Registered Magnum Questions

[DHENRY]

dan,
You make an excellent point!
There's been a lot of oxygen expended over the years, speculating as to the significance of a turn line; its depth, width, etc.
My experience with RM's is limited to four.
Two were ordered by high-dollar men who didn't shoot them.
One was a target shooter's gun,
One was shot frequently, and with the kinds of loads the .357 USED TO eat.
All four were well-maintained, with the two 'shooters' regularly kept clean and lubricated internally.
Guess which two have extremely faint turn lines?
And which two do you think exhibit a more-pronounced line?
My observation is that if it doesn't get shot, there's not much of a line to worry yourself over.
Timing and lockup are excellent on all the guns, and they are superb shooters.
On the flip side of the coin, I WOULD worry about a fairly visible turn line on any of my Colts.
Don

 

[Art Doc]

My experience with the guns I own and have seen is that those made in the 1960s and earlier rarely exhibit serious turn lines while the newer guns have grossly gouged cylinders.

Look at this 25-2 made in 1980. Yikes! That cylinder stop hasn't just worn through the bluing, it's worn a groove in the metal! You can catch your thumbnail on it.

Then check out this 27-2 from 1968. This gun has been shot a lot yet exhibits the thinest of turn lines.

Here's a 1953 Combat Masterpiece that has been carried a lot (see holster wear) and shot a lot yet the turn line is barely visible. I think that back in the old days the guns were fitted more closely and carefully resulting in less dragging of the stop on the surface of the cylinder.

 

[MikeyL]

Bob: Thanks for the note on the sights on RMs. I'm always learning something new here!

Saxon Pig: I think you may have something. I have older N-frames (a Heavy Duty and a 1950 Target) with an extremely light cylinder line, but my newer guns (1978 and later) all have a turn line, some better, some worse. The last two new, blued S&Ws I bought (TR specials) both had a turn line from the factory....light, but there when I picked them up at the dealer. Go figger.

MikeyL
SWCA #2010

 

[dant]

Oh yes, good point and good pictures too I may add, and yes, the "line " is usually there to some degree or another, I only remember back from the days I was 'training' at the service center, when Mr Fran Longtin was the 'mgr' the guys told me it was when this "line" has any deviation, a "skip, a wiggle, a gouge, or some other anomoly" then there is a "problem" and should be addressed before it does, any "damage"... have seen many over the years that may do the "damage" in a short period of time and may have been in guns that were "timed on a burr", once, the "burr" or defective part wore in the "damage" stopped and they went on for a long time afterwards, with NO more damage, the line NOT getting any worse.... the 'damage' was already done... hell I've seen brand new guns , just from 'handling' & cycling the action and there comes a 'line',and the gun has yet to be "fired"..... yes as your pictures do show, we too have seen some with many rounds ( I had a model 19 that I shot the crap out of it and little or NO line, after the initial break-in back in 1969)
Nature of the beast, and yes, NOT a'pleasant' thing to see on any gun that gets into the values of say the "Registered Magnums" we all want one, never turned, never fired, BUT I for one would be very 'skepticle' of any gun THAT "pristine"....as my mentors taught me, if it looks TOO good, it probably is. Caveat emptor baby....................


Then again, when one comes across such a "deal" as Dan M has come up with, and by the "looks" of it, I know there is NOT a single person out there that would have turned this gun down for or due to the "line"....

 

[DHENRY]

Hey, SP
Good point...I suspect the hand-fitting of old made a difference.
I only have one late-model gun, a M 25-10, and it exhibits almost no drag line.
The 29 below is from 1960...almost no line.
The RM is from 1936...Shot a great deal...perfect timeing.
Go figure!
Don

 

[Dan M]

And Now for the rest of the Story.

Serial # 56057 Reg 3450.

They must have been blind as bats. Grips are numbered to the gun, better shape than I had thought with the 1st set of pictures but the Turn Line is there but is only through the Blue no thumbnail catch here.

Also brought home this 38-44 HD serial # S-148769, Grips numbered to the Gun.

Both guns need a thorough cleaning but are better than expected. They were describe as 98% guns so when I saw the 1st pictures I was in shock, still not as nice as I would like but hey we cant have it all.

Also looked at a 2nd model 44 special HE, and another Model 1950 Target both nice guns. Have an appointment for thursday to see his really good stuff he has for sale.

John the gun you are interested in is on hold until I see it.

Thanks

Dan M.

 

[geoff40]

Dan
Nice pair of revolvers, congratulations on your find!

 

[JayCeeNC]

Great pair of fine old guns, Dan!
Please email me with specifics about the "on hold" gun when you get a chance.

 

[glypnir]

American Beauties.

 

[Dan M]

Well I got to take the old War Horse (RM) out and put a few cylinder fulls Down the pipe. I shot Low Left with 357 magnum at 20 Yards and dead on with 38's which tells me I was anticipating the bite of those Magnums

the timing and function was absolutely flawless and it has the best tigger I have ever shot

 

[bettis1]

Dan,

A large number of the Reg. Mags. were sighted in at the factory with .38 Specials instead of with the .357 Magnums. If you get a letter on your gun, that information will probably be included in the shipping data. The guns shipped with an extra rear sight blade in a small envelope to use when the other round was utilized.

Your gun was most likely sighted with the .38spl. The hotter .357 leaves the barrel sooner in the recoil cycle so that it will normally hit the target lower than the .38.

Bob

 

[Dan M]

Thanks Bob,

We learn something new every day. It's nice to know it probably wasn't me

I Haven't had time to take the detailed pictures for the letter request yet. Maybe this weekend.

Dan

 

[Art Doc]

I have never sent photos with a letter request. The form includes spaces for a physical description but all you need is the serial. The current state of the gun doesn't have anything to do with its original configuration so I don't really know why that info is requested. Might make sense if the gun is a very old model and the exact variation is unknown to the owner but that wouldn't be the case here.