Introducing Factory Nickel 4” REG 1802, 100% Original But…..

[lestert357]

NOT 100% condition! [emoji22]

However with original factory nickel finish, factory fitted stag grips, a 4" barrel, and law enforcement provenance, I could not resist the Buy Now button on GB last week.

There were only 158 verified nickel Pre-war magnums according to Dr. Jinks' Registered .357 Magnums article in the S&WCA Journal Volume 44, Number 2, Summer 2010.

Let's take a tour of the details so you can see the bad and the good…..

Shipped to Town of McColl, McColl, SC on January 20, 1937 (letter incorrectly lists June 20) with a 4" barrel, McGivern front sight, "U" notch rear sight, nickel finish, stag grips fitted to the revolver (walnut Magna grips also included), with a box of .357 Magnum cartridges, and billed at the wholesale price offered to police agencies of $35.45…..

The gun was ordered on 12/15/36 by W. S. Darley & Co., a municipal supply company in Chicago, stating that they would supply the stag grips to be attached…..

Apparently the first set of stag grips that Darley shipped were lost in the mail and they had to resend a duplicate set…..

The gun was finally shipped on January 20, 1937 as listed on the shipping invoice…..

The right side grip strap shows the "N" stamp for nickel…..

There are no factory rework marks on the gun…..

All factory markings on the gun are sharp…..

All screw slots are un-marred (except the grip screw) and the side plate seam is very tight…..

The cylinder lock-up notches are razor sharp…..

All serial numbers match (including under the ejector star and crane - not pictured)…..

The original McGivern front sight and "U" notch rear sight are still in place…..

The action feels factory new, there is no end shake, lock-up is bank vault tight, and the chambers and bore are clean. But, as you can see from the marred and missing nickel finish in places, it apparently suffered some poor storage or other neglect of some kind along the way.

I cleaned it up as best I could with a little Flitz and Ren Wax, and now you can see glimpses of the gun's 1937 factory glory (click on the pictures for a closer look)…..

I am assuming that the gun was ordered by or for the McColl Chief of Police. McColl, SC is a small town of around 2000 inhabitants. I will try to find the name of the individual who was Chief back in 1937, but that may be a challenge. If any Forum members are from the McCall area, I would welcome any additional knowledge you might have in that regard. In the meantime I plan on getting this gun to the range as soon as possible!

 

[wheelgun610]

It's unfortunate that some of these old guns end up in this condition due to neglect. I've got a four inch nickeled Model of 1926 that met a similar fate, but the worst of the finish damage is limited to just the right side. Still sad...

Mark

 

[Doc44]

Terry...A very nice .357 Magnum with great provenance.

Bill

 

[Green Frog]

It's unfortunate that some of these old guns end up in this condition due to neglect. I've got a four inch nickeled Model of 1926 that met a similar fate, but the worst of the finish damage is limited to just the right side. Still sad...

Mark

I have to disagree (or at least offer an alternative point of view). Guns like this, with provenance, are themselves testimony to the jobs they have performed. This is a well used, battle scarred veteran and every scratch attests to long and honorable service. It deserves a place of honor.

Froggie

 

[burneyr]

Fabulous find! Fortunate to have all the factory documentation too.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Just a quick note for the original poster...

The is a modest website for the "Town of McColl" at marlborocounty.sc.gov

On the website is gives contact info for the current police department and Chief:
Brian Genwright, Chief
Non-Emergency Phone 843-523-5223

Give them a call. It can't hurt, and maybe you'll get some good info.

Best wishes,

Roger AKA Mr. Wonderful

 

[two-bit cowboy]

... Guns like this, with provenance, are themselves testimony to the jobs they have performed. This is a well used, battle scarred veteran and every scratch attests to long and honorable service. It deserves a place of honor.

Hear hear!

One of those places of honor would be the range.

Thanks for sharing Terry. Terrific story and .357 Magnum.

 

[SWSC]

Chief

 

[22hipower]

Great package! Love it when the documentation is available, glad you got it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[mrcvs]

Nice Registered Magnum!

I don't have any objections to the condition for a piece that was used in service.

 

[quinn]

Terry, can you spell 'ballpark"? Congrats big time!

 

[rct269]

The wholesale price of $35.45 is interesting, because in the beginning, when they very clearly wanted to sell these things direct to the consumer---and keep every last penny of the $60 retail price for themselves, the wholesale price was $47 and some odd cents.

#643 (and 644 and 645) were ordered by one man (James A. Kasperski). I guess he didn't get the memo, because he ordered them from his local gun shop (Sports, Inc.) who ordered them from Shapleigh Hardware, who ordered them from S&W, who charged the $47 and change each---leaving a whole $13 gross profit for each gun to be shared by Shapleigh and Sports, Inc. I guess S&W figured that would discourage their pesky distributors from getting involved with RM's.

I reckon the pesky distributors must have done some fussing and fuming, because that $47 business didn't last too long.

And when you consider it cost S&W $17 to make one of these things, they ended up doing alright in the long run.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[PALADIN85020]

Fantastic find! I'd treasure the battle scars!

I do have a question, though. I noticed the rear sight leaf was not checkered. Was this standard practice at the time for the .357 Magnums, or a deviation for some reason? Those I have seen/owned (27-2s) have all been checkered.

John

 

[lestert357]

Chief

SWSC, thank you very much! You are a Newspapers.com wizard!

It would seem that Chief N. W. Bullock could very likely be the first owner of REG 1802.

Anyway, I'll see what I can find on him.

 

[rincar]

I just wish these old guns could take. The story's they could tell.

 

[SWSC]

Norman NW

 

[lestert357]

REG 1802 was shipped to "The Town of McColl" in January 1937. Bullock was named Chief in July 1937. So I suppose the question becomes did the "The Town of McColl" order REG 1802 as something like a retirement gift for a previous Chief, or was Bullock already acting as Chief prior to his official appointment in July 1937? Of course all of this assumes that the gun was for the Chief, whoever that was in January 1937.

 

[RKmesa]

I noticed the rear sight leaf was not checkered. Was this standard practice at the time for the .357 Magnums, or a deviation for some reason? Those I have seen/owned (27-2s) have all been checkered.

John

John:

Unlike the post war N-Frame .357 Magnums (pre-27 and 27's), the top of the rear sight leaf on pre-war .357 Magnums was not checkered. The rear sights were custom fitted to each gun prior to checkering, the top strap was then checkered and the smooth plain rear sight was installed. The custom fitting of rear sights to each individual frame was unfortunately discontinued when post war production of target sighted guns resumed. It was replaced with the standard micrometer rear sight (one sight fits all). Here is a photo of a factory nickel NRM (one of very few known) that I used to own...

Terry:

Great gun! Thanks for sharing.

 

[SS336]

Beautiful, just beautiful! What a find. I agree it's condition just adds to the mystique and the factory fitted stags are sublime. Very cool.

 

[Doug M.]

I am not desirous of an RM, for lots of reasons, but this is a nice one. I note that in terms of the sights, this one was clearly set up for serious use. The U notch is a truly great rear sight, one I have on a couple of pistols after Hilton Yam started talking them up. The gold bead is also as good as there was before tritium dots. Whoever ordered it knew what they were doing.