1953 Pre-27..

[SuperMan]

Quick question...picked up a blue worn pre-27 last week. The S&W emblem is stamed on the left side of the frame half way between the cylinder release and trigger guard.

My 1952 is on the sideplate...

Thoughts...

Thanks...Bob

 

[cmdrcody]

My thought photos help people give you good feedback.
No photos means you get a WAG.

 

[cmdrcody]

Other help would be serial numbers.

 

[Truckman]

Quick question...

And what's the question......Ben

 

[SuperMan]

..alright already...I get some pics and "the rest of the story" shortly...

 

[Doc44]

Your .357 Magnum may have been originally planned for engraving or as a presentation revolver as these guns usually have the small S&W logo roll marked on the left side of the frame. No way to know for certain, but a possibility.

Bill

 

[SuperMan]

Took some time to get pics....and the "rest of the story".

Short version is was in a large very out of the way gun shop while visiting a friend's camp in Maine. In the used rack was this blue worn but appeared to be shot little pre-27 that I could tell from the serial number was an early 1950s...turned out to be a 53....

Price was a little high for the condition of the blue but after negotiating a cash price I went for it...mainly because it had a very clean set of Cokes whose condition didn't match the bluing wear of the host gun.... Ended up paying $100 more for the gun than the last set of Cokes I saw sell for on ebay..

Did some searching and everyone wanted $200-300 for a proper set of diamond Magna grips... Found one very nice set with a 1955 serial number for $99 and bought them...

So that's "the rest of the story".... Question I have is about the S&W emblem which is stamped on the left side of the frame instead of the sideplate... My 1952 is on the sideplate and larger...any reason for this?

Bob

ps...Bill I missed your post...thanks for the information...

 

[RKmesa]

Question I have is about the S&W emblem which is stamped on the left side of the frame instead of the sideplate... My 1952 is on the sideplate and larger...any reason for this?

Bob

To illustrate Bill's point, here are some factory engraved 357s from the 1950s, note all of the engraved ones have the small roll mark on the left side...





Besides leaving the right side plate free and clear as a large "canvas" for an engraving pattern, the smaller left side roll mark is not obstructed by the profile of target stocks, as is seen on the bottom left plain gun in the above photos... I have also seen the small left side roll mark common on non-engraved special order guns (e.g. two-tone ("pinto") guns) that shipped with target stocks.

My recommendation: Find an engraver to engrave that gun so that it can reach its intended destiny...

Congrats on a great buy!

 

[H Richard]

One I formerly owned, s/n S 99589, 9/23/53. and logo on side plate. Have half dozen pictures of this side, but none of the side plate.

 

[Gun Relics]

My recommendation: Find an engraver to engrave that gun so that it can reach its intended destiny...

Congrats on a great buy!

Just a wild ballpark, a decent engraver - what can someone expect to pay to have a revolver engraved? Is $1000 - $2000 realistic?

 

[22hipower]

I don't think you'd get much for $1k-$2k. For anything approaching full coverage engraving and/or gold inlays I'd expect $4k to $5k and more if the engraver is well known. Although that estimate comes more from buying engraved guns rather than commissioning them. Probably RKmesa has more experience in commissioning engraving than most here, perhaps he'll be along to comment.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[RKmesa]

Not all engraving is created equal, and not all engravers do the same quality of work. For engraved guns that I have commissioned, cost for full coverage with a little gold wire inlay have ranged from $4.0K to $7.5K. Depending on the engraver and the coverage, you could pay more or less. It is fun to be part of the creation process and when you are finished you have something that is truly one of a kind and you were the impetus in the creative process...

Here's one that I commissioned and the case I commisissioned for its home...











Good luck,

 

[Gun Relics]

Here's one that I commissioned and the case I commisissioned for its home...



Good luck,

Amazing and thank you for the information.

 

[1blindref]

that is truly one of a kind and you were the impetus in the creative process...

Here's one that I commissioned and the case I commisissioned for its home...




Good luck,

Richard - If you ever need a kidney, or some other body part - I will happily trade you it for this gun. Just PM me