1950 FIRST YEAR.. FIRST MONTH .357 MAGNUM..

[Engine49guy]

Its the subtle variations and revisions that make this hobby so interesting,
For instance in JayCeeNC's pic above the early N frame diamond Magnas all appear to have the same tall shoulder at the top,
and look just like the early K Magnas did,
Im guessing they went through the same transition as the K diamond Magnas where the very early ones have the untapered shoulder,
and later ones are more tapered at the top just below the cylinder release ?

 

[JayCeeNC]

Engine49guy, you're right. The early N-frame Magna's had the sharp shoulder profile. The ones on the upper left gun in my picture are not original, it came with some aftermarket target grips so I replaced them with a later set of Magnas.

 

[nedlate]

I started a thread on my 3 1/2" pre-27 here.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...281691-my-3-1-2-357-magnum.html#post136847768
I'll post a picture anyways!
Ed

 

[loeman]

Here's S 76748

Here's my First Year Production Pre Md. 27 in factory nickel and a 3.5 inch barrel. The stocks were not shipped with the gun. It wore plastic cowboy style stocks depicting a longhorn steer. The serial is S 76748. My S&W, Roy Jinks letter states that my gun shipped on July 11, 1950 to the W.S. Darley Company in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin which was a public safety catalog mail order company that still exists today as a fire fighting equipment supplier.