Registered Magnum

[SmithManatee]

I know that before 1957 the S&W model 27 was called the .357 magnum and the ones produced between 1935 and 1939 are called registered magnums. My question is this. Is registered magnum an official name given to the revolver by S&W or is it a nickname given to it by collectors?

 

[Iggy]

There were "registered magnums" and non-registered 357 Magnums.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/170685-registered-magnum.html

 

[peyton]

Don't keep us suspense, do you have one??

 

[Hatchett]

I believe it's a nickname given to the model later by collectors, and in sales literature they were simply referred to as "The .357 Magnum."

 

[9mmepiphany]

the ones produced between 1935 and 1939 are called registered magnums. My question is this. Is registered magnum an official name given to the revolver by S&W or is it a nickname given to it by collectors?

They weren't all called that, because they weren't all registered (with the factory)

The name Registered Magnum refers only to the .357 Magnums that were registered with the factory when they were ordered and then manufactured to that owners specifications. Collectors use the term to differentiate them from regular production .357 Magnums

 

[Jim K]

"They weren't all called that, because they weren't all registered (with the factory)"

Not quite true, at least up to 1938. Between 1935 and 1938, ALL .357 Magnum revolvers were registered by the factory to the purchaser and a registration certificate issued. They were made to a customer order which was submitted to the factory in advance. Whether they were "custom" guns is a matter of interpretation. There was a selection of options available, but the basic gun was the same, so it would be more accurate to say they were assembled to a customer's specification, not actually custom made.

Registered guns have a registered number stamped into the frame under the crane (where the model number is on modern S&W's). There were 5500 registered Magnums made, in the serial range 45768-62489. (The serial numbers were separate from the registered number; they were in the N frame series and appeared in the usual places on the gun.)

With increased demand for the .357 revolver, and greater pressure on the factory due to approaching war, the registration practice was discontinued.

Jim

 

[SmithManatee]

Don't keep us suspense, do you have one??

Unfortunately I don't.

 

[rcmodel]

Here's where you can get sum!

http://www.armchairgunshow.com/otsHA1_Smith_Wesson_HE.htm

rc

 

[hAkron]

Here's where you can get sum!

http://www.armchairgunshow.com/otsHA1_Smith_Wesson_HE.htm

rc

At those prices, might as well get two.

 

[clang]

I've got one:

It's got King Sites and a King Cockeyed hammer.

And I even take it out occasionally to the range.

 

[splithoof]

^^^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that revolver as pictured in post #10 is what the OP was talking about. My grandfather's (now mine) Registered Magnum was produced in 1936, and has a 5" barrel, hump-back hammer, checkered top-strap, and partridge front sight. When he purchased it new, there was paperwork that was sent to S&W, and some short time later a "certificate" arrived that listed him as the owner, along with a brief description of the weapon. I have the original box, cert, return envelope with cancelled postage, owners manual, etc. Luckily, he bought near a case of ammo, but only fired most of one box, and stored the rest. Someday my kids will own it.

 

[Jim K]

Remember that the Registered Magnums were semi-custom. Any barrel length between 3 1/2" and 8 3/4" could be ordered, along with special sights, special hammers, etc. AFAIK, all had the top strap and barrel rib checkered.

(Note that the square profile sights are "Patridge" sights, named for E.E. Patridge who popularized them.)

Jim

 

[clang]

^^^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that revolver as pictured in post #10 is what the OP was talking about. My grandfather's (now mine) Registered Magnum was produced in 1936, and has a 5" barrel, hump-back hammer, checkered top-strap, and partridge front sight. When he purchased it new, there was paperwork that was sent to S&W, and some short time later a "certificate" arrived that listed him as the owner, along with a brief description of the weapon. I have the original box, cert, return envelope with cancelled postage, owners manual, etc. Luckily, he bought near a case of ammo, but only fired most of one box, and stored the rest. Someday my kids will own it.

Yep - it's a real Registered Magnum. It was shipped in 1938 and has the registration number on the frame when you open the cylinder.

 

[splithoof]

^^^I learn something every day. I did not know they shipped that model with that hammer. Mine has the hump-back style. Yours also has a very well preserved finish. Nice!

 

[pendennis]

There are S&W .357 Magnums which have a registration number, but are not considered "Registered Magnums". When S&W stopped the registration procedure/feature, there were already frames built.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

This is what yours should look like in terms of the registration number and box.

I don't have the certificate for mine so technically it is not a "Registered Magnum".

I do have the order form:



This is what you filled out to actually get your Registered Model made. Note mine is the 1939 Camp Perry Championship gun as donated by S&W. Note that they list on the top of the form that we give this every year and they wanted it listed in the program.

One thought. I did not realize that the Humpback Hammer (like mine above) was available in 1936 as stated above. I thought it came a lot later for some reason. I was thinking 1938 but I am not sure of that date.


I shoot mine. Here is 50 shots, offhand 15 yrds.


50 shots, 15 yrds, single action with full power 357 Magnum ammo as loaded in the 1939, not like today's ammo.

 

[splithoof]

Classic old S&W's never go out of style!

 

[gunfish]

This one was flogged at a small Indiana gun show for 4 hours before I showed up. I was fortunate that day.




This picture doesn't show it well but it was stamped S&W .357 Magnum . That's the original name.

 

[Shear_stress]

Some truly beautiful guns in this thread.