What's a "Registered Magnum"?
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Expanding a little....
I think the original magnums were almost the equivalent of today's S&W custom shop. Every .357 that went out during this period was their top of the line, Flagship, revolver. S&W included a birth certificate with each one. Probably just a marketing gimmick to make them seem like the extra dollars were worth it. Registered Magnums do seem to fetch a much higher price than the others.
I think the original magnums were almost the equivalent of today's S&W custom shop. Every .357 that went out during this period was their top of the line, Flagship, revolver. S&W included a birth certificate with each one. Probably just a marketing gimmick to make them seem like the extra dollars were worth it. Registered Magnums do seem to fetch a much higher price than the others.
The original RM was a full blown custom from the factory. You told them how you wanted it built and they did it. The certificate shipped with the gun listed how that gun was built.
Since they were a custom order gun, not many are alike and not many were built. Add to that the quality of work at the time and you get a gun that will have a Smith fan droolin'.
As far as the new RM,well,it's blued.
Since they were a custom order gun, not many are alike and not many were built. Add to that the quality of work at the time and you get a gun that will have a Smith fan droolin'.
As far as the new RM,well,it's blued.
Many in the S&W collecting world consider this the "Holy Grail" of collecting. IMHO, with good reason, they are verrrry nice. Below are various registered magnums.
I disagree with:
Not even close. It's like trying to compare orignal paintings to lithographs. Hanging on the wall, from 15 feet, you might not notice the difference. No offense to any of the guys at the Custom Shop or Performance Center, but their grandfathers were better artisans, if not better craftsmen.
What's been said is generally correct, but what made the revolver "registered" was that each order was assigned a number, and the number was stamped on the gun inside the yoke cut. A certificate was also provided that listed the owner's name, and a full description of the features on the gun. The certificate (which are much more rare the the revolvers) had the same number. Smith & Wesson expected that orders would be relatively few because of the high cost of the gun relative to others, but after making some 5,224 revolvers between 1935 and '39 they quit the registration process, but continued to make the gun until 1940 when they converted over to make K-frame revolvers exclusively during World War Two.
Mostly been said but the Registered Magnums were the first .357 Magnum revolvers and were introduced in 1935. They were truly custom and the buyer could order any barrel length from 3.5” to 8.75" or anything in ¼” increments in between. Different sights, stocks and choice of blue or nickel could be ordered. Price was $60 and that was a lot in the Depression Era. These were very deluxe guns.
Something over 5,000 sold (experts disagree over the exact number) and most may have been sold to police agencies as cops wanted the new powerful caliber. By 1939 S&W dropped including the registration certificate (hence the name) and made the barrel lengths standard at the usual lengths. No more 4.75” barrels although these 1939-41 guns (called Pre-War Magnums by most) were just as deluxe). This model would evolve into the Model 27.
A shooter grade RM (refinished, some replaced parts, incorrect stocks, etc) will sell for $1,000-$2,000. Decent ones will go $2,000-$4,000 and the really top-notch guns can go up to $10,000+ if in original condition with box and accessories. Registration #1 went to J. Edgar Hoover and one RM was custom made in .22 long Rifle caliber. The price on either, should they be offered, would be astronomical.
I have always been a fan of N frame .357s (Model 27 and variants) and last year I took the plunge and bought my 1st RM. It’s a decent gun inscribed UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL.
Something over 5,000 sold (experts disagree over the exact number) and most may have been sold to police agencies as cops wanted the new powerful caliber. By 1939 S&W dropped including the registration certificate (hence the name) and made the barrel lengths standard at the usual lengths. No more 4.75” barrels although these 1939-41 guns (called Pre-War Magnums by most) were just as deluxe). This model would evolve into the Model 27.
A shooter grade RM (refinished, some replaced parts, incorrect stocks, etc) will sell for $1,000-$2,000. Decent ones will go $2,000-$4,000 and the really top-notch guns can go up to $10,000+ if in original condition with box and accessories. Registration #1 went to J. Edgar Hoover and one RM was custom made in .22 long Rifle caliber. The price on either, should they be offered, would be astronomical.
I have always been a fan of N frame .357s (Model 27 and variants) and last year I took the plunge and bought my 1st RM. It’s a decent gun inscribed UTAH HIGHWAY PATROL.
Brownie,
Huh, I wish I got that pic off an internet website. Maybe some day I'll have a collection like that.
Huh, I wish I got that pic off an internet website. Maybe some day I'll have a collection like that.
I was under the impression that at the time all models could be had custom, at Colt as well as S&W? I have read accounts of people having specific features straight from the factory without the Registered Magnum paperwork (or maybe that part wasn't mentioned).
Yes, both S&W and especially Colt would do many custom features that weren't on the standard production guns, but the Registered Magnum didn't have a standard production model. Every buyer had to specify the barrel length, sights, stocks and finish when they ordered the gun. And the registered certificates didn't come with the gun, you had to send in a post card (that did come with the gun) to the factory and then S&W would send back the registration certificate. Many of the guns that were sold to the various police departments never had the card sent in, so the officers never received the certificates.
tanksoldier
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It's important to note that when they came out "Registered Magnums" weren't called that. It's a name that's been given since all the OTHER magnums have come out over the years.
Each "Registered Magnum" was a custom gun. I've read that some guns were built with common options and stocked by dealers... the purchaser would then send in for the "birth certificate"... but for the most part each was custom ordered by the purchaser.
Each "Registered Magnum" was a custom gun. I've read that some guns were built with common options and stocked by dealers... the purchaser would then send in for the "birth certificate"... but for the most part each was custom ordered by the purchaser.
If your frame looks like this (without the smudged out numbers) then you have a Registered Magnum within reason.
Without going into the specifics there is a lot of questions revolving around the Registered Magnums. Some folks consider a Registered Magnum to be only those that letter as such and can produce the Registration Certificate. All others (like the one above) are just "registered models". If you don't have a "registered model" then it is a pre-war magnum. It is a lot more complex then that but look for what is in the picture to know if you have one or not.
Great guns by the way. Mine is so much better quality in terms of fit and finish that nothing I have seen from the performance shop even comes close. To me the current performance shop guns look like a Yugo compared to the fit and finish of a Bentley.
Claim it was theirs and was stolen.
Given that Registered Magnums are older guns, chances are many have changed hands at least once, probalby not all throught gun stores. Private transactions have no paperwork required, so how things got from point A to point B can be contested. What was the paperwork required of stores before 1968? Could be a big void out there that can be used to cause legal confusion.
Unless the gun was handed down in the family (good family), an anti-troll or opportunist might do this.
Even if you eventually win, it can be a hassle.
You don't worry about such things? Then give me your name, address, social security number, and mother's maiden name. To save some hassle, what is your driver's license number?
Given that Registered Magnums are older guns, chances are many have changed hands at least once, probalby not all throught gun stores. Private transactions have no paperwork required, so how things got from point A to point B can be contested. What was the paperwork required of stores before 1968? Could be a big void out there that can be used to cause legal confusion.
Unless the gun was handed down in the family (good family), an anti-troll or opportunist might do this.
Even if you eventually win, it can be a hassle.
You don't worry about such things? Then give me your name, address, social security number, and mother's maiden name. To save some hassle, what is your driver's license number?
Croyance has it down pat.
Where is the upside to me to show all of the details. I have careful documentation to all of my guns and I buy through FFL's so they have been checked once, but you never know. That gun has been around since 1939. Who knows where it has been or who owned it before me.
I just pragmatically don't see much upside to showing all of the numbers. In the same vein, I regret at times using my name for my posts. That was probably not a good idea years ago.
Live and learn so to speak.
Where is the upside to me to show all of the details. I have careful documentation to all of my guns and I buy through FFL's so they have been checked once, but you never know. That gun has been around since 1939. Who knows where it has been or who owned it before me.
I just pragmatically don't see much upside to showing all of the numbers. In the same vein, I regret at times using my name for my posts. That was probably not a good idea years ago.
Live and learn so to speak.
Serial 56459 REG 4034
Go ahead and report it stolen. Claim it as your own. Go ahead. Here's an RM up for grabs, according to you. All you have to do is claim it.
Just bear in mind that filing a false police report is a crime. So is attempted fraud and doing it over public communication systems or across state lines makes it a federal offense.
Well, what are your waiting for? Call the police and claim that pistol.
You're right about revealing your name and/or address in public, though. I learned the hard way.
Go ahead and report it stolen. Claim it as your own. Go ahead. Here's an RM up for grabs, according to you. All you have to do is claim it.
Just bear in mind that filing a false police report is a crime. So is attempted fraud and doing it over public communication systems or across state lines makes it a federal offense.
Well, what are your waiting for? Call the police and claim that pistol.
You're right about revealing your name and/or address in public, though. I learned the hard way.
Yes it is a crime, but the majority of posters here aren't criminals. However, you share few other details of the gun, which cannot be said of those who posted pictures.
Hey guys, let's keep this on topic. There's been some very interesting info about these great old revolvers. Don't let the thread degenerate.
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