39. This gun was recently listed on GI by Guns.com. There were no pictures of the butt or left side grip strap so I could not check for a factory refinish. There were no pictures of the grip serial number so I didn’t know if they were matching. The detail and focus in the pictures was such that I could not make a determination as to the finish originality. The description was basically a couple of sentences about the history of Registered Magnums and the condition was listed as “good”. I called Guns.com to see if I could get more information on the condition of the gun but gave up after listening to music for 15 minutes. An email to Guns.com via the GI Website basically got me a marketing pitch reply. I continued studying the pictures as best I could; I could see some flaws in the finish but thought the color of the gun looked good and the grips looked almost new. On the picture in the listing showing the right side I thought I could see inscribed “N L Co. 7”, and on the picture showing the open crane I thought I could make out REG 4636. So I ran a query on 4636 in the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database and got a hit. It listed a 5” gun with Baughman QD/King Ramp front sight, King 112 W/O rear sight, hump back hammer, and Magna grips in a shipment of 12 to the New London CT Sheriff on 04/10/39. No condition was in the listing and nothing was mentioned about inscribing on the side plate. But the configuration described in the database was exactly as showing in the Guns.com listing. That coupled with the fact that I could not imagine a scenario where someone would put near mint Pre-war Magna grips on a refinished police gun was enough to make me commit on buying the gun. It was a definite gamble because the Guns.com restocking fee is 15%, but this time I think the gamble paid off.

After waiting for over a week because of the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend, I received the gun yesterday. Being a police issued Reg Mag I could not have expected this gun to be any nicer. It is not close to perfect, but the finish is original and deep throughout, the case colors are bright, and it is all serial number matching including the grips. In fact, I’m not sure the grips were ever removed before I took them off to check the serial number. There is some light freckling in the finish in a couple places, some handling marks, and one small bright spot on the cylinder where the finish is gone - apparently from laying on something because the metal is not scratched or deformed at all. But it is easily hidden and not a show stopping distraction. The action and mechanics feel like a new gun. As it turned out the REG number is 4638, not 4636 as I thought I saw in the pictures, and after checking with Dr. Jinks it was confirmed as 1 of the 12 shipped to the New London County CT Sheriff’s Office on 04/10/39. The “N L Co. 7” inscription on the side plate was also confirmed as being done at the factory.

So, yes, I was lucky this time, but the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database definitely proved its value. I will of course order the factory letter and Historical Foundation documents if there are any. Below are some of my quick pictures of the gun. The box in the pictures is one I already had for my KCPD Reg Mag, but I think this gun deserves it more. I think you can click on the pictures for a closer look…..

Wiregrassguy · #2 11-30-2022, 05:19 PM

Ooooohhh! I like it!

delcrossv · #3 11-30-2022, 06:27 PM

WOW! Classic "carried much, shot little". 👍

j38 · #4 11-30-2022, 07:36 PM

Very nice, Terry! Congrats and thanks for posting.

Jerry

luvsmiths · #5 11-30-2022, 07:51 PM

Great piece of History, and from my neighborhood!

Ruger 1,3 · #6 11-30-2022, 08:40 PM

Very nice pistola………how’s it shoot?

quinn · #7 11-30-2022, 08:46 PM

30 years in the sheriff's desk drawer??? That is simply an outstnding find! Congrats Terry!

22hipower · #8 11-30-2022, 09:30 PM

That's a beauty Terry. Looks like a home run to me; the finish looks terrific. Don't think it saw much time in a police officer's holster.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

DARE · #9 11-30-2022, 10:05 PM

Very nice, Terry! Congratulations. I see the gun shipped in 1939 and has the washers with the patent info on the grips. A question came up in another thread. Do you know when they switched from the plain washers?

mrcvs · #10 11-30-2022, 10:06 PM

Was this revolver still in the New London area at the time of acquisition?

lestert357 · #11 11-30-2022, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADARE

I see the gun shipped in 1939 and has the washers with the patent info on the grips. A question came up in another thread. Do you know when they switched from the plain washers?

No, I have never really zeroed in on that information. Here’s what I do know…..

As you pointed out my RM serial number 58529, which shipped in April 1939, shows the patent number on the washers…..

Also, my 100% original RM serial number 59384, which shipped in September 1939, shows the patent number on the washers…..

However, a NRM I previously owned, serial number 61225, which shipped in March 1940, does NOT show any information on the washers. This gun is in near mint 99%+ original condition…..

lestert357 · #12 11-30-2022, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcvs

Was this revolver still in the New London area at the time of acquisition?

No, it shipped from Minnesota.

Tom Kent · #13 11-30-2022, 11:54 PM

That is one beautiful revolver with history behind it. It may sound like blasphemy for me to say this but I would love to shoot a registered magnum just to see what the officers who carried them had to rely on. I guess I will have to stick with my 27-2.

mh51 · #14 12-01-2022, 01:18 AM

Now that's a gamble that paid off!! Nice find, Terry.

lestert357 · #15 12-01-2022, 03:18 PM

These are the GI/Guns.com pictures I had to work with. I thought the blue and case colors looked good and the grips looked exceptional, BUT it could have easily been a factory refinish with mis-matched replaced grips which I would have returned. The price was $5999 plus tax and shipping; the restocking fee was 15%, so Lady Luck was riding with me on this one!

Photo credits - GI/Guns.com

BAM-BAM · #16 12-01-2022, 04:00 PM

Great find..... the RM # caught my attention

RM 4638 Serial # 58529 Shipped April 10 1939 [edited ]

Mine 6 1/2" as lettered ..................

RM 4629 Serial # 57163 Shipped April 25th 1939

Shipped to a wholesale hardware distributor; Logan-Gregg Hardware Co. in Pittsburgh Pa.

series guy · #17 12-01-2022, 04:28 PM

Quite the gem there. Luck favors the bold. Congratulations !

lestert357 · #18 12-01-2022, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAM-BAM

Great find..... the RM # caught my attention

RM 4638 Serial # 59384 Shipped April 1939

Mine 6 1/2" as lettered ..................

RM 4629 Serial # 57163 Shipped April 25th 1939

Shipped to a wholesale hardware distributor; Logan-Gregg Hardware Co. in Pittsburgh Pa.

BAM-BAM, RM 4638 is Serial# 58529 (not 59384) and shipped 4/10/39.

Your RM 4629 is listed in the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database as having a Gold Bead front sight; is it a Call Gold Bead or McGivern Gold Bead? Is the rear sight a square notch or U-notch? I will update the database with your answers.

BAM-BAM · #19 12-01-2022, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestert357

BAM-BAM, RM 4638 is Serial# 58529 (not 59384) and shipped 4/10/39.

Your RM 4629 is listed in the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database as having a Gold Bead front sight; is it a Call Gold Bead or McGivern Gold Bead? Is the rear sight a square notch or U-notch? I will update the database with your answers.

Call

Square

Got the wrong serial #; it was from from your other RM...... scrolling back and forth will do that I guess.

SS336 · #20 12-01-2022, 07:32 PM

Beautiful! Not much else to say, just beautiful.
That I went to Sub School in Groton-New London Ct. and was stationed there in the mid 60’s makes it even more desirable to me.
What a great acquisition. Like a lot of people here my heart is full of envy. 😎

handejector · #21 12-01-2022, 08:24 PM

Audentis fortuna iuvat.
Good for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADARE

Very nice, Terry! Congratulations. I see the gun shipped in 1939 and has the washers with the patent info on the grips. A question came up in another thread. Do you know when they switched from the plain washers?

See Post #11 here- Smith & Wesson N Frame Stocks / Grips - A Reference Guide

On this, my bet is they simply found some early washers and used them>>>

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestert357

However, a NRM I previously owned, serial number 61225, which shipped in March 1940, does NOT show any information on the washers. This gun is in near mint 99%+ original condition…..

RKmesa · #22 12-01-2022, 08:56 PM

Congrats Terry. Great find and great research… so far. Looking forward to updates as you learn more.

handejector · #23 12-01-2022, 09:31 PM

Is there anything under the paper in the box?
Heck, you really couldn't go wrong with that deal-
Box = $1000 or more
SAT = $750-800 or more
Mag Brochure = $50-75
Leaving a 5" Reg Mag with HBH, even if reblued at, let's say $4000-4200. It would be hard to lose much money.......

Now, we need the juicy details-
Is the number still on the box, and are there more goodies under that paper, like a spare sight leaf and cleaning tools?

lestert357 · #24 12-01-2022, 09:53 PM

Lee, you missed this sentence in my first post…….”The box in the pictures is one I already had for my KCPD Reg Mag, but I think this gun deserves it more.”

All I got was the gun; all of the other items (box, SAT, brochure) I already had. But I’m happy with original finish, original configuration, and matching grips. Otherwise the gun would have been returned, I would be out $900+, and this post would have never existed.

handejector · #25 12-01-2022, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestert357

Lee, you missed this sentence in my first post…….”The box in the pictures is one I already had for my KCPD Reg Mag, but I think this gun deserves it more.”

Yep, I was read out and ready for the pics by then.

handejector · #26 12-01-2022, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestert357

All I got was the gun; all of the other items (box, SAT, brochure) I already had. But I’m happy with original finish, original configuration, and matching grips. Otherwise the gun would have been returned, I would be out $900+, and this post would have never existed.

Awwww, it would have made a great wailing thread-
"I Just Lost 900 Bucks By Rolling the Dice!"

gunbarrel · #27 12-01-2022, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Heck, you really couldn't go wrong with that deal-
Box = $1000 or more
SAT = $750-800 or more
Mag Brochure = $50-75
Leaving a 5" Reg Mag with HBH, even if reblued at, let's say $4000-4200. It would be hard to lose much money.......

And if you are interested on a 1938 S&W catalog in excellent condition featuring your new crown jewel, I just happen to have one that I may part with for a good offer...😊

gunbarrel · #28 12-01-2022, 11:54 PM

A couple more pages...

Model46 · #29 12-02-2022, 09:18 AM

It's refreshing to know that there are some good deals out there for those willing to research and take a chance. Congratulations. I'm glad that the gun found a good home.

SAFireman · #30 12-02-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Kent

That is one beautiful revolver with history behind it. It may sound like blasphemy for me to say this but I would love to shoot a registered magnum just to see what the officers who carried them had to rely on. I guess I will have to stick with my 27-2.

Tom,

These guns were made to be shot & used. There is no blasphemy there. If you are in my neighborhood, stop by and I'll let you shoot mine

OP - neat gun - The humpback hammers are really neat in their own right....and a LE Reg Mag is a wonderful thing

lestert357 · #31 12-04-2022, 07:36 PM

With kind assistance and information sharing from fellow forum member aztecpix3301 (thank you Jess), who just happens to be the proud owner of REG 4640 (in the same shipment with my REG 4638), I now have documentation that shows our 2 RM’s and 10 others were shipped to New London County CT Sheriff George Hoxie on April 10, 1939. The below factory letter also verifies the exact configuration of my REG 4638 and that these guns were factory inscribed “N L Co. #(1 thru 12)”…..

Also the below pictured purchasing requisition from the Historical Foundation shows the order for 12 King #112 rear sights and that these 12 RM’s were “REG. #4634 through 4645 Incl.” (2645 is an obvious typo)…..

As an additional bonus Jess sent me pictures of his REG 4640 which looks like a twin to my REG 4638. Note that it is inscribed “N L Co. 10” where my REG 4638 is inscribed “N L Co. 7”…..

So far 4 of the 12 New London County Sheriff Magnums have surfaced as reported in the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database. I have also listed the other 8 in the database with the registration numbers taken from the above purchasing requisition.

Now I need to see what I can find on Sheriff Hoxie. Stay tuned!

SWSC · #32 12-05-2022, 12:04 PM

Sheriff

SWSC · #33 12-05-2022, 01:31 PM

Jailbreak

Smithandwessoneverything · #34 12-08-2022, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lestert357

on 04/10/39. This gun was recently listed on GI by Guns.com. There were no pictures of the butt or left side grip strap so I could not check for a factory refinish. There were no pictures of the grip serial number so I didn’t know if they were matching. The detail and focus in the pictures was such that I could not make a determination as to the finish originality. The description was basically a couple of sentences about the history of Registered Magnums and the condition was listed as “good”. I called Guns.com to see if I could get more information on the condition of the gun but gave up after listening to music for 15 minutes. An email to Guns.com via the GI Website basically got me a marketing pitch reply. I continued studying the pictures as best I could; I could see some flaws in the finish but thought the color of the gun looked good and the grips looked almost new. On the picture in the listing showing the right side I thought I could see inscribed “N L Co. 7”, and on the picture showing the open crane I thought I could make out REG 4636. So I ran a query on 4636 in the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database and got a hit. It listed a 5” gun with Baughman QD/King Ramp front sight, King 112 W/O rear sight, hump back hammer, and Magna grips in a shipment of 12 to the New London CT Sheriff on 04/10/39. No condition was in the listing and nothing was mentioned about inscribing on the side plate. But the configuration described in the database was exactly as showing in the Guns.com listing. That coupled with the fact that I could not imagine a scenario where someone would put near mint Pre-war Magna grips on a refinished police gun was enough to make me commit on buying the gun. It was a definite gamble because the Guns.com restocking fee is 15%, but this time I think the gamble paid off.

After waiting for over a week because of the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend, I received the gun yesterday. Being a police issued Reg Mag I could not have expected this gun to be any nicer. It is not close to perfect, but the finish is original and deep throughout, the case colors are bright, and it is all serial number matching including the grips. In fact, I’m not sure the grips were ever removed before I took them off to check the serial number. There is some light freckling in the finish in a couple places, some handling marks, and one small bright spot on the cylinder where the finish is gone - apparently from laying on something because the metal is not scratched or deformed at all. But it is easily hidden and not a show stopping distraction. The action and mechanics feel like a new gun. As it turned out the REG number is 4638, not 4636 as I thought I saw in the pictures, and after checking with Dr. Jinks it was confirmed as 1 of the 12 shipped to the New London County CT Sheriff’s Office on 04/10/39. The “N L Co. 7” inscription on the side plate was also confirmed as being done at the factory.

So, yes, I was lucky this time, but the S&WCA Pre-war .357 Magnum database definitely proved its value. I will of course order the factory letter and Historical Foundation documents if there are any. Below are some of my quick pictures of the gun. The box in the pictures is one I already had for my KCPD Reg Mag, but I think this gun deserves it more. I think you can click on the pictures for a closer look…..

That is absolutely a fantastic find! It's a work of art in my book

mchom · #35 03-09-2024, 03:17 PM

It’s an older thread but here is a relevant update
Serial 58534
RM # 4636
NL Co. 09
Just gun no box

I find marked LE revolvers especially cool

.455_Hunter · #36 03-09-2024, 03:43 PM

Outstanding!

My problem is that I would immediately want to have it out on the range and would have already ordered a good OWB carry holster.