General Patton's 357

[gutterman]

I've seen a picture or two of his 357 but couldn't tell if it was a 27 or not. I'm sure it's called a registered magnum and if so we're all registered magnums in 357 the model 27?

 

[arjay]

It would have been a registered magnum.The 357 magnum which became the model 27 was a post war gun built on the short action.The registered magnum was pre-war and a long action.

 

[Chuck24]

Where is it now?

 

[Culina]

The last time I saw Pattons handguns, they were at the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody Wyoming. That was probably 15 years ago.

 

[old bear]

The last time I saw Pattons handguns, they were at the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody Wyoming. That was probably 15 years ago.

I've always believed that General Patton's registered Magnum was on display at the Fort Knox museum. Link below.

General George Patton Museum - Fort Knox KY - Visit Kentucky

 

[Aircrewman]

I can't remember where it was that I read about it but it was in a regular "gun magazine" and many years ago, but it noted that Patton held his two side arms in great esteem and was very proud of them. It seems rather ironic that he had two of the best handguns made for the time (actually still two of the best of all time), a Colt SAA and a "modern" Smith and Wesson, the "Registered Magnum" in a 3 1/2" bbl. Now, according to the magazine article, he called his Smith and Wesson his "killing gun." The Colt was an engraved, nickeled 5 1/2" with ivory grips with his initials inlayed in them. I don't remember how it came to be that he kept the 357 as his "killing gun" and if he carried it into combat operations or not. I remember the article showed several photos of the guns and also showed him carrying a Colt 380 Auto in a small leather holster while meeting people/staff/others and around his headquarters. I will see them someday. I too thought that they were at the museum in Kentucky. I don't remember seeing them at Cody, but I haven't been there in a very long time....

 

[colt_saa]

Yes it was a Registered Magnum. Both firearms were carried into combat. The Registered Magnum (and other Patton firearms) is on display at the Patton Museum located at Fort Knox

Here is Lt Col Patton's letter to S&W ordering the firearm

Here is the S&W letter acknowledging the order

Here is the Factory work order

You might notice the selling price of this revolver was only $48, while a bargain today, that was quite a sum of money back in 1935. Back in 1935 the average car cost $580

 

[Texas Star]

Aircrewman is incorrect. The Colt has a 4.75-inch barrel, not 5.5-inches. It certainly saw combat. Patton killed some Mexicans with it on the Pershing Expedition about 1916.

In WW II, he wore both guns and also had, at the least, Colt and Remington .380's and a Colt Detective Special with a sq. butt. There are photos of him wearing all. He may have owned others, with which he wasn't photographed.

 

[Texas Star]

Yes it was a Registered Magnum. Both firearms were carried into combat. The Registered Magnum (and other Patton firearms) is on display at the Patton Museum located at Fort Knox

Here is Lt Col Patton's letter to S&W ordering the firearm

Here is the S&W letter acknowledging the order

Here is the Factory work order

You might notice the selling price of this revolver was only $48, while a bargain today, that was quite a sum of money back in 1935. Back in 1935 the average car cost $580

Patton paid $48, but "list" was $60. He got an Army officer's discount.

 

[colt_saa]

[/I][/B]

Patton paid $48, but "list" was $60. He got an Army officer's discount.

True he got a discount, but nobody pays LIST Price for a Smith and Wesson

If you look close at that price, it is initialed DBW

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Here's Patton and Pershing.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Great story.

 

[K9BOB]

[/I][/B]

Patton paid $48, but "list" was $60. He got an Army officer's discount.

$48.00 is about $847.25 in 2016 dollars.

 

[les.b]

I saw both the Registered Magnum and the Colt .45 at the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, but that was about 18 years ago, when one of my sons was graduating from boot camp. I believe the Colt is silver plated, not nickel.



By the way, another Colt supposedly owned by Patton, another SAA .45, was sold at auction last year for $75,000.00. Colt .45 revolver owned by Patton fetches $75G at auction | Fox News I had never heard of it before, but Patton loved firearms, and had many besides the ones that we always think of.

 

[Ed Fowler]

He competed in the Olympics, would have won but put two bullets through the same hole so was scored as a miss.

Have read about him since I was a little kid, but never found an account of how many firearms he owned.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Here's as close as I could get to Patton's guns. Sorry, but stag was cheaper than ivory back then.

 

[erikpolcrack]

40 odd years ago, both revolvers and the rig he wore them in where displayed together at the West Point Museum.

 

[les.b]

Update on my earlier post: I did a little research, and am linking a YouTube video by the Patton Museum Director, in which he explains some of the updates that are being done at the museum, including the new display cases... The example case is the one that now holds Patton's Smith and Wesson, his Colt .45 SAA, and his belt and holsters that he used when he wore both sidearms. I think you'll like the new home, and we will be able to see the guns much better than the way they were displayed in the past.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aBFpbYCQU_U[/ame]

Lemme know what you think.....

Best Regards, Les

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I give up!
Where are GP's guns and gun belts displayed?
My FIL used to brag that he went to summer ROTC camp with George Patton down at Ft. Knox.
It was him, George and a few thousand of his closest friends.

 

[Chuck24]

Thanks to all the posters for answering my question and sharing their knowledge.