Sadly, I repeat, SADLY, the Reg Mag pictured in this thread is not mine. It belongs to a friend and I have known about it for several years. I recently asked my friend if he would provide me the details of the gun so I could add it to the S&WCA Pre-War .357 Magnum Database. He graciously agreed and invited me over to his house to gather the information. The pictures below are the results of that visit.
This Reg Mag is not a safe queen or for the purist collector. In fact the trigger guard has been "Fitzed", the original hammer has been replaced, the original grips have been replaced, the trigger has been modified or replaced, it has a substantial drag line, and the blue finish is worn almost completely off of the ejector rod. It does not include the box or registration certificate. BUT, I would LOVE to own it and I'll bet MANY of you would too as it blows right through the top of the cool meter! The blue finish does appear to be original and the owner told me there are no rework marks under the grips. As you will see below there is no rework star on the butt. The replacement hammer is a Reg Mag Hump Back Hammer, the trigger is checkered, the replacement custom grips are possibly Poulin grips with S&W Pre-War medallions, it has the original King Luminous Red Post front sight (King Red Post on a King Ramp Reflector base), the original King 112 White Outline rear sight, an unbelievably smooth single and double action trigger pull, and the original 3 3/4" barrel! (Note: According to Dr. Jinks there were only 8 Reg Mags manufactured with that barrel length.) As I think most will agree, this gun seems to be set up for someone that depended upon it on a regular basis. My only question about the configuration of the gun is why wasn't a Baughman Quick Draw front sight (which became available in August 1936 and was very popular with law enforcement customers) ordered instead of the King Reflector? Perhaps it was because the King Reflector sights were designed for use in poor lighting environments.
Anyway, when you view and handle this gun you imagine that it has a very interesting story to tell. Unfortunately the factory documentation available for this gun only identifies the original company that ordered it in 1936 (Bolles Brendamour Co., Cincinnati) and another company that apparently came into possession of it in 1938 (Powell & Clement Co., Cincinnati). Some of the documentation leaves you with more questions than answers. Below are pictures of the gun and the factory and Historical Foundation documentation available for it. I hope you find this gun as fascinating as I do.
The factory letter from Dr. Jinks for serial number 49606 Reg. No. 1495 which shows shipment from the factory on October 13, 1936. The letter confirms the 3 3/4" barrel and King sights but does not address the Hump Back Hammer (note that Hump Back Hammers were not yet available when this gun shipped). Also, as expected, there is no mention of the checkered trigger, Fitz style trigger guard, or unusual style grips.
The original order number A18221 dated 9/17/36 from Bolles Brendamour Co. for "1 only 357 Magnum with 3 3/4" barrel, squared front sight with reflector, white outline rear with fairly wide notch, cylinders to line up perfectly & smooth action." This order was stamped as received at the factory on Sep 22, 1936.
The factory shipping invoice which again confirms the barrel length, sights, sighting in specifications, and Magna stocks. It is dated 9-21-36 but there is no visible date stamp on it so actual shipping date is questionable.
A letter from Bolles Brendamour Co. dated Oct. 5, 1936 stating they have received the 357 Magnum revolver but that it has "standard" grips and requesting "magnum" grips. This letter is confusing on a couple of fronts. First it is dated 8 days before the shipping date (October 13, 1936) identified by Dr. Jinks in the factory letter. Second, it indicates the gun was received with standard grips even though the shipping invoice and factory letter indicate it was shipped with Magna grips. Nevertheless I would interpret their request for "magnum" grips to be for Magna grips as I have never seen anything in factory documentation regarding "magnum" grips.
Apparently sometime between October 1936 and July 1938 the gun moved from Bolles Brendamour Co. to Powell & Clement Co. (both in Cincinnati) as Powell & Clement ordered both another King 112 rear sight and another trigger for Reg. 1495.
Unfortunately the documentation trail goes cold after the July 1938 correspondence from Powell & Clement. However, the gun is still with us and giving us clues as to how it has been used over the last 85 years. Here are a few pictures of it and I'll let you interpret them as you see fit. I apologize for the finger print smudges visible on the second picture of the gun (facing right) below. Thanks for letting me share the incomplete story of this fascinating Reg Mag.
This Reg Mag is not a safe queen or for the purist collector. In fact the trigger guard has been "Fitzed", the original hammer has been replaced, the original grips have been replaced, the trigger has been modified or replaced, it has a substantial drag line, and the blue finish is worn almost completely off of the ejector rod. It does not include the box or registration certificate. BUT, I would LOVE to own it and I'll bet MANY of you would too as it blows right through the top of the cool meter! The blue finish does appear to be original and the owner told me there are no rework marks under the grips. As you will see below there is no rework star on the butt. The replacement hammer is a Reg Mag Hump Back Hammer, the trigger is checkered, the replacement custom grips are possibly Poulin grips with S&W Pre-War medallions, it has the original King Luminous Red Post front sight (King Red Post on a King Ramp Reflector base), the original King 112 White Outline rear sight, an unbelievably smooth single and double action trigger pull, and the original 3 3/4" barrel! (Note: According to Dr. Jinks there were only 8 Reg Mags manufactured with that barrel length.) As I think most will agree, this gun seems to be set up for someone that depended upon it on a regular basis. My only question about the configuration of the gun is why wasn't a Baughman Quick Draw front sight (which became available in August 1936 and was very popular with law enforcement customers) ordered instead of the King Reflector? Perhaps it was because the King Reflector sights were designed for use in poor lighting environments.
Anyway, when you view and handle this gun you imagine that it has a very interesting story to tell. Unfortunately the factory documentation available for this gun only identifies the original company that ordered it in 1936 (Bolles Brendamour Co., Cincinnati) and another company that apparently came into possession of it in 1938 (Powell & Clement Co., Cincinnati). Some of the documentation leaves you with more questions than answers. Below are pictures of the gun and the factory and Historical Foundation documentation available for it. I hope you find this gun as fascinating as I do.
The factory letter from Dr. Jinks for serial number 49606 Reg. No. 1495 which shows shipment from the factory on October 13, 1936. The letter confirms the 3 3/4" barrel and King sights but does not address the Hump Back Hammer (note that Hump Back Hammers were not yet available when this gun shipped). Also, as expected, there is no mention of the checkered trigger, Fitz style trigger guard, or unusual style grips.
The original order number A18221 dated 9/17/36 from Bolles Brendamour Co. for "1 only 357 Magnum with 3 3/4" barrel, squared front sight with reflector, white outline rear with fairly wide notch, cylinders to line up perfectly & smooth action." This order was stamped as received at the factory on Sep 22, 1936.
The factory shipping invoice which again confirms the barrel length, sights, sighting in specifications, and Magna stocks. It is dated 9-21-36 but there is no visible date stamp on it so actual shipping date is questionable.
A letter from Bolles Brendamour Co. dated Oct. 5, 1936 stating they have received the 357 Magnum revolver but that it has "standard" grips and requesting "magnum" grips. This letter is confusing on a couple of fronts. First it is dated 8 days before the shipping date (October 13, 1936) identified by Dr. Jinks in the factory letter. Second, it indicates the gun was received with standard grips even though the shipping invoice and factory letter indicate it was shipped with Magna grips. Nevertheless I would interpret their request for "magnum" grips to be for Magna grips as I have never seen anything in factory documentation regarding "magnum" grips.
Apparently sometime between October 1936 and July 1938 the gun moved from Bolles Brendamour Co. to Powell & Clement Co. (both in Cincinnati) as Powell & Clement ordered both another King 112 rear sight and another trigger for Reg. 1495.
Unfortunately the documentation trail goes cold after the July 1938 correspondence from Powell & Clement. However, the gun is still with us and giving us clues as to how it has been used over the last 85 years. Here are a few pictures of it and I'll let you interpret them as you see fit. I apologize for the finger print smudges visible on the second picture of the gun (facing right) below. Thanks for letting me share the incomplete story of this fascinating Reg Mag.
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