The Non-Registered Magnum revolvers are even more rare than their Registered Magnum model counterparts with only about 1,400 manufactured compared to approx. 5,400 Registered Magnums. The accompanying factory letter for this important Non-Registered Magnum, the last pre-war design example manufactured, confirms this revolver was a special order gun with a 4 1/2 inch barrel when it was shipped to Robert Wallswait of West Hartford, Connecticut, on November 8, 1943. Please note that, in 1942, the .357 Magnum was temporarily discontinued due to the S&W factory fulfilling wartime production contracts of the .38 M&P Victory Model for the U.S. government and other Allied nations. "[Robert Wallswait] must have been a very important person as all guns at this time were sold to the military," explained S&W historian Roy Jinks in the factory letter. However, since this letter was issued some years ago, it has been determined through the S&W Historical Foundation that the name Robert Wallswait is incorrect and should have been noted as "Robert Wadsworth." According to information provided to our consignor by Mr. Wadsworth's son, retired U.S. Navy Captain Frank L. Wadsworth was himself a Naval Academy graduate and prominent in his own right as a long-time leader and innovator in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine services and an expert on Arctic exploration. His father was a very good friend of Douglas and Harold Wesson, then vice president and president of Smith & Wesson respectively. The Wesson brothers and their families were frequent hunting and New England society event companions of Robert Wadsworth and his family. When Wadsworth expressed his desire for a 4 1/2 inch .357 Magnum revolver, out of their great respect for him and the shared close friendship, the Wesson brothers had this gun built despite the factory's full time commitment to wartime production. Robert Wadsworth was a prominent well-respected member of the Hartford, Connecticut, community and was well-known for his success in the Travelers Insurance Company. The son also related to our consignor that his father had taken several deer and a number of woodchucks with this Non-Registered .357 Magnum on various hunting excursions, and had on more than one occasion with his .357 out-shot the son who was used a .22 rifle in their "friendly competition" target shooting practice. This revolver is identified by serial number and barrel length as being "the last Non-Registered Magnum and the only wartime production Magnum" produced by S&W in Supica and Nahas' "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" on page 135. This revolver has a King ramp front sight, an adjustable square notch rear sight, Magna grips and standard S&W markings. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. The right grip panel has the number "207177." Matching assembly numbers are found on the yoke and crane. Obviously among an incredibly small few of the most important S&W .357 Magnums ever produced. Provenance: Ray Cheely Collection and Chad Gripp Collection.

Excellent plus. The revolver retains over 99% original blue showing extremely limited muzzle wear and a light cylinder drag line. 99% plus original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are excellent with a few minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. Do not miss your chance to acquire the last documented Non-Registered .357 Magnum manufactured by S&W and authorized by the Wesson brothers. A definite must have for the serious S&W Magnum collector!