Retro (pre-29) 44 Magnum

MMA10mm

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I was reading through all of the threads here in the Wish List section (lots and lots of good ideas - too bad S&W couldn't do half of them...), and when I read a couple threads on bringing back the Registered Magnum, it helped me remember participating in a thread about a retro 29 a couple years ago. Finally found it way back in the 1961-1980 section. Well, it belongs here in this section more than there, so...

This idea originated with ultima-ratio, and I and others contributed until we came up with our "grail list" of features:


FRAME:
Classic five screw configuration,
No Internal Lock,
Endurance Package (radius stud pkg. lengthened bolt and notches, etc. - basically, all the upgrades except for the frame-mounted firing pin and full-underlug)
Older traditional-style cylinder release,
TT/TH (Please No MIM!), (& while we're at it, what about asking for these to be case hardened for finish?)
Firing Pin On The Hammer (which means the old-style lock-work).

CYLINDER/YOKE:
A large detent third lock on the yoke,
Cylinder throats to .430 + .001 -.0000,
Full-length cylinder that is recessed for case rims. (going for the pinned-and-recessed look)

BARREL:
FIVE Inch,
Full-bull Magnum-style with tapered ejector rod housing and NO UNDERLUG,
Pinned to receiver, (again, part of the pinned & recessed)
A "Taylor Throat" or at least a highly polished 11 degree throat,
Broach-rifled barrel (instead of the EDM),
Interchangeable front sight with Keith-style gold-bar inletted blade.

GRIP & STOCKS:
Square-Butt frame,
Original-style Coke-bottle wood grips,
(and, for quantity shooting/carrying - the Hogue 500 Magnum rubber grips included).

FINISH:
High-polish deep Bluing, like on the REGISTERED magnums.
(Or, for the stainless fans - How about highly polished "bright" stainless to look somewhat like Nickle finish?)


I'd add to this that the Performance Center could do a mild action job, since revolvers of the original vintage were hand-fitted, although if S&W geared up to make these in this day and age with CAD/CAM, this may no longer be necessary and avoiding it could save some money on the price.

Real Roll-markings stamped into the metal rather than this silly laser-engraving on the barrels.

Lastly, because it's a classic / retro gun, it should come in something other than a blue plastic box. (Not sure blue cardboard is the way to go either, but I'd rather have cardboard than plastic...) Maybe a wood presentation box inside a blue cardboard one?

Serial numbers? How about picking up a million or two above where the old S- serial number series stopped?

It would be nice if this were given the "Registered Magnum" treatment as well, with a well-decorated registration certificate that comes with it.
 
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I like that! I'll bet it would be awfully pricey, though. I'd say two grand, at least.
 
There are a few custom touches on there, like the hand-fitting, but most of these features were on regular-production guns back in the day. I know that in the early 80s they went away from the pinned-and-recessed to save money - eliminated a few machining operations and one part (the pin), but I bet that stupid internal lock creates a LOT more operations and difficulty in fitting of the gun than P&R ever did!!

I'm thinking this could get out the door of S&W for well under 1000, which means the distributor could sell them for $1000 to $1200, tops. Still quite a price, but it would be a semi-custom gun right from the factory. Kind of like a Kimber compared to a box-stock 1911. And, S&W already has the PC which could do the semi-custom features, like the action job. And, this gun would really appeal to the people who love the classic-style as opposed to the scandium/MIM/IL mistakes they've been putting out...
 
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