Usmc5811
US Veteran
I hope you get that beauty this morning. I think I would have been camped out on the shop owners front stoop....probably all weekend.
Not Sure About This .357 Magnum?
- Thread starter AZBonecrusher
- Start date
I'm standing at the door but no one is here yet. 
- Joined
- May 6, 2009
- Messages
- 2,925
- Reaction score
- 4,200
Just as an aside-IMHO the S&W Model 27 and it's non-model numbered cousins are the best big bore handguns made. I like them much better than the highly regarded Colt Pythons. Its a win/win both collectable and great guns.
Nesmith
Member
Rear sight checkering
Should this vintage .357 (pre-27) have a checkered rear sight? The rear sight on this .357 appears to not be checkered. I have read that the pre-war .357 did not have a checkered rear sight. If so, this particular specimen likely has a pre-war rear sight that hid in the parts bin for a few years. Just wondering about the rear sight - and my eyesight.
Should this vintage .357 (pre-27) have a checkered rear sight? The rear sight on this .357 appears to not be checkered. I have read that the pre-war .357 did not have a checkered rear sight. If so, this particular specimen likely has a pre-war rear sight that hid in the parts bin for a few years. Just wondering about the rear sight - and my eyesight.
Yes, it should have a checkered rear sight. It appears to be wearing a replacement from another N frame. The M28 rear sight is smooth.
Nesmith
Member
Additional reading leads me to think that the pre-war .357 had the smooth, high-polish, contoured rear sight leaf. There are also references to these sight leaves being narrower than the post-war rear sight leaves, whether grooved or checkered. Sorry to drag everyone along my slow learning curve.
From earlier learning sessions, it is quite likely that this .357 made it out the factory door with a grooved instead of checkered rear sight for a number of possible reasons.
From earlier learning sessions, it is quite likely that this .357 made it out the factory door with a grooved instead of checkered rear sight for a number of possible reasons.
Big Cholla
Member
Don't fail to purchase this handgun this morning! That is a treasure and is not to be passed up. When you get it home remove the stocks (grips) and check for a serial number on one of them.
I would have a competent armorer/gunsmith remove the side plate for a cleaning and lubrication along with the usual armorer's check. If you can do that without scratches or buggering the screw heads ..... have at it.
We would really like to see more pictures...........
I would have a competent armorer/gunsmith remove the side plate for a cleaning and lubrication along with the usual armorer's check. If you can do that without scratches or buggering the screw heads ..... have at it.
We would really like to see more pictures...........
Mehutch
Member
Oooh that wood block! Wooooood block....
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll?
Considering the condition of the rest of the gun I find it unlikely that the rear sight is not checkered. It's just that from the angle that we are viewing it, we can only see the grooves that run along the length of the sight. The topstrap of the frame and barrel also only look grooved from this angle, to me. I'd guess it's righteous.
policerevolvercollector
Member
Enough talking .... buy it NOW!!! ( or I'm going to hack the GPS on your phone and find out where it is!!) 
Last edited:
THE PILGRIM
Member
Got that right!
This gun is super desirable, near new condition , box and all.
A gun re-seller - speculator - gunshow guy will buy this one at this price.
Been going into gun stores, pawnshops, etc for over 50 years.
Don't recall ever seeing one of these in this condition.
This gun is super desirable, near new condition , box and all.
A gun re-seller - speculator - gunshow guy will buy this one at this price.
Been going into gun stores, pawnshops, etc for over 50 years.
Don't recall ever seeing one of these in this condition.
Pretty common practice at S&W. Here's mine with box numbered to gun. Plenty of room for that wooden block. Also have a 4" Combat Masterpiece with numbered 6" box, they just pasted a tag over the end calling it 4".
Regards,
Bruce
codenamedave
Member
Surveilance video caught AZBonecrusher on his way to the shop, meeting JSR III:
Hence the wood block. Kinda like finding the factory chalk marks on your muscle car.
Hence the wood block. Kinda like finding the factory chalk marks on your muscle car.
Last edited:
OP
AZBonecrusher
Member
More Photos!
Well, the .357 Magnum Revolver (see photos)is now secured in my name and will hopefully be in my collection next month.
I really want to thank everyone for their comments, expertise and advice.
Lord willing, this will be my first Smith and Wesson Revolver and hopefully not my last.
God Bless America!
Well, the .357 Magnum Revolver (see photos)is now secured in my name and will hopefully be in my collection next month.
I really want to thank everyone for their comments, expertise and advice.
Lord willing, this will be my first Smith and Wesson Revolver and hopefully not my last.
God Bless America!
Attachments
Congrats! Finally the waiting is over...haha. I haven't seen that much build up for a gun purchase in awhile lol.
Congratulations ! You started off with a bang.
Regards,
Bruce
Regards,
Bruce
Engine49guy
Member
Nice find
(hook is set with sound of reel playing out in background zzzzzzzzzzzzzzeee)
Interestingly all of the S 155 serial range guns seem to be .38/44 Heavy Duty's (Pre-M20's) with a sprinkling of .44 Magnums.
My closest two serials are .44 Magnums just above and just below your serial and both shipped in 1957.
(hook is set with sound of reel playing out in background zzzzzzzzzzzzzzeee)
Interestingly all of the S 155 serial range guns seem to be .38/44 Heavy Duty's (Pre-M20's) with a sprinkling of .44 Magnums.
My closest two serials are .44 Magnums just above and just below your serial and both shipped in 1957.
Congrats! Enjoy it. Collecting Smith & Wesson revolvers is
a sickness. It's all down hill from here.
a sickness. It's all down hill from here.
lonegunman762x51
US Veteran
Remind yourself to never tell these guys the name of the shop that has your gun. That gun would have left with me at first sight, pre-27's are my favorite. I have my Dad's and a few others in my collection.
Several years ago, my favorite shop had a 6.5" gun and while I was filling out paperwork he went in the back and got a 3.5" gun to show me, two pre-27's in one purchase. Score.
Several years ago, my favorite shop had a 6.5" gun and while I was filling out paperwork he went in the back and got a 3.5" gun to show me, two pre-27's in one purchase. Score.
Frank46
US Veteran
Beautiful revolver. now the waiting begins. By the way, that short video of the cat being run over by another cat is priceless. Love the expression on his or her face. What happened???. Frank
You guys love gun porn so much, that was just foreplay.....
Congratulations on your first S&W. Based on the prices of the 9MM Shields in the case below, I would say you did very well. Another example that many in the world believe that the black plastic guns are more precious than the older revolvers.
When will they ever learn.......
Dillyp
Member
Congratulations on Procuring your first S&W revolver. It is a dandy.
Also, congratulations on winning this years "We all hate you" award, for procuring such a fine firearm before I could
Also, congratulations on winning this years "We all hate you" award, for procuring such a fine firearm before I could
Lucky you! Congratulations! 
The downside is... you are going to have a heck of a time improving on that purchase as your collection/accumulation progresses.
The downside is... you are going to have a heck of a time improving on that purchase as your collection/accumulation progresses.
THE PILGRIM
Member
That's exactly what I was thinking!
When you start at the top, there's not much up available.
And the up that is available is going to cost more than $1,000.
A lot more.
On the other hand-
Plenty of down to go round!
When you start at the top, there's not much up available.
And the up that is available is going to cost more than $1,000.
A lot more.
On the other hand-
Plenty of down to go round!
Last edited:
That's one heck of a way to start out in the world of Smith & Wesson! Well done.
I scored this one locally a while back for $626.
I scored this one locally a while back for $626.
Last edited:
codenamedave
Member
^ Dang that was a steal!
It's a gif I found somewhere running around the webs. If you look at the right edge where the running cat starts, you'll see it was lying down when it saw the other one and charged. I think it was just being a cat!
It's a gif I found somewhere running around the webs. If you look at the right edge where the running cat starts, you'll see it was lying down when it saw the other one and charged. I think it was just being a cat!
OP
