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LOT 1587
Engraved and Gold Inlaid Smith & Wesson
.357 Magnum (Pre-Model 27) Double Action Revolver - Serial
no. S107998, 357 magnum cal., 8 3/8 inch solid rib bbl.,
blue finish, rosewood grips. Manufactured in 1954/55
and subsequently professionally embellished. This highly
embellished arm features near full coverage floral scrollwork on a stippled background along with gold inlaid borders. The barrel markings are surrounded with gold inlaid flourishes. A gold inlaid bobcat head
is featured below the cylinder release. A gold inlaid rearing bear in a
mountain scene is featured on the side plate. Gold inlaid bear tracks are on the
trigger guard. The blade front sight has an engraved ramp base. The square notch rear sight is adjustable. The plain rosewood grips have gold S&W medallions. With a S&W soft case. Per the
consignor this revolver will factory letter as shipped from the factory to Rex Firearms in New York City. Often referred to as “the Tiffany’s of the gun world,” Rex Firearms specialized in selling one-of-a-kind firearms. CONDITION: Very fine as professionally embellished, retaining 99% plus of the blue finish with faint traces of
a cylinder drag line. The grips are excellent with limited handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
LOT 1588
Two Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model Target Pre-Model 24 Double Action
Revolvers with 6 1/2 Inch Barrels with Berns-Martin Tooled Double Holster Rig
-A) Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model Military Pre-Model 21 Revolver - Serial no.
S100011, 44 S&W special cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a pair of
S&W Pre-Model 24 Revolvers (A: manufactured 1953/54 and B: manufactured 1955/56) with a Berns-
Martin tooled leather double holster rig. Each revolver has a 6 1/2 inch barrel, matching respective serial
numbers on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud, S&W medallion target grips, trigger shoe, blade front
sight with red insert, and square notch adjustable rear sight. The floral tooled leather double holster rig
by Berns-Martin features near full coverage floral motif. The belt features 24 cartridge loops. An included
Berns-Martin envelope addressed to S.D. Durbin of Toulon, Illinois and featuring a 1953 post mark contains
period Berns-Martin sales literature and correspondence: two Berns-Martin sales pamphlets and two
price lists (one dated January 1, 1956 and the other dated August 1, 1953). The back of the 1956 price
list has a handwritten letter from a Berns-Martin sales representative explaining to a client how to take
measurements for a belt rig. Other included paperwork: leather artist James L. Barry of Morton, IL business
card, holster rig measurements handwritten in pencil on U.S. Marine Corps letterhead, and a 1958 dated receipt for Steve Durbin related to the purchase of a holster belt.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with some muzzle wear, partial cylinder drag line and few scattered tiny patches of very light pitting. The grips are very
fine with limited handling marks and some wear in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster rig is excellent showing minimal wear and overall tight stitching.
B) Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model Target Pre-Model 24 Revolver - Serial no. S142173, 44 S&W special cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. As described in “A.” CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish showing slight wear at muzzle and top strap and a partial cylinder drag line. The grips are also excellent with limited handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
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