Information Sought re: My Daddy's .357 Magnum (6 pics)

Fellow Members,

A few months ago, I joined and introduced myself in the New Members forum.
I mentioned that my joining had been spurred by some weapons of my father and grandfather that had been passed down to me.

One member replied with something along the lines of: "Welcome to the forum. How about some pictures!"

Well it has taken me a while but here is a picture of one: a .357 Combat Magnum of my father's.



And aside from just posting one picture of the pistol, I was hoping that if I posted some other pictures, some of the "pros" around here might be able to glean some details from them and possibly tell me a little about what I have here.

This is the end label of the box:




And the face of the (2 piece) box itself:




I have Supica and Nahas, 3rd edition, but do not see this exact box anywhere in the section about "boxes."

There is some mention (p.32) of sometimes seeing the serial number being "written in grease pencil on the bottom of the box." This is the case with mine. Is anyone sure of any particular meaning of this?




The only date I see anywhere is on the inside of the box:




And finally, there is this stamp on the yoke:



(Hastily viewed, the first letter might appear to be a "W", but it is certainly a "K" [isn't it!].)


I remember, as it were yesterday, my Daddy taking me out with him to a friend's farm, when I was but a slight little 15 y/o lad, to shoot this pistol! We set up anti-freeze cans and such full of water. Hard to say what jumped the most when that gun fired, the anti-freeze cans or me!!!

So, needless to say, this pistol has great sentiment and interest for me. Any information about my "family heirloom" would be greatly appreciated. If anyone can "show it to me" in Supica and Nahas, where I can read about it, that would be really great!

Thanks,

James

James ,again ,welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of your loss ,no matter how long ago it was.

Your fathers Combat Magnum was one of the first 1000 produced and probably shipped in 1956.

Remove the stocks (grips) carefully ,,and the actual ser.# will be on the bottom of the grip frame.

It's touching to hear of how you shot the revolver with your pop when you were a kid. I have no such memories ,but would like some good ones like that .

Others will add info. as this goes on , one thing for sure ,,that gun sure is a beauty!

Page 136 in the 3rd. ed. of S.c.S.W. has the info on the first K Frame 357s.


Regards ,AL

James,

We found this forum for the same reason. You are very lucky to have fond memories of your father. You have a wonderful Combat Magnum (Pre-Model 19). You can read about it on page 136 of the SCSW 3rd. It was most likely shipped in 1955. I hope that helps.

You might be interested in this completed auction:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=108540115

You have a very collectible piece, and not just because of the sentimental attachment to your dad.
The Combat Magnum began at serial number K260001, and many tens of thousands followed. Yours is one of the first 1000. Those early guns such as yours are generally very well finished with a deep, rich blue and mechanically superb.
Yours is a "keeper" for several reasons. Thanks for sharing the history and pictures of a magnificent revolver.

Al,

Thanks for the information you provided.

And although I appreciate your compassionate words, I would like to clarify that my father is, in fact, still living (though in precipitous decline I am sad to say).

It was my dear step-mother who came across this weapon (and many more!) one day cleaning out some old closets, and called and said "I came across this cache of guns, I don't want them here, you need to come get them!"

So, trying to be brief in my OP, that's why I used the phrase "passed down" instead of "inherited", but without the details I see that was misleading. So, as Paul Harvey used to say, now you have the rest of the story.

And btw, I had no trouble complying with my stepmother's request!

JamesD
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jeremyws1,

I followed your link - GREAT STORY! And picture! Thanks!

JamesD

John,

You posted while I was typing.
Thanks for adding more information and comments.

I knew this pistol was special to me, but y'alls comments make it even more special.


The day I brought it home, this is what I first saw when I took the box top off.
I assume this is the oily paper the gun came wrapped in?




When I lifted off the oily paper:




And the best part of the whole experience –
the pistol was wrapped in an old, oily "wife beater", an old undershirt of my Dad's, worn out and assigned "gun duty" I guess.




Contents of box:




And, oh, this is the box of ammunition found with the gun.
Jeepers Dad, who were you expecting?




It was quite an experience "unearthing" this treasure, that I remembered, but had not seen for 50 years
(hmmm... that's a half of a century isn't it? OUCH!)

James

Nice gun, nice story, and great chronological photo series. Good looking stocks too,

Kind of like going into an Egyption pyrimid and opening one of the boxes.

Don't shoot the ammo, and don't get rid of anything in the box. The stocks and screwdriver are valuable. The package is pretty desirable.

As pbslinger said, that's a very desirable package as all the original papers and tools are there. That nifty screwdriver with the knurled handle routinely sells for around $100 all by itself on the auction sites. The ammo is quite a prize as well.
You have a wonderful heirloom and a valuable "collectible" S&W.

James Very nice pictures…I really enjoy looking at the detail in close-ups in good pictures…Some times its just the way a paper corner has wore on a box of ammo…Thanks for taking the time to help make this one of the best firearms forum there is……………Fred

I am sure you intend to, but to make it clear, "You hang onto that sumbitch!"Tha's an order!

It is a treasure not only from a sentimental point of view, but from a financial one too.

Great gun! But do not shoot the ammo. That box of conical points is probably very collectible in their own right.

And another thing is obvious from your posting. Your dad sure had an eye for fine firearms and the sense to take care of them.

Your dad sure had an eye for fine firearms and the sense to take care of them.

Click to expand...

He said it.

It is great to see the Combat Magnum reunited with its new and rightful owner. What a terrific looking revolver you have there! Much as I like Model 29s, I have to say the Combat Magnum is the most handsome revolver S&W ever made, and that one of yours is a peach!

Wow

"Time Capsule" gun indeed, Treat it well.

That is such a cool K frame. That's a great story too. Don't ever let go of that gun.

What a great post! Just like watching Antiques Roadshow.

What a wonderful item to have and with great memories.

p.s. If that isn't the best testimony for RIG, I don't know what is!

Great set! Be VERY careful of that wifebeater - I purchased a C*** Woodsman Match Target for $50 because it had been wrapped in a towel and put away. If it hadn't been wrapped in a towel, it wouldn't have been deeply pitted, and would have been worth $600-$800 or maybe more. Not quite the loss that yours would be, but still significant. Get some gun grease, RIG if you can find it.

Everyone,

Without trying to mention every one by name, I quite appreciate and am enjoying every post from each of you. THANKS!

A couple of followups I have:

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A number of y'all have said, "Don't shoot that ammo." Roger that.
But what about the pistol?
Do y'all mind if I shoot it.
Not talking about keeping it in the glove compartment of my car, and dragging it around everywhere, and turning it into a beater.
But every now and then. Special occasion here and there. With some quality/clean ammunition.
I've really got a hankerin' to shoot it! See what it is like relative to my memories of 50 years ago.
Comments?
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And a question re: comment of Model520Fan to "Be VERY careful of that wifebeater."
I was thinking – oily gun in oily rag was about optimal.
No?
Comments on this please?
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Fred said, "I really enjoy looking at the detail in close-ups in good pictures", so I thought I would post a larger picture of the pamphlet that was in the box.
Maybe all of y'all have seen this many times before, but it was new to me and just such a hoot.
After hearing all the hullabaloo over stance and grip (Weaver, Chapman, high thumbs, whatever) I was glad to finally get it definitively, directly from S&W:

Stand in a relaxed posture, leaning slightly back, with your offhand thumb hooked casually in your pants pocket.



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And... one thing I have not mentioned about this pistol is the <span class="ev_code_BLUE">condition</span>.
The condition of the stocks and pistol itself is generally quite excellent.
Except for one "question" and one "problem".

The "question":
Is this "mottling" on the trigger and hammer "normal" or something "bad"?







And the <span class="ev_code_RED">"problem"</span>:

This is the one and only real problem on the pistol.
I don't know if this properly called "rust" or "corrosion"?
If it involves the metal? Or just the bluing?
But I would greatly appreciate any comments.
And do I replace the thumbpiece? Reblue it? Keep it oiled and don't touch it further?




Thanks,

James

Don't worry about the value of your gun too much, I'm sure you will never sell it. Shoot it seldom and take good care of it.

The finish on the hammer and trigger is color case hardening, and that is what it should look like. It fades a bit with age and some look more spectacular than others. It is probably a bit more prone to rust than the blueing.

The rust on the thumb peice, I would just keep it oiled and not worry about it.

You might want to lube the gun before you shoot it. The normal way to lube one is to detail strip and remove the sideplate. I wouldn't do that since the sideplate has probably never been off. I would remove the stocks, flush the lockwork with aerosol lubricant, alternating with compressed air to blow out crud.

There is better storage than an oily rag, even though this gun survived it well. Treated gun rugs are probably better, in a humidity controlled environment.

See, that wasn't so hard, was it?
(posting the pix)

Owning guns with stories are terrific....
thanks for sharing yours with us..oh,
and the pix, too