.357 Magnum REG 657

[DARE]

Got my factory letter on this gun today. Shipped Dec 24,1935 to Potchernick's in San Antonio, TX. Shipped with 5 inch barrel and blue finish. No record as to stocks or sights. Gun has a McGivern gold bead front sight. Appears to have been owned by an FBI agent in the San Antonio area.
Will send in the form for additional info.

 

[RKmesa]

Got my factory letter on this gun today. Shipped Dec 24,1935 to Potchernick's in San Antonio, TX. Shipped with 5 inch barrel and blue finish. No record as to stocks or sights. Gun has a McGivern gold bead front sight. Appears to have been owned by an FBI agent in the San Antonio area.

Great GUN!!! We look forward to learning more as you discover more of its history.

Thanks for sharing,

 

[quinn]

San Antonio? FBII? Cannot wait for the rest of the story. I have one of the later FBI Reg Mags that went to an agent in the Pittsburg field office; 4" blue with Baughman quick draw front sight. It was ordered by Baughman for the agent. I remember Potchernicks as a kid. Congrats!!

 

[Ruger 13]

Very nice!

 

[lestert357]

Very interesting and nice looking Reg Mag Dave. Please update us with any additional information you obtain.

 

[Doc44]

Dave...I sent you a private message about your .357 Magnum.

Bill Cross
S&WHF/S&WCA

 

[DARE]

Grips

Have learned that my gun came with magna stocks. So interested in a set of those if not too pricey. Would best way to get some be to post a want to buy on this site?
Also wondering if I could get a corrected letter. My letter says stocks and sights not known. Appears the gun was shipped with magna stocks and sights were square notch rear and McGivern gold bead front.

 

[SS336]

That's beautiful. Hope you can find the correct stocks.
Maybe a stupid question, but since it is used, are you going to shoot a couple cylinders full just to see what it would feel like?

 

[Nightowl]

That is one fine looking RM! I love the front sight. You can shoot that thing all day long, especially with .38s!!

I hope you can establish for certain that it was an FBI agent's gun. That would be really cool.

 

[rct269]

Have learned that my gun came with magna stocks. So interested in a set of those if not too pricey. Would best way to get some be to post a want to buy on this site?
Also wondering if I could get a corrected letter. My letter says stocks and sights not known. Appears the gun was shipped with magna stocks and sights were square notch rear and McGivern gold bead front.

I suspect you're stuck with the content of the letter you have, simply because these letters reflect the factory records---right, wrong, complete or incomplete, what you see is what you get. That said, you never know until you ask. I had an RM once where the original order form said one thing, later correspondence said another thing, and my letter said what the order form said. That was resolved in my favor. The letter writers are collectors too, and they'll go the extra mile when they can.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[SAFireman]

Definitely get the Historic Foundation letter from Bill Cross (Doc44), they have a lot of documents scanned in that go well beyond the original order. I have been really pleased with their efforts to save all that history.

FBI agent in San Antonio, TX is WAY COOL If it ever needs a new home, it can come back to SA any time

 

[Jim Watson]

Doesn't somebody here make sincere period style grips?
Since a random factory takeoff will not be numbered to the gun, I don't have a problem with a good reproduction for style points.

 

[DARE]

Documents

Just ordered 5 documents that relate to my gun.
An order for two .357 Magnums
Order form for my gun
Letter to the distributor discussing the order
Shipping invoice for my gun
Letter from the distributor stating gun was being returned because customer was dissatisfied.
Also learned the name of the FBI agent that made the purchase.

 

[LPD256]

JADARE-Seems you should join the Collector's Association and the Historical Foundation. The information provided is just a beginning to your fun. There are many benefits to membership as you're discovering. Great gun with a start on a great story. Congratulations.

 

[lestert357]

Letter from the distributor stating gun was being returned because customer was dissatisfied.
Also learned the name of the FBI agent that made the purchase.

David, are you saying that the FBI agent was dissatisfied with the gun, had the distributor return it, and never used it? Or did the FBI agent purchase the gun after it was returned by the distributor?

 

[DARE]

Documentation

The end of the correspondence is letter from Distributor saying gun was being returned because the agent was dissatisfied with it. Said it was out of time, so probably had been fired.
I assume the gun was repaired and returned to the user, but that is unknown.

 

[RKmesa]

...I assume the gun was repaired and returned to the user, but that is unknown.

Is there a star stamped on the butt of the gun by the serial number, and perhaps a month and year stamped on the side of the grip frame, under the grips? That was one of the ways that the factory service department marked guns that were sent back for service.

 

[Doc44]

Terry...the .357 Magnum was returned about a year after it was shipped from the factory so the FBI agent who owned the revolver discovered it was out of time through using it.

Bill

 

[series guy]

410 bore has some stocks listed that would look nice on this gun.

 

[DARE]

Grips

Want some grips for this gun, but don't think I want to spend the money for the correct grips.
Are N frame magna style grips still available?
Think I was told that the pre-war frames have slightly different dimensions.
Any info on affordable options appreciated.