Oh my goodness, what an incredible holster rig setup!
All loaded up it must weigh 20 pounds. Thanks so much for sharing.
All loaded up it must weigh 20 pounds. Thanks so much for sharing.
Leo H. Rice’s 1st Year 4.5” Consecutive Reg# RM Matched Pair
- Thread starter lestert357
- Start date
Old Leo is probably looking down and smiling.
Terry:
I love the rig!!!
I love the rig!!!
Just outstanding Terry. Almost speechless (pretty rare for a lawyer). Great story, great rig. Oh yeah, the guns......
LittleCooner
Member
Fantastic. thanks for sharing
Didn't Mr. Rice know that registered magnums are great collector pieces and weren't supposed to be carried or even shot? 
I think the holster wear gives those guns great character. Would love to put a cylinder (or 10) through one of them.
I think the holster wear gives those guns great character. Would love to put a cylinder (or 10) through one of them.Fantastic guns and the custom holster/belt rig you had made up just puts it far over the top. Congratulations! After rereading the whole write up again today, it got me to wonder why would Leo Rice go through a large hardware in Maine when he lived in Iowa? Surely there must have been companies around Iowa that handled S&W? Was there some thing special about the one in Maine? Like I said, just got to thinking about it and wondering.
I too was wondering about the Iowa/Maine thing... my best idea was, it was the era of mail-order, Sears and Wards, etc. Possibly a look at period magazines might reveal some ads from the Maine dealer?
Moorhead ain't all that far from Omaha, but for a farmer working a 72 hour week and reading gun mags in the outhouse, who cares where it mails from as long as the postman can make it down your muddy lane?
Moorhead ain't all that far from Omaha, but for a farmer working a 72 hour week and reading gun mags in the outhouse, who cares where it mails from as long as the postman can make it down your muddy lane?
fishingfox
Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2019
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
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Absolutely amazing post and pistols. I'm 78 years old and had an orgasm. LOL! -}
-}
OP
Consecutive reg numbers AND consecutive serial numbers
Ed, WOW! Intriguing post! I’ll bet a lot of Forum members, me included, would like to see more pictures and information on your RM consecutive set. It certainly sounds like they are worthy of a separate thread.
I am fortunate enough to own a pair of S&W registered magnums that have consecutive reg numbers AND consecutive serial numbers. These were presented to a gentleman at the Springfield Armory along with a very plain holster. I also have one of the original boxes. These guns were part of a 15 registered magnum order placed by the armory, and I'm sure they were selected for presentation because of the consecutive serial numbers and consecutive reg numbers. In doing research on these registered magnum revolvers so far it appears that the consecutive serial and reg numbers may be unique. The box has the date (9-24-37) and the name of the Inspector in Charge (E. O. Hallock) and the back of the box has the little label with the serial and reg numbers of one of the guns. I would be very happy to learn who the original recipient of these guns was, but so far that information has eluded me. Ed
Ed, WOW! Intriguing post! I’ll bet a lot of Forum members, me included, would like to see more pictures and information on your RM consecutive set. It certainly sounds like they are worthy of a separate thread.
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The quintessential pair of RMs.
The one that went back to S&W to fix the glitch in the action; is it marked with a date on the left side of grip frame or the star?
The one that went back to S&W to fix the glitch in the action; is it marked with a date on the left side of grip frame or the star?
OP
Jim, no, the RM that was returned for adjustment (Reg# 447) was not marked in any way, at least externally, as far as I can tell. Reg# 447 is the lower RM in all of the pictures below. The guns appear to be identically marked as they originally left the factory in 1935. I do notice a punch dot over the “B” on the right side grip strap on BOTH guns (3rd picture below), but I’m not sure what that signifies.
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Punch dots are used to indicate it was test fired. Although I haven't seen the dot in that location, over the years the dots moved around:
PUNCH DOTS after test firing at the factory:
These marks are made by the test shooters to show that the gun had gone through the range and was test fired.
A tiny P was the first mark used after test firing. You will see it on the top break revolvers generally under the cylinder and in the front lower corner of the cyl window on Triple Locks. Later on the left side of the grip frame’s front strap, near the top, just below the stock circle under the stocks there are two tiny round punch marks. Also can be a single punch mark on left side grip frame.
In the 1950’s period, two dots will be found in the front lower corner of the cyl window.
PUNCH DOTS after test firing at the factory:
These marks are made by the test shooters to show that the gun had gone through the range and was test fired.
A tiny P was the first mark used after test firing. You will see it on the top break revolvers generally under the cylinder and in the front lower corner of the cyl window on Triple Locks. Later on the left side of the grip frame’s front strap, near the top, just below the stock circle under the stocks there are two tiny round punch marks. Also can be a single punch mark on left side grip frame.
In the 1950’s period, two dots will be found in the front lower corner of the cyl window.
dpast32
Member
'WOW', is, & was my initial thought upon viewing this Thread ! I'm certain that someone has already suggested this, but just in case, the O/P's Post is truly worth an in-depth, comprehensive arrive in the S&W Collector's Magazine !! THANK YOU to the O/P for his time & effort in sharing all this wonderful information with us.
Best, dpast32
Best, dpast32
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OP
Thanks to everyone for the appreciative comments above!
I did submit an article on this pair earlier this month, and it was accepted for publication in a future SWCA Journal.
I did submit an article on this pair earlier this month, and it was accepted for publication in a future SWCA Journal.
StrawHat
Member
Absolutely amazing! And I am one of the very few who really doesn’t consider the RM to be the Holy Grail.
Thank you for finding that pair a giving us the remarkable write up you provided.
Kevin
Thank you for finding that pair a giving us the remarkable write up you provided.
Kevin
R61414
Member
Wow, what a story! From the Registered Magnums themselves, to the documentation, to the history of the original owner, to the beautiful new holster rig. Best thread I have ever read on the forum. Simply amazing!
