.357 Combat Magnum, K260003, is the first one manufactured by Smith & Wesson on December 15, 1955 (the caption in the photo is incorrect). It was kept in the factory collection and engraved in 1962 by Alvin White for presentation to President John F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, the presentation was never made and the revolver was eventually purchased by S&WCA Founding Member, Bill Orr. He kept the revolver for many years with it be acquired by me in 2011. Mr. White also carved the ivory stocks which are unique in their shape and have gold S&W monograms, escutcheon, and stock screw. Click on the photos for a better look.

S&WCA members can read more about this unique Combat Magnum in our Journal, Spring 2013, pages 13-16.

Bill

Beautiful.

Pretty hard to top that one!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Beautiful revolver!

I have to say that is one of the most exquisit handguns I have ever seen.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Absolutely outstanding Bill, thanks for sharing this piece of History.

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Stay Safe...
jd SWCA #3276

Very pretty gun and you are mighty lucky to have it.
Beautiful engraving and outstanding grips.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

That's one for the ages, Bill......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

At the risk of being called a Doubting Thomas, I don't see the 5th screw at the top of the side plate.

It would look just like my 19-4 if it wasn't all scratched up...
lol
That is a spectacular piece of art and history, thanks for sharing.

BLACKHAWKNJ...The .357 Combat Magnum was the first K-frame to be made with a 4-screw frame. There are no 5-screw Combat Magnums. Elimination of the top side plate screw was authorized for K-frames on September 7, 1955; a year later for N-frames.

Bill

Bill,
Was the gun housed in a presentation case or was it boxed?
It is a beautiful gun with incredible provenance along with an appreciative caretaker.
Best regards,
Jake

I was wondering the exact same thing, Jake. Bill, that is one sweet revolver! It’s a-shame that it couldn’t ever be presented to the President.
Larry

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

No case or box.

Bill

Pretty, sure, but how does it shoot?

LOL, just kidding, of course. Very nice!

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Ain't This Fun Though?

A privilege to see it. Thanks for sharing.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

Beautiful and a great story behind it. I see a so called “sweetheart “ coming up for sale. What a pair that would be.

Bill:

Every time you post that gun, my heart skips a couple of beats... It is beautiful!!!

Thanks,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thank you for posting that. Truly amazing.

Absolutely stunning.

The closest thing I have found to outstanding ivory grips like that are the two sets in American holly I asked the Culinas to make for me.

Beautiful gun with a neat history.It’s priceless.

I am honored just to see it.Good to know a national treasure is in good hands.

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age is just a number

Bill:

A few questions about the known history of the gun (I know you've probably answered these questions before, and I couldn't lay my hands on the 2013 Journal quickly):

Did the factory commission AAW to engrave the gun? If so, I imagine that after AAW engraved it, the gun was returned to the factory?

Do we know why it was not presented to President Kennedy (if it was engraved in 1962 and Kennedy died in November 1963)?

Did Bill Orr purchase the gun directly from the factory? If not, what do the factory records show when and where it shipped?

Thanks again for sharing that treasure!

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Engraving of the Combat Magnum by Alvin White was commissioned by S&W through Walter Sanborn, Assistant Sales Manager. It has never been stated why the presentation was not made to President Kennedy. I can only speculate that Kennedy's schedule never allowed time for the presentation to take place. Bill Orr, owner of GT Distributors, a police supply company, had many connections at S&W and purchased the revolver directly from the factory. I don't know when the purchase took place, but the factory letter on this revolver is dated July 13, 1976.

Bill

Thank you!

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Thanks for posting that.

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John 3:16 .

If memory is working properly I saw that revolver in KC 2013. It's even
more stunning in person.

-don

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SWCA LM#2190 SWHF#414

Don...You did, as I presented a display of .357 Combat Magnums at the annual meeting in KC in 2013. K260003 was the centerpiece.

Bill

Are they saying this was the FIRST combat magnum? I believe I read that the first was K 260001 and was presented to Bill Jordan who encouraged S&W to make a K frame 357.

IIRC that's in the SCS&W 4th Ed.

That aside quite the gun!!!!!!!!!

Cuban missile Crisis, Oct 1962, probably took priority on JFK's schedule!

.357 Combat Magnum, K260003, was manufactured on December 15, 1955. It was given to Walter Sanborn, S&W Assistant Sales Manager, to develop promotional material and kept in the factory collection. .357 Combat Magnum, K260001, with the lowest serial number, was completed on January 3, 1956 and shipped to Bill Jordan on January 5, 1956. It was the second gun shipped as K260006 was shipped on January 3, 1956 to General George Van Orden, Evaluators Ltd., Quantico, VA to be used in tests by the U. S. Marine Equipment Board.

K260001 was the third gun manufactured and the second one shipped.

Bill

Proving once again that S&W never shipped in serially numerical order......Ben

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Cogito, ergo BOOM!...

History of S&W by Roy Jinks, page 182..."On December 15, 1955, the first production medium-frame Magnum was completed; it was serial numbered K260003. When the lowest serial numbered gun in the first production run (K260001) was complete, it was forwarded to Bill Jordan".

Bill