This 1st production run Registered Magnum, Reg. # 15, is one of 1,518 manufactured with a 6 1/2 inch barrel and was shipped to John M. Olin, famed American inventor and businessman, for many years the head of Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, King red post front sight, rear sight to match, blue finish and checkered walnut grips with grip adapter (currently fitted with period checkered Roper target grips) when shipped on May 7, 1935, and delivered to John Olin of Western Cartridge Co., East Alton, Illinois. Other included documents from the S&W Historical Foundation (photocopies) are the S&W order form listing barrel length, sights and John Olin as the recipient, postal inquiry from Western Cartridge Co. asking when shipment of the revolver would be made, S&W's response to the Western Cartridge's inquiry and shipping invoice showing the revolver was ordered by John Olin. Before becoming a captain of industry in the field of firearms, John M. Olin (1892-1982) was first a chemical engineer working at his father's Western Cartridge Company, a predecessor of Olin Industries. When Western Cartridge and Winchester Repeating Arms Company merged in 1935 to create Winchester-Western, Olin became head of the Winchester division. He was the inventor or co-inventor of 24 U.S. patents in the manufacture and design of arms and ammunition and was responsible for numerous developments in ballistics, notably the Super-X shotgun shell. Olin was intimately involved from the start with Douglas B. Wesson, Vice President of Smith & Wesson, in the development, testing and early production of the new .357 Magnum cartridge. In grateful appreciation for his efforts Olin was presented Registered Magnum # 15 by D. B. Wesson at the introduction of this new model in 1935. In 1944, following a reorganization of the company, Mr. Olin became president of Olin Industries. Ten years later he was named chairman of the board, a position he held until his retirement in 1963, having grown the corporate holdings to include; Olin Matheison Chemicals, Squibb Pharmaceuticals, Ecusta Paper and Olin Cellophane & Aluminum, in addition to Winchester and the Western Cartridge Company. Long recognized as premiere naturalist and conservationist, Olin founded Nilo (Olin spelled backward) Farms in Alton, Illinois, and established the Nilo Plantation outside Albany, Georgia. Nilo Farms was a hunting and shooting preserve dedicated to creating a wildlife and waterfowl habitat that, in conjunction with Cornell University, also became the primary medical research and development facility for the study of the Labrador retriever breed in the USA. The Nilo Plantation in Georgia was one of the world's finest quail and wildlife hunting and conservation areas in the nation. In addition, the John M. Olin Foundation, a conservative American grant-making foundation begun by Olin in 1953, disbursed over $370 million in funding, primarily to conservative think tanks, media outlets, and university law programs, before disbanding in 2003. The Federalist Society was one of most notable organizations the foundation supported. This .357 Registered Magnum revolver has standard S&W markings with "REG. 15" stamped on the inside of the frame and matching serial numbers found on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. The Roper target grips were a popular addition to S&W revolvers of the day and were likely added by Olin himself soon after being presented the gun.

Excellent, retaining 95% plus original blue finish showing thinning on the trigger guard, cylinder drag line and light handling and shooting evidence overall. Nearly all original case colors remain. The rare Roper grips are fine with some minor dings and scratches and still crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Do not miss this opportunity to acquire a documented revolver from John Olin's personal collection. One of the very first Registered Magnum's produced, for a leading American firearm industry titan, this revolver will be a welcomed addition to even the most advanced S&W or Winchester collection! A definite must have for the serious collector!