For a while now, I have yearned for an early model 19 variation. Even if I landed a boxed mint 19-1, I knew I wanted to have a “Combat Magnum” aka pre 19 as well. You don’t see them around much, and very simply, they were first! I have always been a fan of the Combat Magnum, having owned a PA State Police 75th commemorative model 19 and an early model 66 myself. I once read the Combat Magnum described as “everything you need, and nothing that you don’t” and I always thought that line fit this revolver model perfectly. I was never a big fan of the L frame 357s although I do have one. The N frame 357s are of course classic, but sometimes you want something a little handier than the mighty N frame.
Anyways, while browsing an online auction house, I located the below revolver. I recognized right away that there was a mistake; the SN listed for the revolver was K264XXX while the model was listed as a “19-3.” It became obvious that the tag on the shipping carton was spurious.
I was of course hoping that this error would work out in my favor. A factory engraved 19-3 is a special gun, but that pales in comparison to a factory engraved Combat Magnum (pre 19). After studying the style of the engraving, I speculated that the gun could be engraved by Harry Jarvis, or perhaps Virginia LeBlanc. I was not super confident that it was LeBlanc, only because guns that she engraved are few and far between. I later found out from one of our S&W members, that Jarvis actually mentored LeBlanc, which explains why their engraving styles are somewhat similar. Luckily, I won the revolver for a reasonable sum of money.
Yesterday the gun finally arrived. It came with this relined 1970s display case. I wish it came with a black leatherette case, but hey, I’m not complaining
When I learned that LeBlanc was a distinct possibility, I of course was hoping that she signed this particular revolver, although I accepted that factory engraved S&Ws are commonly not signed.
Here are the pics, enjoy
When I went to my friend's gunshop to get the revolver, I had my fingers crossed that it would be signed by LeBlanc, and lo and behold...
I would love to eventually have an Alvin White S&W, a Russ Smith, etc but finding a LeBlanc S&W is special because they are seldom seen. I was only able to find a few examples (approx. 5 revolvers) of S&Ws she did that have been on this forum. Aside from the scarcity of her engraving, engraved Combat Magnums are also seldom seen. Out of her contemporaries (Smith, White, Jarvis and Rentzschke) I would say that LeBlanc and Rentzschke S&Ws are seen far less frequently than the likes of Smith, White, and Jarvis.
Information on LeBlanc was not easy to come by. She apparently started with S&W in the early 1950s, and was doing pieces by 1955 or a little before. She was mentored by Jarvis, as I stated before. Jarvis retired in 1958 after being with S&W since 1905. If I had to guess, LeBlanc likely had a short stint with S&W. Every S&W I was able to find online of hers shipped 1955 to 1958 or so. I was not able to find any S&Ws she did later than the 1950s. A S&W collector friend of mine speculated that she may have worked only part time, which makes sense as well.
Here is a pic of LeBlanc taken from Images of America: Smith & Wesson.
Finally, I too have a Combat Magnum
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Update - 3-4-16
A while back I finally got the letter for this Combat Magnum! I was very pleased that it lettered perfectly and was not surprised it went to H.H. Harris. I had to get new shoes for it since those diamond targets that were on it from the auction house were not cutting it. Because the gun shipped with goncalo alves, I figured goncalo alves unrelieved presentation stocks would be ideal. Luckily a friend of mine had a like new set, and after a little negotiation, I got the stocks
Anyways, while browsing an online auction house, I located the below revolver. I recognized right away that there was a mistake; the SN listed for the revolver was K264XXX while the model was listed as a “19-3.” It became obvious that the tag on the shipping carton was spurious.
I was of course hoping that this error would work out in my favor. A factory engraved 19-3 is a special gun, but that pales in comparison to a factory engraved Combat Magnum (pre 19). After studying the style of the engraving, I speculated that the gun could be engraved by Harry Jarvis, or perhaps Virginia LeBlanc. I was not super confident that it was LeBlanc, only because guns that she engraved are few and far between. I later found out from one of our S&W members, that Jarvis actually mentored LeBlanc, which explains why their engraving styles are somewhat similar. Luckily, I won the revolver for a reasonable sum of money.
Yesterday the gun finally arrived. It came with this relined 1970s display case. I wish it came with a black leatherette case, but hey, I’m not complaining
When I learned that LeBlanc was a distinct possibility, I of course was hoping that she signed this particular revolver, although I accepted that factory engraved S&Ws are commonly not signed. Here are the pics, enjoy
When I went to my friend's gunshop to get the revolver, I had my fingers crossed that it would be signed by LeBlanc, and lo and behold...
I would love to eventually have an Alvin White S&W, a Russ Smith, etc but finding a LeBlanc S&W is special because they are seldom seen. I was only able to find a few examples (approx. 5 revolvers) of S&Ws she did that have been on this forum. Aside from the scarcity of her engraving, engraved Combat Magnums are also seldom seen. Out of her contemporaries (Smith, White, Jarvis and Rentzschke) I would say that LeBlanc and Rentzschke S&Ws are seen far less frequently than the likes of Smith, White, and Jarvis.
Information on LeBlanc was not easy to come by. She apparently started with S&W in the early 1950s, and was doing pieces by 1955 or a little before. She was mentored by Jarvis, as I stated before. Jarvis retired in 1958 after being with S&W since 1905. If I had to guess, LeBlanc likely had a short stint with S&W. Every S&W I was able to find online of hers shipped 1955 to 1958 or so. I was not able to find any S&Ws she did later than the 1950s. A S&W collector friend of mine speculated that she may have worked only part time, which makes sense as well.
Here is a pic of LeBlanc taken from Images of America: Smith & Wesson.
Finally, I too have a Combat Magnum
====================================================================================
Update - 3-4-16
A while back I finally got the letter for this Combat Magnum! I was very pleased that it lettered perfectly and was not surprised it went to H.H. Harris. I had to get new shoes for it since those diamond targets that were on it from the auction house were not cutting it. Because the gun shipped with goncalo alves, I figured goncalo alves unrelieved presentation stocks would be ideal. Luckily a friend of mine had a like new set, and after a little negotiation, I got the stocks
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