Manufactured in 1953, this stunning one-of-a-kind pair of factory 24 karat gold plated S&W Pre-Model 27 Revolvers was commissioned by Rex Firearms Company and photographed with Miss America 1951 Yolande Betbeze for a publicity campaign disseminated in a national newspaper syndicate. The accompanying original newspaper clipping from the April 28, 1953 edition of the New York World-Telegram and Sun shows the publicity photo of Betbeze holding one of the revolvers and a caption proclaiming the 24 karat revolvers as the only pair of its kind in the world and "on display by a firearms firm in New York," undoubtedly referencing Rex Firearms. Often referred to as "the Tiffany's of the gun world," Rex Firearms of New York specialized in selling one-of-a-kind firearms such as this spectacular set. A United Press International credited black and white promotional still photo of Betbeze holding the revolver is also included. Attached to this photo is the original promotional caption which is dated April 2, 1953. The accompanying May 1953 letterhead of Pat Patricof Publicity of New York City is addressed to the original buyer of the gun, it identifies this set as being commissioned by Rex and used for promotional purposes for Rex Firearms in a photo with Betbeze, and requests permission from the owner to approve the writing of a short publicity release "pointing out that…[he] acquired the unique pair of guns." The buyer was Sam Bloomfield, president of the Swallow Airplane Company, and he agreed to the news release. Also with the revolvers is an original newspaper clipping from an unknown Wichita newspaper proclaiming Bloomfield as the buyer. According to the article, he "acquired the unique firearms to add to his own imposing collection of fine guns" during a recent trip to New York. The clipping is marked in pencil with the date "May 1953." The revolvers will factory letter as shipped in the white and are listed as prepared for gold plating. The revolvers have an adjustable square notch rear sight, gold plated barrel, frame and cylinder, casehardened hammer and trigger, S&W medallion target grips, and matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. The revolvers come in an original S&W monogrammed case featuring a Rex Firearms retailer ribbon label on the interior of the lid. Yolande Betbeze (1928-2016) was the first Miss Alabama to be crowned Miss America. She is widely credited for changing the pageant’s perception of what it meant to be a woman, transforming the pageant’s focus on beauty alone to recognize the “marked transformation around women’s roles in society with expanding social, political and cultural activity for women… This was an unprecedented break from the rigorously controlled physicality prescribed for the ideal 19th century woman, with its emphasis on delicacy and fragility,” as explained on the Miss America website. Betbeze refused to wear a swimsuit after she won Miss America, and as a result, the swimsuit company Catalina withdrew its Miss America sponsorship, eventually bringing about the creation of rival Miss USA pageant. She was an active member in the NAACP, CORE (Congress of Racial Equality, and SANE (National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy), studied philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York City, and was an opera singer who appeared with the Mobile Opera Guild. In an exciting incident retold in an included April 29, 1953 article from the New York World-Telegram and Sun, Betbeze along with another person were driving when a police officer commandeered their car to chase one of two men who had unsuccessfully tried to rob the owner of the London Haberdashery in Manhattan. Comes with copies of the S&W March 18, 1953 dated invoice listing these two revolvers with rosewood stocks and the February 12, 1953 dated invoice listing the revolvers as left in the white for gold plating.

As new, unfired and retaining 99% plus original gold plating showing only the faintest slight handling evidence. Mechanically excellent. The case is excellent showing minimal handling/storage marks. This absolutely stunning, one-of-a-kind set of factory gold plated Pre-Model 27s used in a famed Rex Firearms promotional campaign is a definite must have the S&W .357 Magnum collector! This set will surely be the centerpiece of any American made handgun collection!

As described in "A".

As new, unfired and retaining 99% plus original gold plating showing only the faintest slight handling evidence. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.