Factory pair of Jarvis-engraved .357's

[mikepriwer]

This is a factory pair of 3.5" two-tone .357 magnums, both fully engraved by Harry Jarvis.

One interesting aspect of these guns is the front sight blades. This was a very short-lived blade,
and is known as the Blanchard blade. It appears in the first ( of two ) editions of the
Centennial Catalog. The second edition of the catalog features a revised red insert,
instead of the Blanchard. There was some problem between Blanchard and the
factory.

Here are a couple of pictures of the barrel, showing the Blanchard blade.

(Note: the tarnish appearance is not real - its an artifact of the light. )

These next 4 pictures are of the grips. Both guns are suppossed to be represented.

There next two pictures are closer-up view of the treatment around the logo.

Next are two pictures of the treatment around the trade-mark stamping.

These last two pictures are of each side of the whole gun.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[Texas Star]

Looks like something off the cover of, "True" magazine from the 1950's...

 

[opoefc]

Mike, Very, very nice! I assume those are A.A.White stocks. Were the guns shipped with those stocks? How do they letter ? Ed.

 

[Iggy]

Those leave a feller plumb speechless.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[mikepriwer]

Ed

I'm under the impression that Bill Cross also thinks they are Alvin Whites work. As to the
stocks, the letter states:

"The stocks were target type of specially carved select wood with ivory diamond inserts
around the screw hole. "

I have some further pictures of the stocks, that I will post later today or tomorrow.

Regards, Mike

 

[JayCeeNC]

Phenomenal guns, Mike. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MAG-NUM]

Mike, those guns are beautiful. When you add more pictures to the post, could you add some of the custom case too. Congrats!

 

[opoefc]

Interesting letter if it describes the stocks as being on the guns when they were shipped from S&W. That would seem to indicate the A.A.White stocks were part of the original order's specs and the guns must have been either drop shipped to White for fitting the stocks or supplied to S&W for fitting. I have no doubt in my mind they are the work of White's shop. Any chance they are signed on the back? Ed.

 

[usm1rifle]

Simply spectacular! You are a fortunate man to be the custodian of such fine pieces of artwork.

 

[mikepriwer]

Ed

There are no markings on the inside of the grips. The engraving only comes to the top edge of
the grips - there is no frame engraving under the grips.

Mike Priwer

 

[Buford57]

Beautiful guns.

How do they shoot?

 

[Doc44]

Mike...super pair of ".357s".

Bill

 

[boykinlp]

Absolutely fantastic. Are they consecutively serial numbered guns? If not, do they letter as being ordered at the same time? I really love the grips!!

 

[JCS&W]

It may take me a while to lift my jaw up from the floor. Mike, those are just beautiful. Wow!

 

[1blindref]

stunningly beautiful

 

[mikepriwer]

Boykinlp

The guns were built as a pair, and shipped as a pair, to Rex Firearms in NYC. They
differ in serial number by about 12.

Regards, Mike

 

[2152hq]

Very nice pair of 357's.

"...These next 4 pictures are of the grips. Both guns are suppossed to be represented."

They do,,there are small differences in the carving of each set.
The easiest to spot is one set left a small border around the medallions on each side,,the other didn't.
The carver(s) changed the small filler portions of the scroll to take up or leave a bit more room where necessary to fit the pattern in.

The set using the border around the medallions is cleaner cut, a little bolder and with a bit more detail in the carving itself.
This set does not use large dots as a filler or design element as a rule though a couple appear overall.
The borderless set is less cleanly cut, the vines a little thinner and uses the round dots all up and down the pattern.
It looks like both sets used an engravers liner tool for the shading of the small leaves in the carving. Hard to tell on the set w/the bordered medallions though.

The overall layout of the main scrolls is the same,,but the fill in portions are vastly different in construction, shape and even direction at times.
If I had to guess,,,I'd say it was a standard pattern,,but cut by two different people.

Could be a stock item or a stock pattern from whom ever supplied them for these revolvers if done by more than one carver.
Putting the ivory or gold diamond in an existing pattern means only reducing some small scroll elements and/or direction if the pattern at hand isn't layed out for it..



JHMO

 

[Troystat]

Those are spectacular, with the right holster set you would have the ultimate BBQ gun set.

 

[ditrina]

Game over....

YOU WIN!!

There are NO words.. 'cept BEE-U-TEE-FUL

 

[fyimo]

Those leave a feller plumb speechless.

Thanks for sharing.

I agree totally and they are just awesome.