Help identifying S&W 357 mag

[Art Doc]

Well, I was just going on what everybody said mine was worth last year. The consensus seemed to be from $800 to $1500 and mine still has the original sights and correct pre-war Magnas. Now I read RMs with incorrect parts are worth two grand and more. What am I supposed to think is right?

This is why I keep saying I'm not an expert. The experts keep giving differing answers.

 

[KJM]

Well, I was just going on what everybody said mine was worth last year. The consensus seemed to be from $800 to $1500 and mine still has the original sights and correct pre-war Magnas. Now I read RMs with incorrect parts are worth two grand and more. What am I supposed to think is right?

This is why I keep saying I'm not an expert. The experts keep giving differing answers.

I was just foolin with you really.

Ya know what the problem is? Yeah, ya do as a matter of fact.... I've seen it in what you write. The prices are getting STUPID. 27's and 28's? C'mon.

I'm watching really close cause if it keeps that way I will just dump it ALL.

There will be NO NEW BLOOD coming into this and it will probably derail itself with prices getting more and more out of hand.

What the "experts" own is ALWAYS worth LOTS, and what WE own is just blue book guns.

It says REG.................. quick......... re-mortgage your house.

Anyone who thinks different is nuts, but you want an investment? Buy all SHOOTERS.... you can double your money on 250 dollars faster than on 10k that SOME want for REG Mags.

But then you couldn't say you own a reg Mag!

LOTS of stuff is selling for more than true value... that doesn't make it "worth" it.

Wanna see high prices? wait'll I sell mine...

Oh wait...

MY stuff is all Junk.

Ever notice that the guys telling you that these are the best investments are usually the sellers?

I'm in it cause I like em. When it gets nuts, I'm out.

 

[29aholic]

Well, I was just going on what everybody said mine was worth last year. The consensus seemed to be from $800 to $1500 and mine still has the original sights and correct pre-war Magnas. Now I read RMs with incorrect parts are worth two grand and more. What am I supposed to think is right?

This is why I keep saying I'm not an expert. The experts keep giving differing answers.

Well prices and opinions change with time. If you factor in a set of magna grips that could fetch $600 +/- I have to think a minimum value for a gun with them is at least $1500. I am going out on a limb here and venture that if you can buy just about any RM for less than $2000 barring it's a real beater, you probably need to write the check. What may be a tad high now will be a prudent investment in the not too distant future.

 

[ltrtiger]

Thank you all for your opinions. Much appreciated. I'll be curious to see more of the history behind this revolver.

 

[nipster]

I'm really curious as to why someone would do this to the gun. I also second the person who said it's not worth trying to find the correct grips for it, just throw some N frame magna's on it and call it a day.

 

[handejector]

Question-
In the pic showing the frame dates, is that a swivel pin I see?
Is the gun drilled for a butt swivel?
If it IS, is the serial number offset?

 

[bamabiker]

Thank you all for your opinions. Much appreciated. I'll be curious to see more of the history behind this revolver.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting a RM as a gift from your Dad. Modified or not some of us would love to have it.
If you get the factory letter please let us know what it says.

 

[ltrtiger]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting a RM as a gift from your Dad. Modified or not some of us would love to have it.
If you get the factory letter please let us know what it says.

Will do. However, my main concern is finding some magna's for it. I've tried gunbroker, ebay and a couple of other site that I knew would be long shots....so far...nada. I knew this would be a challenge, but it's looking like a bigger issue than I had hoped.

 

[bamabiker]

You could place a WTB ad in the forum classifieds and see what happens.
Are you just looking for N frame magnas, diamond magnas or magnas that would have come on the RM?

 

[ltrtiger]

You could place a WTB ad in the forum classifieds and see what happens.
Are you just looking for N frame magnas, diamond magnas or magnas that would have come on the RM?

Depends on price. I suspect the magnas that would have come on the rm would be out of my reach financially. Diamonds will probably be my limit if the prices are as I've been reading about. I may have to settle for some aftermarket alternatives to take to the range though. Doesn't look like a quick find.

 

[Muley Gil]

"I'm really curious as to why someone would do this to the gun."

Are you talking about the barrel change, the rear sight change, or both?

The original barrel may have been too long for what the owner wanted to do with it (came with an 8 3/8" barrel and the owner just became a cop and needed a duty gun). Or perhaps it suffered a bulged barrel.

The rear sight? The owner read about the new, improved rear sight on the updated 1950 .357 and wanted to upgrade. Or, he damaged the original sight and when he sent it back to the factory, this is what he got.

My pappy bought a used post WW II .38 special Military & Police revolver in 1968. While firing it, the rear of the barrel split (the 13th shot out of a box of early Super Vel ammo). The shop that sold him the gun and ammo sent it to the factory and it came back with a new barrel, with the serrated ramp instead of the half moon front sight. Obviously, S&W didn't have any late '40s barrels in stock at the time of the rebarrel.

50-60 years after the fact, it's kinda hard to determine the WHY.