Where is the serial number on my circa 1957 .357 Magnum

[dr43sizwiz]

There are two numbers on my S&W .357 Magnum, one where the ejector rod lays just below the barrel, and another on the frame that you can only see when the cylinder is rotated out. The seller told me (back in 1964) that the gun was once owned by Mr. Wesson and was specially made for him to go big game hunting with in Africa. I wanted to submit the serial number to find our more about it's origin and whether there is any truth to this story. Many thanks,
dr43sizwiz

 

[Engine49guy]

Remove the grips and look at the Heel
Pre war will just be numbers, post war will have a letter prefix.
Should be the same as the number stamped in the ejector rod shroud.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! Have a look at this post for the information you seek:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/326458-identify-your-gun.html

Photos would be most appreciated here; there is a well-known story that Douglas Wesson used a .357 for (really) big game hunting in the 1930s. Don't know if someone else has that revolver in their collection but the factory letter will let you know:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

And that is all the links I have . Hope this is helpful.

 

[bamabiker]

Welcome to the forum.
I know the old saying is "buy the gun, not the story" but with a story like that you really need to letter that gun.
Pictures would be great.

 

[sophie]

Welcome to the forum and lets see some pictures.

 

[DWalt]

It sounds much like it may be a tall story - but it does demand a factory letter to verify or disprove.

If it is in fact from 1957, as you indicate, the butt SN will probably be somewhere in the range of S150000 to S180000. The letter S is part of the SN.

 

[Art Doc]

First stop. Should also be on rear face of cylinder and inside ejector rod shroud of barrel.

We have all heard about Doug Wesson hunting big game with his 8 & 3/8" pre-war "Registered Magnum" and I am thinking you were told it was LIKE that gun rather than being the SAME gun? I suspect that revolver is in the hands of an advanced collector. If you do have a Registered Magnum under the cylinder crane will be "REG 1234."

 

[Alk8944]

It has already been pretty well beat to death, but the hunt that is referred to occurred ca, 1934 as I recall, before the Model .357 Magnum was released for sale and while the model was still under development. The intent was a "Field Trial" to demonstrate the capabilities of the new gun and cartridge. The hunter was President of Smith & Wesson Mr. Douglas Wesson.

If your gun has a letter prefix to the SN it was made years after this event.

As SP said, I suspect the seller said it "was like" the gun Doug Wesson used, not the gun.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Look at the OP's title. He says, circa 1957, so that tells me it is a Combat Magnum Pre Model 19. The Mr Wesson would have been Daniel Wesson not Douglas Wesson.

 

[Muley Gil]

Look at the OP's title. He says, circa 1957, so that tells me it is a Combat Magnum Pre Model 19. The Mr Wesson would have been Daniel Wesson not Douglas Wesson.

Why couldn't it be a pre Model 27 or a Model 27? Or, a pre Model 28 or a Model 28?

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Because I like the K frame? No, your correct, it could be an N frame.

 

[Hondo44]

dr43sizwiz,

Welcome to our forum. If your gun is truly c.1957 it will have 4 screws in the sideplate including the one under the right side grip.

Also, there will not be a serial # on the rear face of the cylinder.

The 6 serial # locations left after WW II are:
Gun butt* - or forestrap* on I frames with grips that cover the butt
Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud
Yoke - on rear face visible thru a chamber with a flashlight
Extractor star - backside
Cylinder - rear face
Right stock – backside

Eventually getting down to only 3 serial # locations left by c. 1957 which are:
Gun butt* - (or forestrap* on I frames with grips that cover the butt)
Extractor star - backside
Right stock – backside

Other multi-digit numbers that are in the yoke cut on the frame (or left side of grip frame once the serial #/Mod # were stamped in the yoke cut), on the yoke opposite, and on the inside of the sideplate are factory ‘work’ numbers, still used to this day, long after serial number locations decreased.

*NOTE: The one TRUE place you can be sure of reading the serial number, including letter prefixes, is the BUTT of the gun, (or Front grip strap on non-round butt .22/32 & Regulation Police pre Model of 1953 I frames).

 

[dr43sizwiz]

Thanks for the info

Wow! I never expected the awesome responses and expertise. Thank You!

I have taken some pictures which I hope will shed some more light on the history of this gun.

I'm very new to this and appreciate your patience and help.

dr43sizwiz

 

[samandglove1]

Wow, that is an early Combat Magnum (pre-19)!!!

The first one was K260001!!!

 

[Nightowl]

Wow! You have an early Combat Magnum, that became the model 19 in late 1957. Combat Magnums began with serial K260001, so yours is quite early. The earliest guns generally went to special people, so if it were mine I would obtain a factory letter from Roy Jinks. Who knows, it might have been Dan Wesson's gun!

 

[JayCeeNC]

Jackpot gun!
S&W made tens of thousands of this model starting with serial number K260001.
I'd second the motion for you to get a History Letter from Smith & Wesson, it may very well have provenance with someone famous.
The earliest one I've personally seen is K260006, and that was either sold or given to a National Guard General Officer at the Camp Perry matches in 1956 or 1957.

 

[Hondo44]

There are two numbers on my S&W .357 Magnum, one where the ejector rod lays just below the barrel, and another on the frame that you can only see when the cylinder is rotated out. The seller told me (back in 1964) that the gun was once owned by Mr. Wesson and was specially made for him to go big game hunting with in Africa. I wanted to submit the serial number to find our more about it's origin and whether there is any truth to this story. Many thanks,
dr43sizwiz

That's interesting; the barrel serial number doesn't match the butt #. There may be something to the story:

"The seller told me (back in 1964) that the gun was once owned by Mr. Wesson and was specially made for him to go big game hunting with in Africa."

Everyone was assuming it was a large N frame 357. But it's a medium K frame 357. Perhaps it was "specially made" with a longer barrel, that has been subsequently changed to a standard 4" barrel. And for a different hunt!

 

[series guy]

The number on the frame visible when the cylinder is open is a fitting number and won't match the barrel number.

 

[jsfricks]

The number on the frame visible when the cylinder is open is a fitting number and won't match the barrel number.

True, but the number inside the ejector rod shroud should match the butt number. See picture number 3. That number starts with K but doesn't match the frame serial.

 

[dr43sizwiz]

Hi all, and thanks for sharing your considerable expertise. This is really exciting.

How do I get a factory letter from Roy Jinks?

I will post the results as soon as I have any. Thanks again.

dr43sizwiz