1st Year .357 Combat Magnum

DARE · Sep 20, 2024

The Combat Magnum story began at Camp Perry in the summer of 1954. Carl Hellstrom, president of S&W asked U. S. Border Patrol shooter Bill Jordan what he considered to be an ideal law enforcement officer's handgun.
Bill said, K Frame, heavy 4-inch barrel and an extractor shroud, target grips, target sights, .357 Magnum caliber.
K260003 was the 1st gun completed on November 15, 1955. It was later engraved for John F. Kennedy by Alvin White, but never delivered.
The lowest number gun, K260001 was sent to Bill Jordan on January 5, 1956.
The .357 Combat Magnum was the first 4 screw K Frame. The early guns had a six-groove backstrap.
My gun, K261590 shipped August 16,1956 to Huey & Philp Company, Dallas, Texas.

Dino44 · Sep 20, 2024

Love it, Sir. Even though it's not called a masterpiece, it sure looks like one! Thank you for sharing.

Retired W4 · Sep 20, 2024

Very nice Combat magnum David. I have a 10 groove variation, SN: K316720 that is otherwise, the same configuration. The non-model marked guns don't come around very often.

larryofcc · Sep 20, 2024

Hi Dave. Another Reynolds here. Couple years back, I bought # K262336, shipped 7-20-1956, to Shapleigh Hardware. 50 units of like revolvers @ $58.40 each. Revolver identical to yours. Seller claimed to have shot one box of ammo thru it. It is a 99% gun. One of my favorites. Big Larry (Reynolds).

SWFan27 · Sep 20, 2024

That is absolutely beautiful!!!

BC38 · Sep 20, 2024

Retired W4 said:
Very nice Combat magnum David. I have a 10 groove variation, SN: K316720 that is otherwise, the same configuration. The non-model marked guns don't come around very often.

"...10 groove variation..." ?
Does your gun have 10 grooves on the grip backstrap?
I'd like to see that. We LIKE pictures!

rct269 · Sep 20, 2024

Thanks for the memories!

I bought one of the very early ones too-----couldn't understand why they hadn't made a .357 of that size a looooooooong time before they did---everything was just plain right about it.

Ralph Tremaine

MSD2343 · Sep 21, 2024

That is the absolute top of the Combat Magum foodchain. Congrats on owning such a magnificent piece and thanks for sharing it here.

Doc44 · Sep 21, 2024

K260005, shipped to Pete Kuhlhoff of Argosy Magazine on January 20, 1956 with a dark blue presentation case. Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

doc44-albums-combat-magnums-picture28324-357-combat-magnum-k260005-shipped-pete-kuhlhoff-argosy-magazine-january-20-1956-a.jpg

doc44-albums-combat-magnums-picture28325-blue-presentation-case-357-combat-magnum-k260005-numbered-bottom-revolver.jpg

adrianolsen · Sep 21, 2024

I have 260082, to what serial number did they stop using the leather box?

DARE · Sep 21, 2024

Thanks Bill, that is a beauty! Appreciate you showing it to us.
Have read that there were only eight of those cases. Noticed the RR front sight. Was it shipped that way?

Would love to see photos of some more early guns. The rest of you guys please step up.

Doc44 · Sep 21, 2024

David...I have documented by examining or through the literature eight .357 Combat Magnums shipped with a blue presentation case. I currently have K260005 (red ramp is original to the revolver) in my collection and owned K260190 that shipped on May 1, 1956. Both cases are numbered to the revolver on the bottom in white grease pencil. K260006, the first .357 Combat Magnum shipped also has a case numbered to the gun as does K260004 shipped to General Hatcher. I don't know if K260001 shipped with a case or not, but it has not been described as having one. The other cases that are documented are spread out over a range of serial numbers. I have found a couple of invoices where three to five cases for the Combat Magnum were ordered as separate items and may have accompanied a revolver or sold separately (retail cost in 1956 for presentation cases for the .357 Combat Magnum and 44 Magnum was $5.00).

Bill

boykinlp · Sep 21, 2024

Doc44 said:
David...I have documented by examining or through the literature eight .357 Combat Magnums shipped with a blue presentation case. I currently have K260005 (red ramp is original to the revolver) in my collection and owned K260190 that shipped on May 1, 1956. Both cases are numbered to the revolver on the bottom in white grease pencil. K260006, the first .357 Combat Magnum shipped also has a case numbered to the gun as does K260004 shipped to General Hatcher. I don't know if K260001 shipped with a case or not, but it has not been described as having one. The other cases that are documented are spread out over a range of serial numbers. I have found a couple of invoices where three to five cases for the Combat Magnum were ordered as separate items and may have accompanied a revolver or sold separately (retail cost in 1956 for presentation cases for the .357 Combat Magnum and 44 Magnum was $5.00).

Bill

Bill, what do you think the value is for just the blue/black presentation case for the Combat Magnum in similar condition to your above? I remember seeing one being auctioned off a couple of months ago. I placed an early bid and ended up not bidding again because I forgot about the auction.

I don’t even know what it sold for unfortunately.
Larry

Doc44 · Sep 21, 2024

Larry...I have not seen a presentation case for sale, but due to their rarity, I would think $1500 or more to the right collector.

Bill

Retired W4 · Sep 22, 2024

BC38 said:
"...10 groove variation..." ?
Does your gun have 10 grooves on the grip backstrap?
I'd like to see that. We LIKE pictures!

Busy with a gun show now. I will get photos up this evening.

Retired W4 · Sep 23, 2024

Here is the later 10 groove non-model marked Combat Magnum.

spin132 · Sep 23, 2024

DARE said:
Would love to see photos of some more early guns. The rest of you guys please step up.

You have a beauty there David! Per your request, here's another early one (261262) that shipped April 17, 1956.

Mike

DARE · Sep 23, 2024

Thanks Mike, that shore is purdy.
Interesting to me how different our boxes are. Different color, different label, label on the opposite end.
Also wonder if they are slightly different dimensions. Mine is 12 1/2 X 4 1/2. Same dimensions as a box I have for a 14-2 6-inch.

doubletapp357 · Sep 24, 2024

ill take it! PM TO FOLLOW! just messing around. This is an awesome piece of history and its amazing at how good of shape its in! awesome revolver

spin132 · Sep 24, 2024

DARE said:
Thanks Mike, that sure is purdy.

Interesting to me how different our boxes are. Different color, different label, label on the opposite end.

Also wonder if they are slightly different dimensions. Mine is 12 1/2 X 4 1/2. Same dimensions as a box I have for a 14-2 6-inch.

That is curious Dave. Dug mine out and the top measures 5" x 11". Similarities between the two, but definitely different. Suspect they just slapped a sticker on whatever they had on hand. We're lucky they survived [emoji6]

Mike

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