Page 464 - 4096-BOOK2

462
LOT 1541
Rare Documented U.S.
Infantry Rifle Team Shipped Smith & Wesson .357
Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 48581, 357 Magnum cal., 6 inch solid rib bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. This .357 Registered Magnum (reg. no. 1285) is one of only 778 S&W
manufactured with a 6 inch barrel from 1935-1942 per the article “Registered .357 Magnums” by Roy
Jinks. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on July 23, 1936, and delivered
to United States Infantry Rifle Team, Erie Ordnance Depot, La Carne, Ohio with a 6 inch barrel, 1/10
Patridge front sight, square notch rear sight, blue finish, and checkered walnut magna grips. Grip adapters were
also part of the shipment but are now not included. This shipment was for 3 revolvers in the same configuration
(reg. nos. 1286 and 1287). A copy of the invoice is included. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt, cylinder,
and ejector shroud. Now a decommissioned U.S. Army facility, the Erie Proving Ground was established in 1918 and
served as a military testing and storage installation. Over the decades the Erie Proving Ground went
through several name changes and was known at various times as Camp Perry Proving Ground, Erie
Ordnance Depot, and Erie Army Depot. In 1936, when this revolver was shipped, the U.S. Infantry Rifle
Team won a match against the A.E.F. Romanian team with a score of 571 out of a possible 600. The New
York Times reported that the score “was only one point lower than the record score made by the Marines
in 1935, when they won with 572.” The match took place at Camp Perry, Ohio.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 95% original blue finish with a cylinder drag line, some handling wear, a patch of light spotting on the
trigger guard, and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. A U.S. Infantry Rifle Team shipped .357 Registered Magnum revolver that will bring
added dimension to any S&W collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 13,000
LOT 1542
Desirable “Zero Series
Club Gun” Smith & Wesson
.38 Hand Ejector Military & Police Third Model Target Double
Action Revolver Presented to a Springfield Armory Ordnance Department Captain with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 0103, 38 S&W Special cal., 6 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1907, this is a very desirable example of a Smith & Wesson presentation piece, also
known as “Zero Series” or “Club Guns”. The factory letter with this revolver notes that the “Zero Series”
comprised the recorded range of 01 to 0548, making these guns very scarce. Guns in this series were
reserved for presentation to notable people including company officials, business partners, government officials, and
military officers. This particular example is documented as having been presented to a captain at Springfield Armory. The
included factory letter lists this .38 Hand Ejector Target Model of 1905 with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered
walnut grips when shipped to Captain Frank A. Wakefield of the Ordnance Department at Springfield Armory on 2 April
1907. The letter further notes that Wakefield was part of the Springfield Revolver Club. At the time of writing, apart from his work
and position at the Springfield Armory, little information about Wakefield was available. However, area newspapers in 1917 also list him as being
elected captain of Company A in the Home Defense League. The top of the barrel is marked with the typical two-line address and patent
dates, while the caliber marking is on the left. The right side of the frame is marked with the large trademark. The matching serial
number is on the butt, the rear face of the cylinder, and the bottom of the barrel. The matching assembly number is on the frame
and crane. It is fitted with a tall, pinned Patridge blade front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, swept back checkered hammer,
and a pair of diamond pattern checkered grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish and 85% plus of the vibrant original case colors on the
hammer and trigger with some light handling wear, a small patch of touch up on the bottom of the trigger guard, and a
cylinder turn line. The grips are also very fine with a few light dings and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A rare “Zero
Series Club Gun” Smith & Wesson presented to an ordnance officer at Springfield Armory!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
Collector’s Fact
According to the article "Registered .357
Magnums" by Roy Jinks in the 2010
Smith & Wesson Collectors Journal, only
778 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum
revolvers were produced with a 6 inch barrel.
Collector’s Fact
According to the included factory letter, the
"Zero Series" comprised the recorded range of
01 to 0548, and the guns in this series were
reserved for presentation to notable people
including company officials, business partners,
government officials, and military officers.