Pre-War 357 Magnum Appreciation Thread

After the last couples of days, I'm sure everyone is sick of seeing these two. At least I haven't posted this picture yet :D

RM #3270 with a 4.5" barrel on the left. RM #274 with a 4" barrel on the right.

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I can't top that, but I have this photo -- previously posted sometime ago -- of an R.M. that came to visit my N.R.M. one nice Saturday afternoon last year.



It's a 4-incher as opposed to my 5 incher. It's the only time I've had two Pre-war's together here in the house. There is another 3.5 incher out there we are trolling for, but it's not a sure thing.
 
I'll add mine to the pile.. :D RM # 379 shipped August 27th 1935.

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Hello ditrina
Was your RM retured to S&W for that Baughman sight or was it sent to King for it ? If I am Not Mistaken they did not have the Baughman sight offering until Federal Agen Frank Baughman sent in his mechainical drawing for it a Year or Two after they came out with the R.M. Have you checked the S&WHF for any record's on this Gun ? The reason I ask is my Gun shipped in December 1935 and there was discussion between the Buyer and S&W back then through a latter that Charles Bowen wrote to them at what sight they would recommend ? Their response was a Partidge sight and that is what mine got that has a 3-1/2" Barrel. I kind of like the Patridge sight blade it show's up well when shooting Targets for me. Regards, Hammerdown
 
My first two RM's. These two are out of the Ray Cheely collection, so I am sure many of you have seen them recently. I apologize in advance for the bad photos. I'm both a bit nervous and giddy with these, so please excuse!

RM 648 - 6 1/2" barrel, white outline, King reflector, box
RM 2937 - 6" barrel, grip adapter, certificate
 

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This thread is so awesome it makes me sad.......It makes me realize just how mundane my collection is without one of these guns :(

Bump this baby to the top so we can see some more :)
 
My Three

I'll add my contribution to the thread.

Reg. Magnum 48341 (Reg# 1060) with 6 1/2 inch barrel, shipped in May 1936 to Andrew Palmer. Set includes a separate cylinder chambered for .38 Special cartridges. Mr. Palmer was a close friend of Ed McGivern as indicated in one of the letters between Mr. Palmer and D.B Wesson.

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Next is a Reg. Magnum 58933 (Reg# 4953) with 8 3/4 inch barrel, Roper Stocks, shipped in July 1939 to The Barstow Store in Massena NY.

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Finally, a non registered magnum 61436 with 6 1/2 inch barrel shipped in April 1940 to Paul S. Linforth Co. in San Francisco Ca.

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Tom, Was that RM reblued??
Regardless, that thing is GORGEOUS!:D

Candrews,
Nope, it is original and in nearly perfect condition. It was purchased by a police sgt armorer for an elected official in the northeast. My guess is it was a safe queen and not a duty weapon.
Thank you for the compliment.
 
Non-Reg .357 Mag

Here is one I found at the gun shop. Had a 1977 era letter with it that had it shipped to the City of Nashville, Tenn.
Before I took the grips off, I thought I had a real diamond. How many non-regs were made in nickle? 7-10? Maybe.
Was returned to S & W and refinished from blue to nickle in January of 1977. Has the marks to prove that. I don't think it has been fired since. I talked them down quite a bit from the price they were asking for it.
I found the correct stocks at a show in Portland Oregon last week-end, so the older gold emblem ones in the pictures are now replaced. It's a five inch. Serial # 61301. Shipped 7-25-1940.

I am a crappy photographer, but here she is.

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Registered Magnum from 1936. 6-1/2" barrel.

No registration letter or box. I need to order a factory letter for it.

Kings red disc front sight and white outline U-notch rear. Unfortunately the red disc is broken off and someone replaced it with a glued on small red bead, which has been crumbling over the years and finally fell off. Need to find dimensions of the insert so I can replicate the original red disc. There is a hole on top of the sight housing so I assume it was pinned in place. Someone dropped this gun at one point, as the corner of the rear leaf sight has some damage. Fortunately the sight and screws are fully functional and no other damage occured.

A previous owner wrote his name and address under the grips. Don't know if he was the original owner. I've left the paper in place.

I've owned this gun for somewhere around 25 years, and shot it in competition, plinking, packed it big game hunting and used it for small game. Going to take it varmint hunting this spring, and try to pop a coyote with it as well. It's a bit slow for combat style shooting due to the fine sights, but they are outstanding for precise shooting.

Accurate is excellent. The trigger pull is the second best of my N-frames, being beaten slightly by a bi-color Model 29.

BTW, this is my first post here. Used to collect N-frames, but the collection has been pared down over the years. Kept the cream of the crop.
 
...this is my first post here. Used to collect N-frames, but the collection has been pared down over the years. Kept the cream of the crop.

First of all - Welcome to the Forum! Second - what great 1st post and a beautiful RM that almost 80 years after it left the factory is still being used for what it was intended to be used for.:)

Thanks for sharing,
 
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Registered Magnum from 1936. 6-1/2" barrel.

No registration letter or box. I need to order a factory letter for it.

Kings red disc front sight and white outline U-notch rear. Unfortunately the red disc is broken off and someone replaced it with a glued on small red bead, which has been crumbling over the years and finally fell off. Need to find dimensions of the insert so I can replicate the original red disc. There is a hole on top of the sight housing so I assume it was pinned in place. Someone dropped this gun at one point, as the corner of the rear leaf sight has some damage. Fortunately the sight and screws are fully functional and no other damage occured.

A previous owner wrote his name and address under the grips. Don't know if he was the original owner. I've left the paper in place.

I've owned this gun for somewhere around 25 years, and shot it in competition, plinking, packed it big game hunting and used it for small game. Going to take it varmint hunting this spring, and try to pop a coyote with it as well. It's a bit slow for combat style shooting due to the fine sights, but they are outstanding for precise shooting.

Accurate is excellent. The trigger pull is the second best of my N-frames, being beaten slightly by a bi-color Model 29.

BTW, this is my first post here. Used to collect N-frames, but the collection has been pared down over the years. Kept the cream of the crop.



Very nice. We are going to need a pic of the "bi-color" 29 too ;)
 
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I forgot about this thread – I will add my latest. Shipped in 1939 with an 8 ¾ barrel but was returned to the factory in Oct. 1946 and the barrel shortened to 3 ½. The red ramp was added later.
 
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