Only approximately 5,400 Registered Magnums were manufactured between 1935 and 1939, and they are virtually custom made revolvers that remain "state of the art" in handgun manufacture today. Each revolver was registered by number to the owner by Douglas Wesson himself, the then Vice President of Smith & Wesson. The accompanying factory letter states that this revolver was ordered at Camp Perry, Ohio, where National Matches have been hosted since 1907 and Dan Wesson, great-grandson of Smith & Wesson co-founder, Daniel Wesson, S&W employee from 1938-1963 and founder of Dan Wesson Firearms in 1968, took the order and gave the buyer, O.H. Elliott, a special price of $39.00. The revolver was shipped on September 30, 1936, and delivered to Mr. Elliott of South Haven, Michigan. The factory letter lists the revolver with a McGivern gold bead front sight (currently a Patridge), King peep rear sight, Magna grips and 4 1/2 inch barrel when it was shipped to Elliot. Other documents (photocopies) related to this revolver include the .357 Magnum order form dated 9-9-1936, which is filled out by S&W after the order was received from O.H. Elliott by D.B. Wesson at Camp Perry, the shipping invoice with a special list price of $39.00 given by D.B. Wesson, a letter dated 12-8-1938 from Russell Elder to S&W indicating he purchased this Magnum from Elliott and wanted a new certificate made out in his name, and a wide U notch rear sight to replace the peep sight, and a letter of response from S&W dated 12-20-1938 indicating the company would issue Elder a new certificate after Elliott endorsed his certificate and would provide a new rear sight at for $1.00. These documents were provided by the S&W Historical Foundation. This is one of only 108 Registered Magnums manufactured with a 4 1/2 inch barrel, and one of six documented Registered Magnums with a factory peep sight. It also has standard S&W factory markings with "REG. 1450" stamped on the inside of the yoke, a right grip panel numbered to a different gun ("90867"), matching assembly numbers on the yoke and crane, and matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. Comes with a factory Type II box featuring an illustration of a Magnum fitted with Magna stocks (lacks white label). Provenance: Ray Cheely and Chad Gripp collections.

Excellent. The revolver retains 98% plus original blue finish showing some scattered high edge wear, some very scattered minor handling marks and a cylinder drag line. The hammer retains nearly all of the original case colors, and the trigger has mostly faded to a gray. The grips are also excellent with a few minor handling marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine showing high edge wear. An extremely rare .357 with factory documented peep sight that is missing from even the most advance S&W Magnum collections. This is a must-have for the serious S&W collector. No Magnum collection can be complete without this revolver!