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According to "The Blue Book of Gun Values", only 8 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnums were produced with an 8-1/4 inch barrel.
LOT 1500
Mexico City Shipped Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver
with Incredibly Rare 8 1/4 Inch Barrel,
Factory Tuskoid Grips and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 51986, 357 magnum cal., 8 1/4 inch
solid rib bbl., blue finish, tuskoid grips. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver
was shipped on August 9, 1937 and delivered to Roberto A. Gonzalez (sic), Armeria La Nacional (The National Armory), Mexico City, Mexico with an 8 1/4 inch barrel, Marble bead front sight, “U” notch rear sight, blue finish and tuskoid grips. This particular Registered Magnum, number 2517, is an incredibly rare variation. It is one of an estimated eight factory built Registered Magnums with an 8 1/4 inch barrel and is fitted with rare factory S&W medallion ivory colored polymer grips called tuskoid. The revolver features
a Marble no. 35F bead front sight, an adjustable “U” notch rear sight, standard S&W markings, “REG 2517” stamped on the inside of the frame, and matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder, and ejector shroud. The right side of the frame has the large S&W logo and the tiny “Marca Reistrada” marking which was used on revolvers shipped to Spanish speaking countries prior to World War II. S&W manufactured the Registered Magnum from 1935 to 1939 and these revolvers were virtually a custom made handgun chambered in .357 Magnum, the most powerful handgun cartridge at the time. 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, popularized big game handgun hunting, and as this example proves gained international interest. This revolver is the only documented original tuskoid gripped Registered Magnum shipped from the factory. See the following lot for a Colt Shooting Master .357 Magnum target revolver that was also shipped to Robert Gonzalez
in July 1937.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% original blue finish with scattered handling marks, tiny patch of pitting on the frame (right side), and a light cylinder drag line. 99% plus original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The rare S&W factory tuskoid grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A high condition, Mexico shipped, incredibly rare 8 1/4 inch S&W .357 Registered Magnum revolver that is worthy of the finest collection.
Provenance: The Gary Garbrecht Collection;
The Ray Cheely Collection;
The Dave Ballantyne Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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