What do I have??

[wisewatcher]

Greetings, first timer to the site! I inherited the following .357 revolver (see attachments) and would like to know a bit more about it. Any information that you can provide would be appreciated.

S/N: 61XXX

Thank you!

 

[Sevens]

Interesting scent.

 

[moosedog]

You have either a Registered Magnum or a Non Registered Magnum. Post a picture of the inside of the frame where the cylinder swings out and let's see what the number say.
A little history on it?

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum!

You have a Pre war .357 Magnum from 1940. That's quite a prize to start your 1st thread with!

Beginning in 1935 these were originally only sold by custom order then you had the option of registering it with S&W and receiving a certificate until 1939. Those are known as Registered .357 Magnums and are stamped with a # in the frame yoke cut. After that they were sold thru dealers like any other S&W. Only about 5,224 were made. Can you post a photo of that area?

 

[raljr1]

These new guys with these incredible finds...welcome, and that is quite an entrance.

Robert

 

[wisewatcher]

#on the inside of frame: 45836. I do not see the word "Reg"

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the cotton and peanut covered plains of the Wiregrass! You have a very valuable .357 Magnum complete with the box which is worth north of $800 by itself. Do you have any of the box contents by any chance such as the sight adjustment tool (screwdriver) and papers?

 

[Hondo44]

#on the inside of frame: 45836. I do not see the word "Reg"

That's the assembly # which all revolvers have. So yours doesn't have a registered # therefore it's a standard .357 Mag immediately following the custom ordered ".357 Registered Magnum" production.

What a great inherited heirloom and in great condition with a box!! Have you googled to see what those are worth?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

With a serial of 61xxx, it likely is a Non-registered Magnum, as Jim concludes. Here is a list of NRM serials:

 

[quinn]

What an entrance! That is certainly a stunner. I hope you get a Historical Foundation letter on it. What do you know about the gun's past? Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard. Welcome to the forum.

 

[DARE]

Welcome wisewatcher. Here is a pic of a registration number. My gun, REG 657 shipped in December 1935. The number below the REG number is an assembly number.
There were about 5200 guns with the REG number and then about another 1400 without. The order to discontinue the registration number was issued on October 16, 1939. They quit manufacturing the .357 Magnum in 1940 to concentrate on wartime production. There were a handful shipped in 1941 and 1942.
Agree with the guys that with a serial number in the 61xxx range yours was after they quit registration numbers.
Looks like a 3 1/2" barrel which is quite desirable.
Congrats on a great package.

 

[19leben]

Great heirloom in that it’s in amazing condition with probably the original Magna walnut stocks, the original box and the “humpback” hammer! Very enviable package you have!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wisewatcher]

I'm working on getting the historical letter. How long does that typically take?

 

[DARE]

Letter time varies based on the backlog. Seems like I have been hearing three or four weeks lately.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome also! If you look at the second link on this page (the "Deep Dive" request):

Letter Process - Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

The SWHF has quite a collection of documents regarding the prewar .357s, such as the order requests, correspondence about the gun, etc. Once you have the letter of authenticity you can request this one, and there is no charge if nothing turns up on the gun...but there likely will be some, and possibly some really interesting stuff.

 

[handejector]

What do I have

You have a very dated, obsolete ol' revolver. I'll trade you enough Glocks to equip your whole family out of the goodness of my heart.

Welcome aboard. You made a glitzy entrance for sure. I'm also anxious to hear if it has some family history?

 

[VM]

Greetings, first timer to the site! I inherited the following .357 revolver (see attachments) and would like to know a bit more about what it is that I have. Any information that you can provide would be appreciated.

S/N: 61XXX

Thank you!

Welcome to the Forum!
Please ignore all the offers in your exploding mailbox and enjoy your rare and valuable inheritance

 

[rct269]

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Some folks got it, and some folks ain't got it!

You got it !

It is entirely possible to got it better, but it's just as well you didn't; because more than a few folks here would have been hospitalized with stroke symptoms.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Is the serial number written on the bottom of the box in grease pencil?

 

[wisewatcher]

It’s on the bottom of the box on a yellowish/white piece of tape or sticker.