Yes. It's the same S/N as appears on the butt. As for how he found it, he's got some friends who are old time enthusiasts and for whatever reason, one was selling this revolver. He thought I might like it so....and yes, I did thank him!!
Help identifying S&W 357 mag
- Thread starter ltrtiger
- Start date
Yes. It's the same S/N as appears on the butt. As for how he found it, he's got some friends who are old time enthusiasts and for whatever reason, one was selling this revolver. He thought I might like it so....and yes, I did thank him!!
Lefkiguy
Member
S&W used to stamp the original serial number on the replacement barrel when the work was done by them, I have a revolver like that worked on in 1970. So the barrel was changed on one of the two dates stamped on the frame. Great gift from your dad.
keith44spl
Member
ltrtiger,
Nice ol family gun. You know, one can't put a dollar figger on something like that....And Welcome to the Forum.
*Don't take ol SP's (Sour Puss) appraisal to seriously, none of the rest of us do.
Su Amigo,
Dave
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I'm just being honest. I don't want him to hear that an RM sells for $3,000 - $5,000 and assume his is worth that much. I would want to know the truth, wouldn't you? Like I said, it's a great heirloom. My mother sold all of my dad's guns when he died and I'd give anything to have his WWII issue 1911 or the 1st Gen Colt SAA that I know he had from the family photo album... regardless of condition.
ltrtiger- Any set of N frame stocks should fit. The best choice would be a set of pre-war Magnas but at $500+ I would not spend it. The 1946-1967 "diamond Magnas" look great and can be had for $150 +/-. Post 1967 standard Magnas will go for around $75 and will work but won't have as much panache as the early ones. I personally don't care for target style stocks on the short barrel revolvers.
It is a very cool gun. It has no collector value, however due to the modifications.
ltrtiger- Any set of N frame stocks should fit. The best choice would be a set of pre-war Magnas but at $500+ I would not spend it. The 1946-1967 "diamond Magnas" look great and can be had for $150 +/-. Post 1967 standard Magnas will go for around $75 and will work but won't have as much panache as the early ones. I personally don't care for target style stocks on the short barrel revolvers.
It is a very cool gun. It has no collector value, however due to the modifications.
Deacon KC
Member
Great gift from your Dad, treasure it always.
Dave T
Member
I've asked this question about other "valuations". I'd like to see all (any of) the factory re-worked Registered Magnums you can buy for $600. I'll get in line to buy one. I'm too slow to beat the other folks on here who will buy one but I'll be in line for one of them!
Dave
Dave
handejector
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Welcome aboard.
That is a neat gun.
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?
I'll add a bit of data-
Forget the "27". That is what we have come to call a "Registered Magnum".
In its day, the factory simply cataloged it as the ".357 Magnum".
The barrel is likely either the original that was cut or a factory replacement since it is numbered to the gun.
It is not true that all collector value is gone. Reg Mags hold it better than most guns. If the gun has interesting history, it has collector value, altered or not. Ed McGivern had his 5 inch cut to 3-1/2" outside the factory and ground one side of the hammer spur away on the Hump Back Hammer. Let's just say I proved it was still QUITE valuable!
Even if the gun has no interesting original owner or history, it is still a Reg Mag. There are people on this board who would write you a check today for $500 or more for that hammer alone!
I can't appraise it from your pics, but even with an altered/replaced barrel and a factory reblue, that gun would probably bring $1000-2000 in the recovering market of today. I have sold factory rebarreled/reblued Mags for above 2000.
That is a neat gun.
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?
I'll add a bit of data-
Forget the "27". That is what we have come to call a "Registered Magnum".
In its day, the factory simply cataloged it as the ".357 Magnum".
The barrel is likely either the original that was cut or a factory replacement since it is numbered to the gun.
It is not true that all collector value is gone. Reg Mags hold it better than most guns. If the gun has interesting history, it has collector value, altered or not. Ed McGivern had his 5 inch cut to 3-1/2" outside the factory and ground one side of the hammer spur away on the Hump Back Hammer. Let's just say I proved it was still QUITE valuable!
Even if the gun has no interesting original owner or history, it is still a Reg Mag. There are people on this board who would write you a check today for $500 or more for that hammer alone!
I can't appraise it from your pics, but even with an altered/replaced barrel and a factory reblue, that gun would probably bring $1000-2000 in the recovering market of today. I have sold factory rebarreled/reblued Mags for above 2000.
29aholic
Member
Welcome to the Forum
You have a great gun as most of the others have posted. I too would go into debt to buy every $600 RM I could find. I too have an RM with a chopped barrel (4 1/2") and I love it. You really need to shoot that gun, I can just about guarantee it will outshoot anything in your safe.
A word on the grips. It may or may not have shipped with Magna's (the letter would tell). If it came with service grips while still pricey are a lot cheaper than Magna's. Post war frames are a tad narrower than pre war guns so if you put a set of post war grips on it you may have to do a little fitting or you will have gaps between the grip horns and the sideplates.
You also need to contact the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation for further information that may be available on your gun. They have digitized all the records and correspondence from the factory for the production period the RM was manufactured in. You may not turn up anything, or if your lucky you may find a wealth of info of which you will receive copies. See the subforum of this area (1896-1961) for more info.
You have a great gun as most of the others have posted. I too would go into debt to buy every $600 RM I could find. I too have an RM with a chopped barrel (4 1/2") and I love it. You really need to shoot that gun, I can just about guarantee it will outshoot anything in your safe.
A word on the grips. It may or may not have shipped with Magna's (the letter would tell). If it came with service grips while still pricey are a lot cheaper than Magna's. Post war frames are a tad narrower than pre war guns so if you put a set of post war grips on it you may have to do a little fitting or you will have gaps between the grip horns and the sideplates.
You also need to contact the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation for further information that may be available on your gun. They have digitized all the records and correspondence from the factory for the production period the RM was manufactured in. You may not turn up anything, or if your lucky you may find a wealth of info of which you will receive copies. See the subforum of this area (1896-1961) for more info.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
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.
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
Member
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.
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
Staff member
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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?
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
Member
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
Member
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?
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.
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