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LOT 3361
Rare Presentation “Zero Series” Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 Third Change Target
Double Action Revolver Presented to Douglas B. Wesson, Grandson of the Company Founder with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 0135, 38 Special cal., 6 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1910, this is a very rare example of a “Zero
Series” serial number Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 Third Change Revolver. Also known as “Club Guns,” Smith & Wesson’s with
“0” prefix serial numbers were given or loaned to factory personnel, shooting clubs and notable shooters as samples or test guns. This particular example is
documented as delivered to Douglas B. Wesson, the grandson of the founder of the company and member of the family business. Douglas was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and is known to have
carried and used various Smith & Wesson revolvers in his handgunning activities. The included factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, square butt grips, target sights, and blue finish when
delivered to Wesson on 23 March 1910. The factory letter also notes that the serial number after this one, “0136”, was delivered to Colonel Stibbs at Springfield Armory. The top of the barrel is marked
with the standard two-line address and patent dates, while the caliber marking is on the left. The right of the frame has the Smith & Wesson trademark. The matching serial number is on the butt, rear
face of the cylinder, and bottom of the barrel. It is fitted with a pinned blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of finely figured, checkered walnut grips with “S&W” monogram medallions.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus of the original blue finish, 90% plus original vibrant case colors, some light muzzle/edge wear, some scattered brown freckling, and a cylinder turn line. The grips are
very fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Douglas B. Wesson; The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3360
Excellent Smith &
Wesson .357 Registered
Magnum Double Action Revolver with Box
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 49728, 357
Magnum cal., 4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured in 1936, this is an excellent
example of Smith & Wesson’s “Registered Magnum”
revolver with a very desirable 4 inch barrel. These
powerful revolvers were top-of-the-line when they were
released and were highly valued among law enforcement
of the time, particularly in the shorter barrel lengths like
this example. These revolvers were very precisely hand
built to individual order and only around 5,500 were
produced before the company discontinued the certificate
process and registration numbering. The included factory letter with this example lists this revolver, Reg. # 1550, with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, Patridge front
sight, square notch rear sight, and being sighted for 50 yards with a 6 o’clock hold. The letter also mentions being fitted with grip adapters, which have since been removed. The
letter states that the revolver was shipped to J.M. Duck Jewelry Co. in Bessemer, Alabama, on 5 November 1936. The left of the barrel has the Smith & Wesson marking, while the right
has the caliber marking. The left of the frame has the trademark and the right has “MADE IN U.S.A.” The matching serial number is marked on the butt, rear face of the cylinder, and in
the ejector rod shroud. The registration number is marked in the crane, and the matching assembly number is on the frame and crane. The inside of the right grip panel is numbered
“51285”. The revolver is fitted with a pinned Patridge blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, standard grooved hammer, and checkered walnut Magna grips with “S&W”
monogram medallions. Includes the original factory blue and gold ‘picture’ box numbered to the gun.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% of the original blue finish and 90% plus of the original case colors on the hammer and trigger with some slight muzzle and edge wear and a
cylinder turn line. The grips are also excellent with some scattered light handling marks and mostly crisp checkering. The box is very good with some minor wear. Mechanically excellent. An
excellent example of Smith & Wesson’s legendary “Registered Magnum” in a very desirable configuration!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 7,000 - 9,000
Collector’s Fact
According to authors Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, it is
speculated that across the whole of Smith & Wesson production,
only some 750 "Club Guns" guns were produced, and
approximately 50 were made especially for the Wesson family.
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