Page 261 - Demo

LOT 379
Exceptional, Early Production, Smith &
Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Double
Action Revolver with Box - Serial no. 45882,
357 magnum cal., 8 3/4 inch solid rib bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured between
1935 and 1939, S&W Registered Magnum’s were virtually custom made “state of the art” revolvers that
popularized big game handgun hunting and forged the legacy of the .357 Magnum cartridge. This revolver is a
highly sought after early production gun, bearing the Reg. #105 stamped on the inside of the frame. It is also one
of only 735 Registered Magnums manufactured by S&W with an 8 3/4 inch barrel. The revolver is fitted with a pinned
blade front sight, adjustable square notch rear sight, S&W silver medallion checkered grips, and S&W grip adapter. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt, cylinder, and ejector shroud. Complete with a period correct S&W Registered Magnum box (non-numbered) and S&W “Caution” and “Guarantee” leaflets.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish showing minimal handling marks, a few scuffs on the rear cylinder face, and a light cylinder drag line. Nearly all original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also excellent with very limited handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine showing minor handling/storage marks. A stellar early production Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Revolver.
Provenance: The Ernie Rice Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 10,000
Collector’s Fact
One of only 735 Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum revolvers produced with an 8 3/4 inch barrel, the longest available barrel length.
LOT 380
Documented New Hampshire State
Police Shipped Smith & Wesson
.357 Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 56839, 357 magnum cal., 8 3/8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The
accompanying factory letter states this Registered Magnum no. 3000 was shipped on September 30, 1937
and delivered to New Hampshire State Police, State House, Concord, New Hampshire with a 6 inch barrel,
Baughman quick draw front sight on ramp base, square notch rear sight, blue finish, and checkered walnut
Magna grips. This shipment was for 45 units, all in the same configuration. Based on the factory markings this
revolver was twice returned to the S&W factory for refinishing as well as rebarreled (currently fitted with an 8
3/8 inch barrel). The factory replacement barrel is numbered to the gun and has a S&W “B” diamond refinish
mark which is repeated on the rear cylinder face. The left side of the grip frame carries the serial number,
two factory return dates for October 1953 (“10 53”) and December 1972 (“12 72”), S&W rework star and S&W
boxed “R-Bi” refinish mark. The butt serial number has been factory re-stamped. The cylinder is numbered to the gun. Fitted with blade front sight on ramp base, square notch adjustable rear sight, and checkered silver
S&W medallion target grips.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory rebarreled, retaining 97% plus of the S&W factory refinished blue finish, a cylinder drag line and some scattered minor handling marks. Nearly all of the case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also very fine with limited handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
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