.357 Combat Magnum Coming Home

[DARE]

Learned how to post a link. Here is a link to the thread about the box.
Combat Magnum Box Update

 

[Flygas]

Has anyone considered that maybe we should ask Lee Jarrett if he could create an additional section here in the Forum for members to try and match up original serial numbered boxes and guns? I'd think that would be a popular feature.

 

[Engine49guy]

Besides the jig hole being an early feature your early production Combat Magnum should also have the rare 6 groove tangs.

Btw, besides having the sharp radius turn on your target stocks checkering which indicates 50's production you will notice they have a small relief notch cut where the strain screw goes, this relief cut is very common on the early style non relieved target stocks, don't think it lasted too long into the football relief cut era but would have to start pulling stocks to compare.
While can't say for sure if those stocks are the ones it shipped with they are correct for that period IMO.

 

[DARE]

Thanks for the knowledge Engine49guy. Had heard about the 6 groove backstrap and front strap. Had not heard about the relief cut for the stocks or the sharp radius turn on the checkering. Jim King and Bill Cross thought the stocks looked correct. They are certainly experts.
I usually learn something here.

 

[DARE]

One more question. Is the SAT correct? Read in a thread that this style started shipping in 1958, so would not be correct for a 1956 gun. The SAT and the tools were added to the package by Tim in Alabama. Helpful Hints was in the box when I sent it to Tim.

Edit: Just read in SCSW 4th that this SAT tool dates to 1958-1961. Guess I answered my own question unless SCSW is wrong.

 

[JayCeeNC]

Dave, an aluminum knurled SAT like yours was shipped with K260006, one of the first CMs. I once owned the box and still have that SAT.

 

[Capt. F.]

The story begins with my finding a box for a Combat Magnum in an old bunch of stuff from my dad's gun store. I posted a thread asking the age of the box. Doc44 says there may be a SN in white grease pencil on the bottom of the box. There was, K261590. Dates the box to 1956. Next I get a PM from tt66 (Tim) in Alabama. He owns K261590 and would like to have the box.
You can read all about this in the thread "Combat Magnum Box Update." Tim posted a thread, ".357 Combat Magnum w Box & Custom Holster and a Good Story." Tells the story from his viewpoint. Also is a notable thread.

Going to Glendale to display for the 1st time. My table title is Dad's Guns. The guns I will display all belonged to my father. Looked through a bunch of old boxes for things to add to the display.
Found a list of dad's personal guns in his handwriting. One on the list is:
S&W 19 .357 Mag 4 in, blue #K261590 1st year mfg.
Well, that is not a Model 19, that is the Combat Magnum that Tim has.
I know my dad had the gun as early as 1966. He always referred to it as 4 screw 19. I never saw the box. He had the gun for many years and the gun and the box were never together. I think he probably forgot he had it.

A few years ago I was not shooting my guns. I was not even looking at them. Needed to raise some money for a house remodel and sold the "Model 19" along with a few others.
Sold it at a gun show in north Texas to a guy that said he owned a gun store in southern Oklahoma.
Somehow the gun got into the hands of Charlie Sides (Absent Comrade) who sold it to Tim. Tim has agreed that the gun can come back to Texas.
Said he bought it because it was nice and an early one. Really prefers N frames so OK with giving it up.
Regretted selling the gun, so happy that it is coming home.
Thanks to Tim I should have a Combat Magnum to add to the display of "Dad's Guns."

I have a similar story about my 3rd issue Colt Woodsman.
Got it back from the gent I sold it to 32 years later. And for the price I sold it for!

 

[Enzo Rules]

That is a great story. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[boykinlp]

Got my letter and the invoice today. Went to Huey & Philp in Dallas, Texas. The letter and the invoice refer to it as .357 Combat Magnum, so modified the title of the thread.

Showed the gun to Jim King and Bill Cross while I was in Glendale. They both thought the grips looked correct.

David, got an idea what kind of business Huey & Philp was? Another thing that I have always wondered when looking at the S&W invoice, is why they didn't list the serial numbers of all the guns in the shipment? I would think that it would make it much easier for the shipping department of S&W, and the receiving department for Huey & Philp to double check the order. Also, I could have sworn that I had actually seen it done on some invoices from them, maybe after 1968.
Larry

 

[DARE]

Huey & Philp Hardware Co. started in Dallas in 1872. By 1934 they had closed their retail business and were wholesale only. I found a 1952 catalog that shows the address as 1900 Griffin St. That's where they were in 1956 when my gun was shipped.
I got an invoice on my Model 53 that shipped in May 1961. It came with another page that was a serial number list. The only time I have gotten serial number information from SWHF.

 

[tt66]

I believe Mr. Helms directed me to that type of SAT. I had purchased the other one thinking it was correct but was told different.

Tim

 

[DARE]

Tim, I'm not sure what this tool is. Initially I thought it was aluminum but now do not think so.
What got me thinking about this is a post by spin132. He has a very nice, early Combat Magnum. He picked up the Blued steel knurled-handled SAT for his gun.
SCSW says:
Blued steel knurled-handled screwdriver 1940-1958.
Aluminum knurled-handled screwdriver 1958-1961.
In post #27 John says K260006 was shipped with an aluminum SAT and that would have been in 1956, so SCSW is not completely correct.
This tool is heavy and sticks to a magnet. I think it is nickeled steel and not aluminum. So maybe Nickel knurled-handled screwdriver 1940-1948.
I don't really care if it is the correct tool, just trying to learn. A rare and valuable item whichever it turns out to be. Think I will take it to Tulsa and let the experts have a look at it.

 

[tt66]

I have been away from the forum for a bit.
I sent you a PM.
Talk to you soon,
Tim

 

[DARE]

The holster that came with the package. Also the letter and the invoice.

Let's Make Some Money for the Forum - tt66 is the winner

 

[DARE]

Took the SAT to Tulsa. Bill Cross and Richard Garner said the tool is Nickel steel. Originally for the K 22-40 in 1940 and then used after WWII until about 1948.
Bill Cross said the correct SAT for the early Combat Magnums is the Aluminum Knurled-Handled Screwdriver.
Said they started in 1956 with the Combat Magnum and the .44 Magnum. He has a Combat Magnum that shipped in January 1956 with the Aluminum tool.

 

[Jocko-44]

Great story and gun OP! Very interesting