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LOT 580
Documented Smith & Wesson .357
Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver
with 5 Inch Barrel, Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. 51308, 357 magnum cal., 5 inch
solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The Registered Magnum was the first production arm chambered for the
.357 Magnum cartridge and served as an influence on all later large caliber double actions. Built to customer
specifications and registered to the owner Douglas Wesson himself, the 5,400
Registered Magnums made between 1935 and 1939 are virtually custom made
revolvers and remain “state of the art” in handgun manufacture today. The .357
Magnum was the most powerful handgun cartridge at the time, and this “state
of the art” handgun quickly gained popularity with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, looking for a
sidearm to deliver more stopping power and popularized big game handgun hunting. Simply put, these Registered Magnums forged the legacy of the .357 Magnum cartridge. The accompanying factory letter states that this Registered Magnum (reg. no. 2249) was shipped on May 27, 1937 and delivered to Reams Hardware Co. of Middlesboro, Kentucky, with a 5 inch barrel, a King 1/16 inch gold bead front sight, “U” notch rear sight, nickel finish, and checkered walnut Magna grips. Only 869 Registered Magnums were manufactured with a 5 inch barrel and only 144 Registered Magnums left the factory with a nickel finish. This example returned to the S&W factory to be refinished. The grip frame is marked with the S&W factory return date for August 1975 (“8 75”) and has the boxed factory nickel refinish “R-N” marking. The S&W rework star is stamped on the rear of the cylinder. The right grip panel is numbered to a different gun. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt, ejector rod shroud, and cylinder. Includes a proper period S&W box.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 99% plus of the S&W factory refinished nickel plating with minimal handling marks and light cylinder drag line. The revarnished grips are fine with some minor handling marks and softened checkering. The faded box is very good with some staining and edge wear. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Michael Kerwood Collection.
.357 Magnum model gold box listing the nickel finish and 3 1/2 inch barrel, cleaning rod with
two attachments, knurled screwdriver and “Helpful Hints” pamphlet.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 99% plus original nickel plating with a light cylinder drag line and limited handling marks. Nearly all original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also excellent with limited handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very fine showing minimal wear. These pre-model 27’s in nickel finish with the 3 1/2 inch barrel are very desirable, and ones in this condition rarely come available to acquire.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
473
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 581
Rare Outstanding
Nickel Plated Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum (Pre-Model
27) Double Action Revolver with Gold Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. S76719, 357 magnum cal., 3 1/2 inch
solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 3 1/2 inch barrel, ramp front
sight, rare and desirable nickel finish, and checkered walnut square butt grips. The revolver was shipped on June 23, 1950 and delivered to Budge
Co., Miami, Florida. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, and ejector shroud. Comes with an unnumbered correct