86 Years Ago Today (9/16/2021)…..

[lestert357]

my identical twins, or "special selected pair" (per Dr. Jinks), were shipped from the factory…..apparently one of the few true pairs of Pre-War .357 Magnums (per Dr. Cross) as he has "not discovered another pair"……

They have consecutive REG numbers 447 & 448…..

The serial numbers are close but not consecutive - 22 numbers apart…..

If you haven't already read about them you can do so at Leo H. Rice's 1st Year 4.5" Consecutive Reg# RM Matched Pair

Happy Birthday Twins!

 

[Ruger 13]

Good lookin pistolas…….how do they shoot?

 

[RKmesa]

Eighty-Six Years and still looking GREAT!!! Happy Birthday to a great pair, and thank you for sharing.

 

[rwt1405]

Wow, what a pair!

Thank you for sharing them, and all of the information on them.

 

[SS336]

Happy birthday to the twins.

I read the original post from the link you provided.
Simply an amazing piece of history and the pictures were great. I loved the leather you had commissioned. Absolutely gorgeous revolvers and package.

 

[1blindref]

Fantastic pair of RM's!!!

 

[Marshal Tom]

I have seen a lot of nice pairs in my life but the difference is that this pair only gets better with age!!!

 

[quinn]

Terry, as long as you have 2, how about sharing one with a friend? They are somethin else....

 

[Hair Trigger]

Fantastic pair of RM's!
From the bluing wear at the muzzles and the cylinder turn lines, it's obvious these haven't been safe queens all their life, but carried to some extent. What is the "rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say?

With all these letters, and the rarity of a matched consecutive pair (too bad the SN's aren't also consecutive), what would the value be, even considering the wear on the bluing? Those are as close to priceless as any guns I've ever seen.

 

[mikerjf]

With nothing to do for a few minutes, I decided to see if I could add anything to the story.

You mentioned Leo was only 21 when he placed the order, which is unusual. I'm thinking there's a story there.

In the 1930 Census Leo and siblings are living on the farm in Sioux twp with their parents, Ira and Carrie.

In 1940, no Ira, Carrie is listed as head of family, and only the boys are there (Emma musta got hitched).

In 1940 Ira seems to be in Boone county, listed as head of family by himself. I also found reference to him being on some kind of pension from 1934 (age 57) to 1946 (age 69). He may not have died until 1968 tho.

Edit: In 1940 father Ira is in another town, 1935 residence doesn't match the families, so looks like he left. Emma was lodging near the family.

So it would appear Leo became the head male of the family sometime 1934ish... right before he ordered the guns.

(Also: No indication of the Rice's as landowners in the 1930 or 1937 plat books of Sioux twp... working it for a landowner?)

 

[tazaroot]

Amazing set OP!!!

 

[lestert357]

Good lookin pistolas…….how do they shoot?

I don't have pictures of any targets I can show you, but I will tell you they are the most pleasurable revolvers I have ever fired….even with the service grips with adapters. However, right now Keith Brown is making me two sets of his Kearsarge pattern grips just for these guns - similar to the one set pictured below that I previously owned. I anticipate these guns will be even more pleasurable to shoot with the KB Kearsarge grips installed, and they probably won't look too bad either.[emoji8]

 

[Doug M.]

I generally don't look too hard at RMs - the cost/benefit for my life is not even close to wise. I cringe at the likely value of this pair. That said, the look like they would be fun to shoot. With the gold bead and U notch, I'd say that the order was placed by someone had a good sophisticated taste in a fighting gun.

 

[mh51]

Nothing else to say but.....Amazing! Thanks for sharing them.