Early Engraved 44 Magnum

[Doc44]

This 44 Magnum was Class B engraved by Virginia Le Blanc (VL inscribed on the grip frame) and shipped in June 1956. It is the earliest factory engraved 44 Magnum reported to date. The stocks are by Alvin White and are made of birds eye maple. Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

 

[SLT223]

Very nice. Is this a new acquisition?

 

[Club Gun Fan]

She engraved like a girl! A very talented girl. Where do you find these guns? I'd be afraid to shoot it, let alone carry it concealed.

 

[RKmesa]

Bill:

The gun is very nice...BUT, the grips are outstanding!!!

Thanks for sharing,

 

[JSW]

Bill:

The gun is very nice...BUT, the grips are outstanding!!!

Thanks for sharing,

I agree, those are some beautiful grips ... gun too!

 

[Art Doc]

That looks pretty nice. I suggest you only shoot 44 Specials in it and avoid Magnum ammo.

 

[S.B.]

Another beauty, Doc. Congratulations, again.
Steve

 

[cbjordan76]

Beautiful Bill! Nice acquisition.

 

[RKmesa]

Bill:

Do those grips letter with the gun?

Thanks,

Richard

 

[830singleshot]

Those grips are crazy cool! It looks like a stylized fish mouth with the emblem for a eye. If the engraving is factory, it would seem that the grips had to be commissioned at the same time and that the engraving followed the lines laded out by the grips.
Outstanding. I hope you can find the backstory of who this was built for.

 

[Doc44]

The stocks were most likely made before the 44 Magnum. I put them on the 44 because the revolver's engraving was patterned for Magna stocks and the stocks by Mr. White fill the bill. I purchased the stocks separately many years ago. They are the only set I have seen that are made of birds eye maple.

The revolver was shipped to a distributor and probably sold as stock item by them. The revolver was lettered by an Army Major in the mid-70s, but I doubt he was the first owner.

Bill

 

[usm1rifle]

That is a great piece Bill. The grips are totally over the top!

 

[mesaman]

44 In formal attire

This 44 Magnum was Class B engraved by Virginia Le Blanc (VL inscribed on the grip frame) and shipped in June 1956. It is the earliest factory engraved 44 Magnum reported to date. The stocks are by Alvin White and are made of birds eye maple. Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

If I was fortunate enough to own such a masterpiece it would be for looking at not shooting. Far too nice for that.

 

[quinn]

Gorgeous...but, I won't be holding my breath for a range report!

 

[S&W SS Revolvers]

Incredible doesn't even describe what you have. It's GORGEOUS beyond belief. One cylinder of rounds a year...maybe were it mine...maybe.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Bill
Let me get this straight. The stocks don't number to the gun. You put the set together. Your collecting Parts Guns now? It appears your collection is going downhill.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

The stocks were most likely made before the 44 Magnum. I put them on the 44 because the revolver's engraving was patterned for Magna stocks and the stocks by Mr. White fill the bill. I purchased the stocks separately many years ago. They are the only set I have seen that are made of birds eye maple.

The revolver was shipped to a distributor and probably sold as stock item by them. The revolver was lettered by an Army Major in the mid-70s, but I doubt he was the first owner.

Bill

You had me fooled! I would have thought they where born together for sure.

 

[alfsauve]

I'm not a fan of most engraved guns, but this one could sway me. Recessed chambers?

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm not a fan of most engraved guns, but this one could sway me. Recessed chambers?

Yes to the recessed cylinder question. Look how close the rear of the cylinder comes to the frame. All of the early Magnum revolvers had recessed cylinders.

 

[stinsonbeach]

How do you find these beauties?

 

[stmry]

What an amazing piece, and acquisition. Congratulations.

 

[H P Bushrod]

This 44 Magnum was Class B engraved by Virginia Le Blanc (VL inscribed on the grip frame) and shipped in June 1956. It is the earliest factory engraved 44 Magnum reported to date. The stocks are by Alvin White and are made of birds eye maple. Click on the photos for a better look.

Bill

Doc, Once again, you've outdone yourself with that historic piece! It's beautiful...The grips are what REALLY blew me away! I love the birds eye maple. Thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[chisels]

I knew the grips were White. The engraving I thought was Ziggy but VL tells the story. Love these grips.

 

[Göring's S&W]

I knew the grips were White. The engraving I thought was Ziggy but VL tells the story. Love these grips.

That's interesting because I see nothing in common between LeBlanc and Rentzschke except they both engraved S&Ws. Their styles are very different in all examples that I have seen. Leblanc's style is reminiscent of Jarvis because Jarvis mentored her...

 

[RKmesa]

That's interesting because I see nothing in common between LeBlanc and Rentzschke except they both engraved S&Ws. Their styles are very different in all examples that I have seen. Leblanc's style is reminiscent of Jarvis because Jarvis mentored her...

With 25+ years at the factory engraving S&W's, Chisels is an expert on engraved S&Ws and I always appreciate his perspective. Based on the guns that I have seen, I have to agree with Jim on this one - which means that most likely, I haven't seen enough examples (I would always love to see more). I have three Rentzschke engraved guns, all of which have very tight and fine scrolling, like this:





While all of the LeBlanc guns that I have seen looked like Jim's beautiful Combat Magnum:

Reference: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...ombat-magnum-pre-19-its-factory-engraved.html

And Bill's 44 Mag:

Reference (see post 22): http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/107018-rare-trick-treat-44-magnum.html

Either way, I love the engraving of all three artists - Jarvis, LeBlanc and Rentzschke.