Manufactured in 1955 with this extremely high conditioned example having the special order bright blue factory finish and rare 6 1/2 inch barrel (standard barrel lengths were 4 and 5 inches) as originally ordered by drug store magnate Ray Shapero of Detroit, Michigan. It has standard S&W markings, factory upgraded Magna walnut grips, matching serial numbers on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder and ejector shroud and matching assembly numbers on the crane and yoke. Comes with the factory gold box numbered to the gun. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish and checkered walnut Magna grips when it was shipped on December 19, 1955, and delivered to Ray Sharero, Detroit, Michigan. Ray Shapero of Detroit, Michigan, had family business ties to Cunningham Drug, America’s first large drugstore chain that began in 1889 and closed in 1991. Shapero was also an avid S&W collector, collecting old and new models in the 1950s. He formed personal relationships with S&W representatives, often ordering directly through the S&W factory. Shapero was attracted to the high luster blue finish and ordered then current production guns, like this revolver, with this special order finish. Accompanying period invoices and correspondence (photocopies) clearly document Shapero’s passion for S&W firearms and his relationship with the company. In these documents you will find Shapero’s guns listed by serial number, which includes this revolver. Later Robert Petersen collection records indicate that Robert "Bob" Petersen purchased the entire Ray Shapero collection in the 1960s. Robert Petersen of Los Angeles, California, started "Hot Rod," a magazine for car enthusiasts, and built Petersen Publishing. When he sold his publishing empire in 1996, Petersen Publishing printed 39 monthly periodicals which included such notables as "Hot Rod," "Guns & Ammo," "Sports Afield," and "Motor Trend." His lifelong collection of 425 firearms was donated to the National Firearms Museum after his death. This impressive and broad collection of rare and historic arms fills the permanent 2,000 square foot Petersen Gallery that was opened to the public in the fall of 2010 at the NRA Museum. Although the Petersen Gallery showcases a diverse collection, there is one common theme: highest quality. In fact, the Petersen Gallery is considered to be one of the finest sporting arms collections in the world. Very few guns from Petersen's collection have made it to private hands. Provenance: Ray Shapero, Robert Petersen and Chad Gripp collections.

Near new showing light traces of a cylinder drag line. Mechanically excellent. The box is extremely fine with a Robert Petersen collection label attached to the bottom. A superb example of a .38-44 heavy duty Pre-Model 20 revolver with rare 6 1/2 inch barrel, special order bright blue finish and original matching box only for the serious S&W collector. You will search a lifetime to find a better example with the rare 6 1/2 inch barrel!