Page 299 - Auction84-Book1

Magnificent Documented Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum with Original Factory Box
LOT 500
Outstanding Documented
Smith & Wesson .357 Registered
Magnum Double Action Revolver
with Rare 5 Inch Barrel, Factory Letter
and Box - Serial no. 57044, 357 magnum cal., 5 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The Registered Magnum was the first production arm chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and served as an influence on all later large caliber double actions. Built to customer specifications and registered to the owner by Douglas Wesson himself, the 5,400 Registered Magnums made between 1935 and 1939 are virtually custom
made revolvers and remain “state of the art” in handgun manufacture today. This is one of only 869 Registered Magnums manufactured with a
5 inch barrel. The accompanying factory letter confirms the registration number, barrel length, Call gold bead front sight, square notch rear sight, and finish. When it left the factory on January 16, 1939 for the Elkhart Home Electric Co. of Elkhart, IN, it had checkered walnut grips with grip adapter attached. Other documents (photocopies) from the S&W Historical Foundation related to the revolver include an order for one Magnum sent to S&W by W.S. Darley & Co., the S&W order form and invoice. It has standard S&W factory markings with “REG. 4363” stamped on the inside of the frame and Magna grips. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder and ejector shroud. The assembly number “29750” is stamped on the frame and crane. The S&W factory Type II box has the illustration of the Magnum fitted with Magna grips. The bottom of the box retains the original white label numbered to the gun (“57044/R-4363”). CONDITION: Excellent plus. The revolver retains over 99% original blue finish showing a light cylinder drag line. 99% plus original case
colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The unnumbered Magna grips are near new with sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine showing minor edge wear and retaining most of the illustration. A solid, well-documented example of a S&W .357 Registered Magnum revolver built with a rare 5 inch barrel, one of the best any collector could hope to own!
Provenance: The Ray Cheely Collection; The Chad Gripp Collection; The Doug Ellison Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 13,000
THIS DESIRABLE AND HIGH CONDITION REVOLVER RETAINS OVER 99% OF THE ORIGINAL BLUE FINISH.
Collector’s Fact
One of only 869 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum revolvers produced with a
5 inch barrel.
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