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LOT 3570
Smith & Wesson Non-Registered .357
Magnum Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 60203, 357 Magnum cal., 4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, checkered
walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was
shipped on December 15, 1939, and delivered to Lou Eppinger, Inc. of
Detroit, Michigan, and confirms the 4 inch barrel and blue finish. Includes a copy
of the S&W invoice. The revolver is fitted with a pinned serrated blade front sight,
an adjustable square notch rear sight, a non-factory installed lanyard ring on the
butt, and S&W medallion checkered magna grips. Non-Registered .357 revolvers are
much more rare than their Registered Magnum model counterparts, with only about 1,400
manufactured compared to about 5,400 Registered Magnums.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with high edge wear and some
handling marks. The refinished grips are fine as replacement with grip screw too short, chipping
at toe (left panel), and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3569
Exceptional Houston, Texas
Shipped Smith & Wesson
Registered Magnum Double
Action Revolver with Rare 4
1/2 Inch Barrel, Box and Factory Letter - Serial no.
58775, 357 Magnum cal., 4 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1939, this is an exceptional example of
Smith & Wesson’s Registered Magnum revolver with a rare 4 1/2 inch barrel
that was originally shipped to Houston, Texas. The included factory letter
lists this revolver, Reg. # 4779, with a 4 1/2 inch barrel, Patridge front sight,
square notch rear sight, blue finish, magna grips, and sighted in at 25 yards
using a 6 o’clock hold when shipped to Peden Iron & Steel Co. in Houston,
Texas on 22 May 1939. Interestingly, we here at Rock Island Auction Company have previously sold another Registered Magnum in the same configuration as this gun
that was shipped on the same date to the same location, which bore serial number 58762. Only 97 of these Registered Magnums were produced with the desirable 4 1/2
inch barrel per the article “Registered .357 Magnums” by Roy Jinks, and it is unclear if more than this revolver and number 58762 were shipped to Peden Iron & Steel Co.
These revolvers were considered top of the line when introduced and were the first production revolver made to handle the powerful .357 Magnum cartridge, making
them very popular among law enforcement and security personnel, particularly in the shorter barrel offerings like this example. These revolvers were all manufactured to
special order and hand fitted, making them expensive produce, leading to their discontinuation in 1940 after only approximately 5,500 total were made in a plethora of
different configurations. The barrel on this example has the Smith & Wesson marking on the left and the caliber marking on the right. The right side of the frame has the
trademark and “MADE IN U.S.A.” The matching serial number is on the butt, rear face of the cylinder, in the ejector rod housing, and stamped inside the right grip panel.
The registration number is stamped in the crane, and the matching assembly number is marked on the frame and crane. It is fitted with a Patridge blade front sight, an
adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of checkered walnut magna grips with “S&W” monogram medallions. Includes the original blue & gold box with matching serial
number and registration number on the bottom.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 97% of the original blue finish and 98% of the vibrant original case colors with a small patch of light wear and surface spotting on
the right of the muzzle and a light cylinder drag line. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is
fine with some mild handling/storage wear.
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
Collector’s Fact
According to the article "Registered .357
Magnums" by Roy Jinks in the 2010, Smith
& Wesson Collectors Journal, only 97 Smith
& Wesson Registered Magnum revolvers
were produced with a 4 1/2 inch barrel.