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Collector’s Fact
According to "The Blue Book of Gun Values", only 1,518 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum revolvers were produced with a 6-1/2 inch barrel.
LOT 3280
Well-Documented, Identified Early Registration No. 19 Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter, Registration Certificate, and Box - Serial no. 45892, 357 magnum cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. This. Particular early two digit number production Registered Magnum (reg. no. 19) is one of 1,518 manufactured with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on May 20, 1935 and delivered to Schwabacher Hardware Co. of Seattle, Washington with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, 1/8 McGivern front sight (currently fitted with a Call gold bead front sight), rear sight to match, and grip adapter. The included original registration certificate indicates the revolver was registered to Leland L. Bull of Seattle, Washington. Also includes the S&W order form and invoice which repeat the configuration laid out in the factory letter and registration certificate and three period targets (two dated 11-15-
38, one dated 6-30-39) numbered to the gun and shot by Ed Lauda are also included. The right grip panel is numbered to another gun. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, cylinder, and ejector shroud. Comes with a correct S&W model box numbered to another gun. Several accompanying letters provide information related to provenance. In a 1983 dated letter signed by Leland L. Bull, M.D. and Alice H. Bull it is told that Leland Bull purchased the revolver in 1935 and “later sold the revolver to Mr. William Oxley, an excellent pistol shooter and collector of fine guns. After Mr. Oxley’s retirement from the club, we lost track of the revolver until it turned up on display in one of the gun ships
in Seattle about 1980 or 1981. Also in the letter the Bulls noted, “[The revolver] was very accurate, but a real handful with full factory loads. We fired it in club and other matches on Elliot Bay Revolver Club and Seattle Rifle and Pistol Association teams.” In a second letter Alice provided more details related to the second owner of the gun, William Oxley: “Mr. Oxley had a sad end to his life. He lived alone downtown, and walking home late
one night he was knocked down by a drunk driver who possibly ran a red light. Witnesses disagreed. Bill was not seriously hurt, but was frightened and angry. The driver jumped out of his car and ran toward Bill yelling and weaving. Oxley pulled out his pocket gun
and shot the fellow. Unfortunately
he fired a second time, with the
driver trying to get away, and this
time the shot was fatal. That killed
his plea of self defense also, and he
was convicted of second degree
murder....Later Bill was released on
parole due to age and ill health,
but he had to give up his shooting
hobbies.” Both letters are addressed
to then NRA Director Wayne A.
Ross of Anchorage, Alaska. Wayne
Ross sold the revolver to Jerry
Vining of Anchorage, Alaska, in October
1983 as confirmed by Ross’ included letter
to Vining. In his 1989 dated letter addressed
to noted S&W collector Ray Cheely, Leland
L. Bull, Jr. confirmed the gun was originally
purchased by his father, Leland L. Bull, Sr.,
and eventually owned by Wayne Ross. By
1989 Cheely had owned the revolver “for several years” as cited in Cheely’s letter to Leland Bull, Jr.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original blue finish with some minor muzzle wear, a cylinder drag line, and some scattered handling marks. The grips are excellent with overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine.
Provenance: Leland Bull; William Oxley; The Wayne A. Ross Collection;
The Jerry Vining Collection; The Gary Garbrecht Collection; The Ray Cheely Collection; The Dave Ballantyne Collection. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000
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