Just got my first Smith

[Mike1273]

I got my first S&W revolver & interested in finding out a bit about it. I bought it from a friend that was in serious need of cash. I didn't haggle, low ball or any of that; he set the price & I paid it. Now I'm looking to find out what I can about it. I have no knowledge about Smith's, but from my last hour of internet searching I believe I have a N frame. Not even sure what that means.... It's a .357 magnum with a 4" barrel. It needs some attention cosmetically (blueing) , has a bit of rust build up on the rear sight, & the lettering on the barrel is about rubbed off due to holster drawing (me thinks). I didn't get a box or paperwork (factory supplied), as a matter of fact I got another gun in the deal he found that he didn't know he had until after the first conversation about wanting to sell this one. I will try to attach a pic. I did date it by serial # to 1954 or 1955. I hope to learn a lot here & look forward to passing what knowledge I do have on.

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum.
From the picture it looks like a Highway Patrolman. Does it say that on the right side of the barrel?
If it is and comes from 1954/55 the serial number should be somewhere between S95000 and S149999. I believe the HP started in 1954 so you may have a first year gun.
N frame was the largest frame S&W made for many years until the X frame came along a few years ago.

 

[DWalt]

If it is that early, the grips would be non-original. Diamond grips were used until the mid-late 1960s, and yours are not diamond grips. Best to provide the SN, maybe with xx for the last two digits. S-prefix SNs changed to an N-prefix in 1970.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Welcome! That looks a nice veteran to be sure,it should clean up nicely. Soak thet rear sight in Kroil or such and scrub it with a stiff nylon brush and it should clean off. Enjoy that one.

 

[Mike1273]

Thanks for the welcome & the writing on the barrel is rubbed fairly thin. All I can make out on the barrel is .357. Serial # S1219xx.

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[beagleye]

That looks great. Those stocks are non original, but I bet they work fine. The original were probably similar with a diamond in the center. You can pick up the originals on ebay or on this forum in the WTB page, but they'll set you back $75-$100 depending on condition. Does it have little strips of raised checkering on the top of the frame beside the rear sight? That would make it a pre model 27. N frame is the papa bear frame, k frame is the mama bear frame and I and j frame were/are the smaller ones.

A word on re-blueing. In general it does not improve the value of a gun particularly if you subtract the price. If you do re-blue, find a really high quality gunsmith to do it. There is nothing lower than a cheap reblue. A lot of folks including me prefer a hard working gun with honest wear to a re blue. It tells the story. Your gun as it sits is probably a 4-5 hundred dollar gun. If you shell out 2 hundred for a re blue it will be worth the same or worse if the job stinks.

Just try this, clean it up a bunch, work those rusty spots with oil and brass brush, break it down to the extent you are comfortable to learn about it. Wax it and shoot it and carry it and clean it some more. See if it doesn't grow on you as it is. It's a rugged piece of bad-*** american history. I end up way more fond of my shooter grade guns than my more pristine examples cause I am comfortable using them a lot and hard.

 

[olskool]

you have one of the best 357s ever made. it looks to be a early pre model 28 HP, the first year was 1954 i have one of that vintage, and i bet yours will shoot as great as mine does. the good thing about the 357 in the N frame is that it tames the recoil of full power loads, and with 38s it has recoil so mild a kid or women can shoot it well.

 

[DWalt]

Your serial number places it at about New Year's Day 1955.

 

[duppie]

I too am a recent first time S&W owner as I just got a pristine 27-2 with a 5 inch barrel. As much as I love the finish on my gun I really have to agree with beagleye on this one. Your gun displays honest wear that comes with time and use and after some cleaning, a little polishing and perhaps a set of period grips it will show and perform nicely.
I like my jeans worn,my Dr Martins beat up and my knives used and would be proud to own a gun like yours just as it is.
Enjoy her.

 

[Seven3]

Congrats on your first S&W, but be warned, the first one is a gateway to a serious addiction that leads to loss of disposable income, time spent at gun shows/stores/pawn shops/estate sales, and boxes full of vintage grips and leather.

Nice HP. You know, I don't have one of those, and there's a gun show next week....

 

[Mike1273]

I had no idea what I was getting. I agreed to the purchase over the phone & had never seen the gun in the 10 years I've been friends with this guy. I got it for a straight up steal according to what you guys are saying on value based on wear. I find it very appealing, personally. My initial thoughts of reblueing were based on the fact I was going to sell it to another friend, sans profit. Knowing I have such a piece of history, I'm keeping it. The original owner was a LEO & my friend was a cadet at one time & he bought it from the original owner as his side arm. As life took it's many turns he left the force but kept the gun. Now with his newest turn in life, he needed to be able to provide for his new family at Christmas. I'm glad I was able to help him with that, which was a reward within itself. Now I realize I was well rewarded with a serious piece of American firearm history. With the long weekend for the holiday, I wool get acquainted with it. I have a bunch of .38 rounds already to see how she handles. Then of course I will have to get plenty of magnum rounds to find it's favorite food. Are the magnum revolvers very ammo picky? My where's .38 snubby isn't but my .22 revolver is.

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[Tom K]

I had no idea what I was getting. I agreed to the purchase over the phone & had never seen the gun in the 10 years I've been friends with this guy. I got it for a straight up steal according to what you guys are saying on value based on wear. I find it very appealing, personally. My initial thoughts of reblueing were based on the fact I was going to sell it to another friend, sans profit. Knowing I have such a piece of history, I'm keeping it. The original owner was a LEO & my friend was a cadet at one time & he bought it from the original owner as his side arm. As life took it's many turns he left the force but kept the gun. Now with his newest turn in life, he needed to be able to provide for his new family at Christmas. I'm glad I was able to help him with that, which was a reward within itself. Now I realize I was well rewarded with a serious piece of American firearm history. With the long weekend for the holiday, I wool get acquainted with it. I have a bunch of .38 rounds already to see how she handles. Then of course I will have to get plenty of magnum rounds to find it's favorite food. Are the magnum revolvers very ammo picky? My where's .38 snubby isn't but my .22 revolver is.

If you can afford to keep it and not sell it off, do so. When your friend gets his financial feet back under himself he may regret having sold the gun and wish to have it back - happens all the time. Might be a year, might be ten. If you still have the gun and can sell it back for what you bought it for, he will be grateful. If your fortunes have improved and you can gift it back, that can be very satisfying too.

In the meantime, you get to enjoy the use of a great gun.

 

[beagleye]

My experience shooting special loads in magnum chambers is that they can be a little more finicky. Others may disagree. Make sure and clean the chamber throats well for lead and carbon. It can build up in that little step.