A February Pinto Engraved 44 Magnum

[SigKev]

For 2025, I thought I would share one of my .44 or .41 Magnums each month. As I looked through my collection, it turns out that there were two months where I did not have a Magnum with a shipping date in that month; January and September. So I guess I need to look for a few that shipped in those months to add to the collection.

So, to get the year started, I wanted to share this beautiful and interesting 44 Magnum. According to the factory letter, this revolver shipped on February 8, 1957 (my birthday, but not birth year) to Kleins Sporting Goods Company, 227 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL. Shipped as a bright blue/nickel pinto with 6.5 inch barrel, red ramp front sight, white outline rear sight, target hammer and target trigger. Sometime after it left the factory, it was engraved and refinished in a gold and nickel pinto with the beautiful stocks engraved. I was told that this was previously owned by Gary Garbrecht, one of the most famous Smith and Wesson collectors.

I am really proud to own this 44 Magnum. The engraving is beautiful and the pinto finish of gold and silver has really grown on me. Thanks for letting me share it with you.

P.S. another resolution for 2025 is to get some professional pictures taken of my collection, so these pictures will eventually be replaced with some that are much better.

 

[murphydog]

Beautiful gun, thanks for posting. And this proves RKMesa missed at least one engraved Smith & Wesson in his collection!

 

[quinn]

Kevin, If you ever do that again, please warn forum member to don sun glasses! Stunning!

 

[RKmesa]

Very nice Kevin. Thank you for sharing that treasure.

 

[Bruceboy]

WOW simply WOW!!!!!

Al

 

[handejector]

I was told that this was previously owned by Gary Garbrecht, one of the most famous Smith and Wesson collectors.

I can tell you for a fact that it was owned by Gary Garbrecht because I sold that gun for the family in 2022.


I have a set of pics I can email you if you want them.
Those grips are something in their own right!

 

[65Whelen]

Thank you, very impressive.

 

[SigKev]

Lee, I would love the pictures. Will drop you a PM with my email. Thank you.

 

[DARE]

Miss February is certainly a looker. Be hard to top that.
Do you know anything about the engraver?

 

[SigKev]

I do not know anything about the engraver. I do not see any indication or signature on the gun or under the stocks. Maybe RKMesa could chime in?

 

[RKmesa]

I do not know anything about the engraver. I do not see any indication or signature on the gun or under the stocks. Maybe RKMesa could chime in?

From the photos, the engraving is not familiar to me and I don't know who may have engraved it. Sometimes Roger Bleile, historian of FEGA, can give you some clue as to who may have engraved it. The carved grips on the other hand, are consistent with some grips ascribed to Alvin White or one of the German engravers who worked for Kurt and Paul Jeager (Adolf Geiss comes to mind).

Good luck!

 

[RKmesa]

Those grips are something in their own right!

Here is another set of grips believed to be carved by Adolf Giess.

Source (read post 33 - Willig engraved gun, but Giess carved stocks): Pre-29Smith thread here: 5" Pre-26 -- All scratched up! (pic heavy again)