In early 1990's, I walked into a local pawn shop, as part of my official duies as a Police Detective. I spied what I assumed was a model 27, with 6 1/2 barrel, for 250.00. The reason it was so cheap the rear sight was missing. Bought the thing, and of course it bugged me where to get a sight. Contacted Roy Jinks at Smith and Wesson, he advised the old style rear sights were no longer available. This was before this sight and the internet if memory serves me. Anyway, I contaced Clark Custom in La. Sent the old gun off, came back with a modern rear sight and a Kings reflective undercut front sight. Only in recent years has it dawned on me that I probably ruined a pre-war 357 magnum. Factory letter states it was shipped in 1940 to Folsom arms. The moral of this tale is anytime you get an old revolver slow down and don't do foolish young man things. It does shoot very well, though!

You got what you paid for. 20 yrs ago While in negotiation for my first home and acreage purchase in mid age, I was shown by a co worker a 4" 44 spcl Triple Lock. I recognized it right away because of an Am Rifle magazine article. I could have had it for 3hun$ I believe, but trying to change my ways and be responsible I only advised him what he had. He offered it to a shark dealer who said it had a shortened bbl and only valued it toward less than the 3 I stated. I don't know what happened to it. I made the right choice because my prop value has gone from 80k to 400k.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Doesn't sound like you "ruined" it to me. Maybe some collector value is all.

How about a picture?

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John 3:16 .

We really need to see pictures of that so we can commiserate properly with you on that "ruined" old 357. I suspect there are a few of us here who will happily make you whole on your purchase. . .and the $ spent on "ruining" it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

So these events have been over and done with for twenty years?
Time to let go.

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You're shy a few manners.

I picked up a 99% 61/2" RM about 20 years ago now for $350 out the door. [the then going price for a 6" model 28]
Except it was missing it's original grips...... had Grasshorn make me a set of period correct, no bark stag grips and stag T-grip.

Would not have recognized it for what it was except for the group of guys posting on this Forum.

Often wonder how many I missed over the prior 25 years as I wondered around Pa Gun Shops

Ok, now we want to see that one too!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Awesome Post !
Thanks for reminding me . It made me think of my father .

When younger my Dad would give me this advice ...
... " Boy , don't be acting the fool !."
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I picked up my registered Magnum by accident. A co-worker called and said they had a Highway Patrolman down at the local pawnshop. I went down to look at it, at first glance I recognized the front sight as prewar magnum. Not to drool all over it, I nonchalantly offered $350 out the door (It was priced $450). To my surprise they said OK. 3 1/2" barrel, Manufactured 1936.
SWCA 892

You made it functional which was reasonable at the time with what you knew. Would also love to see pics.

for some reason I have never been able to post photos on this site. I can text them or email them to someone to post for me.

Decades ago no one ever imagined what the collector market today would be. In years gone by most people bought guns as functional tools ( though not shot as much as these days considering the cost of ammo relative to wage and expenses years ago) so it sometimes surprises me when guns from the 60’s or earlier are found and offered for sale mint in box. Relatively far fewer people had disposable income decades ago compared to modern times.
Back in the 60’s for example, when bullseye pistol competition was very popular, the choices were to buy a colt gold cup, or a basic government model and have a gunsmith make it a bullseye gun. The other very popular option was to buy a cheap beat up USGI 1911 to have built. Back then people figured “it is just an old Army gun no biggie they made millions of them” but today look how value on USGI guns has risen.
One of the saddest gun related things I ever saw back in the 80’s was an all correct real singer 1911A1 with all the correct markings parts etc. someone in the 60’s had chromed it and put adjustable sights on it!

You are correct I grew up during that time, and I remember every household had a pistol of some type, but I never saw anyone shoot theirs, unless they were Police. Rifle and shotgun sure, but the pistol, was usually a 38 special and was deemed to expensive to shoot, at 4.00 a box of factory 158 grain round nose bullets. My Grandfather had a Colt Police Positive in 32-20 and I never saw anyone shoot it.

Assuming my memory is somewhat functional today, that would be one of 500 manufactured......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

Here’s Doc Watson’s “Sad Tale of Woe” Reg Mag…..

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Terry Lester

thanks for posting for me

Doc
Very nice Registered Magnum!

thanks, I am proud of it.

... as you should be. It is a nicely modified pre-war Magnum.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Coming from someone who has given up on the registered magnum hunt … any reg mag is a good one.

If a hack had done it, that would be one thing - but, if anyone had to fix it, CCG would harm the piece the least IMO. Neat gun

Very nice!
The work on the front sight is especially well done.
If you had the work done in the early 90s, it's possible that Jimmy or Archie did the work. They're long passed now, and CCG is a different place now. If you saved the invoice for the work, it might add a certain value.
With so many folks now interested in King modified S&W's, yours is simply of a later lineage of the same pedigree.

I'd be proud to have her!

Not a thing wrong with that gun Doc. Heck, I couldn't see what you did to it if you were standing there with me pointing it out.

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John 3:16 .

You guys are awesome, thanks for the comments and help with posting.

IF you could find a rear sight, you could always install it.......

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I don't think you ruined anything. Improving the sights on a gun when done to the level and skill it was done on your example just adds to the history of the gun. I'd refer to it as a custom RM.

Last summer I bought a M57 almost unfired but missing the rear sight. I got lucky and found a rear sight. I did find out that the rear sights are different depending what the barrel length is but mine matched fortunately. It even had the white outline. They are very expensive even though they are used.

And of course the newer sights do not fit the older models.

Or, with the micrometer-click rear sight, you might say that Doc built his own postwar .357 Magnum Transitional which looks very similar to mine…..


Photo credit - Salt Lake Collectibles


Photo credit - Salt Lake Collectibles

At a glance about the only thing missing is the new hammer block safety with the hammer cut to accommodate it…..



There are a few other differences but you have to look closely to find them.

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Terry Lester

this is a prewar model, not a registered magnum, which makes it one of 1400 built. This one was built in 1940.

One of my favorite tasks as an Investigator.

Very neat old gun thanks for sharing

I doubt seriously that you "ruined" it you took what was a gun that couldn't be used as it was, and did the best you could given the times. Looks like a beautiful gun to me, and nobody, but a collector would be able to spot the the changes made. Whomever you had do the work was a true gunsmith craftsman. Not one of these guys who simply change parts, and call themselves a gunsmith. Thank you for sharing...

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Randy

Doc don't be afraid, if you have photos in your computer and can send them to someone to post then adding them hear is easy.

After writing your post, scroll down from the posting window and underneath the second section it says: ATTACH FILES.

Within that section is says Manage Attachments. Click on that-

Another box will open that says CHOOSE FILE- Click that-

That takes you to your computer files and you may have to choose photos. Once you locate the photo you wish to send click OPEN and it will take you back to the box where it instructed you to CHOOSE FILE.

Now to the right of the word CHOOSE FILE you should see the photo address and it will look something like 574109jpg.

Now to the right of that is a button labeled [Upload]

Click that button and you have attached your photo to your post. Repeat this process up to 5 times. Should you have more than 5 photos, merely add a second post and repeat this process in the second post.

Print this message for future posting, easy peasy.....

Attached Images

DSCN0847.jpg (104.0 KB, 164 views)

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James Redfield
LM #497

Well, it is as you say---a sad tale. Given the circumstances, the lack of wisdom available via the internet, you did the best you could with what you had to do with. This might well be an example of that bit, "Too soon we get old, and too late we get smart!"

The good news is you have a great "shooter". The bad news is you started off with what could have been a great collectible.

And when it comes to shooting, a sight junkie will tell you the sight it came with is vastly superior to the sight you put on it---as the earlier sight is infinitely adjustable, while the so-called "micrometer adjustable" is not.

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you!

It is the way of things.

Don't do it again!

Ralph Tremaine

To James' instructions I'll only add that if you will preview your message before posting, you can click the attachments and if they are to your satisfaction in the enlarged view, you can then Copy Image Address with a simple right click, and add the enlarged picture as part of your message...

Like so......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

And I will add to Ben's message that if you post only the thumbnail photos to save band width, you can click on the thumbnail photo one time and it enlarges, click on it a second time and it enlarges again. Once you have viewed the photo and move on the photo reverts back to thumbnail size.

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James Redfield
LM #497

If you planned on getting a letter?
Being an NRM good chance it went to an LE agency
Sorry if this was already asked …

It’s a few bucks but might be interesting if your into that

rct 269, that was the issue when I bought it, there was not a rear sight on the pistol, and could not find an original one.