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LOT 3576
Desirable Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver with Scarce 7 Inch barrel, Box,
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 56322, 357 Magnum cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1938, this
is a very fine example of the iconic Smith & Wesson “Registered Magnum” that was shipped to Los Angeles, California, and is fitted
with a scarce 7 inch barrel. Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks notes that only 68 of these Registered Magnums were made in this
barrel length. These revolvers were the first production revolver chambered in the new and very powerful .357 Magnum cartridge and thus,
were very popular among law enforcement of the time, who valued any edge they could give themselves should a gunfight occur. These revolvers
were custom built and hand fitted to special ordered specifications, whether from a retailer or an individual customer, and were then individually
registered to the owner by the vice president of the company, D.B. Wesson. Due to this extensive level of customization and craftsmanship, the
revolvers were expensive to make, leading to the certificate and registration numbering being discontinued in 1939-1940. The included factory letter
with this example lists it with Registration No. 3962, a 7 inch barrel, a McGivern gold bead front sight, a deep U-notch rear sight, blue finish, 2.5 pound
single action trigger pull, and sighted for 50 yards with a dead center hold. The left side of the barrel has the Smith & Wesson marking, while the caliber
marking is 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,
and inside the ejector rod shroud. The inside of the right grip panel is stamped “47260”. The registration number is in the crane, and the matching assembly
number is on the frame and crane. The top of the barrel and top of the frame have the standard fine checkering. It is fitted with the McGivern gold beaded blade
front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, standard grooved hammer, and a pair of checkered walnut grips with “S&W” monogram medallions. Includes a correct
factory blue box with added label on the bottom hand-numbered to the gun.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% of the original blue finish and 80% plus of the original case colors on the hammer and trigger, with a small patch of polished
surface pitting on the left of the muzzle, some light edge wear, and a cylinder turn line. The replacement grips are very fine with some light handling marks and
crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very fine with some light edge/corner wear. A very fine example of a Smith & Wesson
Registered Magnum with a scarce 7 inch barrel!
Provenance: The Michael Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 10,000
According to Smith & Wesson Historian Roy Jinks,
only 68 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum
revolvers were produced with a 7 inch barrel.