A couple of years back, I bought a beater of a 3.5" Registered Magnum at a Rock Island "parts" auction, more or less. This gun had an improper, and broken hammer, import marks, a badly overbuffed sideplate, and was just a hot mess, right down to Pachmyr grips that left me with a little bit of anxiety as to whether someone had decided to round butt the gun, til I had it in hand.
Once I had it in hand, my anxiety increased as I didn't think the sideplate was going to be salvageable without welding it up, and then wasn't at all sure if the weld would blue to match.
Over time, things came together. My good friend Bobby Tyler studied on the gun for a while and decided he would resurrect the sideplate without welding, and was excited about the notion of full coverage engraving on a 3.5" Registered Magnum, especially one so far removed from "original" condition.
I was able to acquire and Bobby refinished a correct hammer and trigger from a forum member here (thanks again!). Repro S&W medallions, likewise. Bobby stabilized some clear mammoth ivory, the closest I've seen to elephant with a great grain. Ricky Sharp did full coverage engraving. The only part on the gun that still sort of needs replacing is the rear sight assembly (not easy to find), though I did have a good supply of King rear blades to regulate the gun. Somewhere, I have some before pictures, but the end result - a "pretty nice shooter". I intend to use it the rest of my days or its days, whichever comes first.
Once I had it in hand, my anxiety increased as I didn't think the sideplate was going to be salvageable without welding it up, and then wasn't at all sure if the weld would blue to match.
Over time, things came together. My good friend Bobby Tyler studied on the gun for a while and decided he would resurrect the sideplate without welding, and was excited about the notion of full coverage engraving on a 3.5" Registered Magnum, especially one so far removed from "original" condition.
I was able to acquire and Bobby refinished a correct hammer and trigger from a forum member here (thanks again!). Repro S&W medallions, likewise. Bobby stabilized some clear mammoth ivory, the closest I've seen to elephant with a great grain. Ricky Sharp did full coverage engraving. The only part on the gun that still sort of needs replacing is the rear sight assembly (not easy to find), though I did have a good supply of King rear blades to regulate the gun. Somewhere, I have some before pictures, but the end result - a "pretty nice shooter". I intend to use it the rest of my days or its days, whichever comes first.
...Ben
You might find the old RIA pics since you know the auction. Have you picked out a vintage floral carved Heiser or a new maker?
