Question on a Registered Magnum

[epidoc]

I was looking at a RM made in 1937. It had been returned to the factory in the 1950's and refinished. The letter said the barrel had also been replaced.

I know the refinishing hurts the value, but does the replacement barrel hurt value further?

 

[epidoc]

I was looking at a RM made in 1937. It had been returned to the factory in the 1950's and refinished. The letter said the barrel had also been replaced.

I know the refinishing hurts the value, but does the replacement barrel hurt value further?

 

[rburg]

Probably not. Its not uncommon to have a postwar barrel installed. While it certainly doesn't help the value, once an RM gets to the refinishing stage, its hit rock bottom. The news isn't all bad, but its not worth nearly as much as if it were original. I'd guess the value at maybe $1500. Depending on things like the grips and maybe other features, that number could go up or down.

 

[Art Doc]

The history letter said the barrel was replaced? I have never seen a letter that mentioned repairs.

Have you confirmed the barrel is not original? Is the serial in the shroud? Is the front sight set back a bit from the muzzle or is it the post-war style at the very end of the barrel?

 

[feralmerril]

Saxon pig, I lettered this triplelock and the factory confirmed that it was sent back to the factory in 1949 and in 1950 to have the target sights put on.

 

[feralmerril]

I just scanned the last page of my letter. I had sent roy pictures of the tripplelock, I knew the grips werent original, was sure the sights probley werent, and it that it was dated with the star on the frame. Letter id dated january 30th 2006. I have owned the gun since about 1970. Sorry letter came out small, hope you know how to magnify it, I dont!

 

[epidoc]

I saw the gun at the Reno gunshow. The owner had the letter with it, and it mentioned the gun had been refinished and the barrel replaced. I did not take the time (nor have adequate light with my old eyes) to see if the barrel was serial numbered to the pistol. The owner was asking $4500 for it. It was one of the pistols sent to the New Hampshire State police on September 21, 1937.

 

[smith17]

Feral:
I may be wrong here. However, what I read into your letter is what Roy regurgitated back to you regarding stamps for rework. I don't see anything about the sight being replaced on those trips back. Probably were but your response to SP indicates that you got additional rework information with your factory letter. I think that you got back confirmation that it had been sent back on two dates. There have been a couple of posts recently asking if specific rework info is included in factory letters and I think the answer still appears to be 'no'. No offense sent with this opinion. Your gun is nice.
Ed

 

[mikepriwer]

Ed, and others

There are repair records, that are in date order. Sometimes
Roy can find the repair record, if he has the date, and the
time to look it up.

I agree with your interpretation of the TL letter. He simply
confirmed that those are repair dates, and indeed, he did not
say what was done on those dates.

In the case of the RM, it would be interesting to learn what
is in the letter. Its possible that Roy found the repair in the
records, and could tell that the barrel was replaced.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[feralmerril]

Your probley right. I sent pictures to roy, also told him all the frame markings and I got is what I got. Wonder why it was returned the following year! The sight is s&w, but not on the gun when new.

 

[smith17]

Feral:
About a year ago there was a thread about the discovery by a chap in Florida of a K-22/40 which had a star on its butt and had two dates stamped on the left grip frame. The owner at the time swore the finish was the original one so it must have been a repair, modification, etc. The dates were consecutive months in the same year. Comments ran the gamut but I think the consensus was that the original owner must have been picky about what he wanted the factory to do. In the meantime, the pre-war magnas that were lettered to the gun disappeared. <STRIKE>I had heck finding a decent pair</STRIKE> I hope the new owner was able to find some nice ones as I heard the gun sold to a very nice individual.

Mike:
I thought that Roy had to have the name of the person sending a gun in for repair and the date in order to track it down. Maybe not?

Ed

 

[feralmerril]

Thanks ed