.357 Magnum "Pre-Model 19" serial number Question

[Engine49guy]

Forgot to mention there are certain loads that are known to crack the forcing cone on the Combat magnums , IIRC lighter loads moving fast so a word to the wise is do some research on what loads are safe for K Magnums and save those 1350 fps hand loads for the L and N frame magnums or risk turning a highly collectable gun into a pretty paper weight.

 

[JayCeeNC]

My opinion on CM stocks:
I have a comment from Mr. Roy Jinks in a history letter on one of my Combat Magnums which wears football grips (K316xxx) that since the original advertisement flyer for the Combat Magnum showed non-relieved Target Stocks then they would be correct.
However, I've seen early CMs with football grips and no evidence that they were replaced. Since very few K-frame target grips were numbered it is nearly impossible to tell which style shipped on a CM.
I suspect some may have randomly shipped with non-relieved grips until the inventory was depleted.
Again, just my opinion.

 

[JP@AK]

Hey, JayCeeNC,
What is "the football cutout style?"
I haven't heard that term before.

This is Jack, not JayCeeNC, but here is a photo of the type stocks he referred to. These are on a Combat Masterpiece a bit later than your Combat Magnum, but at least they illustrate what the relieved stocks looked like. They were introduced about the time your gun shipped. The idea was to provide some extraction relief. The earlier style (like yours) tended to interfere with ejection. If nothing else, this would tend to scratch up the stock panel on the left side of the revolver.

 

[beagleye]

Beautiful gun.

Seems like during the 4 screw era the finishers at S&W were really on top of their game.

 

[Engine49guy]

Anything is possible with S&W and I also used to think the non relieved Target grips were period correct based on this early B&W depiction of a CM wearing those grips but to date have yet to see any proof that one shipped with them.


As for the theory they shipped with what was handy dont forget the CM was a premium revolver,
the new style football relieved grips were in stock and the older style had known issues with .38 special extraction where the new Combat Magnum used longer .357 cartridges.


I would be more inclined to believe a set of non relieved Rosewood presentations might have shipped on a 1956 shipped engraved presentation gun but will remain skeptical on the non relieved checkered targets as OEM until I see a pair that number or proof otherwise.

Side note the pair pictured on the Combat Masterpiece in Jack's post above are beautiful diamond GA's that I would guess were made around 1965/66.

 

[JP@AK]

Side note the pair pictured on the Combat Masterpiece in Jack's post above are beautiful diamond GA's that I would guess were made around 1965/66.

Thanks for the compliment, Guy!
That revolver shipped in 1966, so your estimate is right on.

This is a very special piece to me. It was a gift from my father, who is now deceased. It will go to my daughter when I am gone.

 

[Engine49guy]

Jack
My favorite range gun is a former LEO 3T's 15-2 with Rosewood diamond targets and while the "3 T's" setup is fairly uncommon on the CM making your gun interesting to begin with those diamond GA's had a very small window of production (maybe 1.5 years) that make it extra special IMO....Very nice !

 

[Harkrader]

Thanks everyone for a lot of great information.

I WAS going to shoot it this weekend. But our professional military son came home for a Memorial Day visit and we always have a challenge at the range. I win. Because I cheat.
Anyway, he wanted to shoot my Colt King Cobra, which is excellent with full-house 357 Magnum ammo because it weighs a ton and is obviously built like a tank.
When I do shoot the S&W, it will be with my "just barely" magnum handloads. 158-gr RNFP hard-cast lead hitting about ~1150 from a 4" barrel.

It sounds as though the gun is probably not original enough to warrant a factory letter. I like shooters!

Thanks to everyone for all the super info.

 

[Frank237]

I'm amused at how some of these old threads get resurrected.

Anyway....Harkrader....I just got a letter from Mr. Jinks on my 4 screw CM.

He states ; The first production medium-framed Magnum was completed on November 15, 1955 and was serial number K260003 and was named "The .357 Combat Magnum" .

The first block of serial numbers used for the CM's were #K260001 to #K265000.

My Letter shows that my CM , #K260026 was shipped from the Factory on June 1, 1956 to it's west coast Sales Rep.

FN in MT