A whole lot of Registered Magnums.

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Checkman

member
Joined
Sep 23, 2003
Messages
1,884
Location
Idaho

Attachments

  • Battery of RM's.jpg
    Battery of RM's.jpg
    49.8 KB · Views: 348
  • 4.5 inch RM.jpg
    4.5 inch RM.jpg
    56.7 KB · Views: 200
  • 5.5 RM.jpg
    5.5 RM.jpg
    57.7 KB · Views: 123
  • 314259.jpg
    314259.jpg
    52.4 KB · Views: 66
Last edited:
That hurts...I have one (1) Registered Magnum...Now, amongst commoners, like me, its pretty cool to boast that you even HAVE a RM...but, compared to that....sigh...
 
P95Carry
*SIGH* - one can but dream!
Click to expand...

Yeah that was my thought as well when I looked at the photos. Nevertheless I knew that folks here would be able to appreciate the view, even if it's through a green tint. And to think that there are collections of registered magnums out there that would make this one look tiny by comparison. Amazing. :what:
 
When S&W introduced the .357 Magnum in 1935 the guns were custom ordered. All started with 8 & 3/4" barrels but would be cut in 1/4" incriments to any desired length. Stock and sight options galore. Each came with a certificate bearing the "Registration Number" of that gun (also stamped on frame, ie REG 5501). Hence the Registered Magnum moniker.

S&W was overwhelmed with orders (many from cop shops) and after around 5,500 units they dropped the registration numbers. Another 6,000 or so were made before WW II and these are called Pre-War Magnums (some of these appear to have been stamped with the registration number even though no certificate was included).

The RM is king on the S&W Forum. It seems to be the most desired gun amongst the collectors who post there. The guns are rare and very pricey, as are the accessories. An original screwdriver that came with these will sell for $1,200. The guy who owns the collection pictured above paid $4,000 for the correct box to go with one of guns. He says the cost was justified in the increased value of the set but I don't play in the league so it's beyond me. I can't imagine the monetary value of the revolvers in the pictures posted above. More than I make in a year, for sure.
 
With any barrel length from 3½" to 8¾", the availability of several different sights and other options I seem to recall there were over 500 variations possible with a Registered Magnum.

Even after they stopped registering them most of the variations were still available.

After The War they pared them down to just a few versions and when the numbering system started they became known as the Model 27. The Model 27 was, even up until the end of it's life, considered the flagship of the S&W line.
 
If you have not shot one they are truly unique guns. The fit and finish is superb and I don't know if it is the excellent trigger, the quality of the gun, or whatever, but it tends to bring out the real marksman in a person.

Here is mine in action. Mine is a 1939 6.5". Great gun, truly hard to describe.
single_action.jpg

50 shots, single action, stout charge of 2400, 158 grn Lasercast, 15 yards.

double_action.jpg

50 shots, double action, stout charge of 2400, 158 grn Lasercast, 15 yards.

I shoot mine becuase it was refinished by S&W in the summer of 1944. You have to wonder what strings its prior owner pulled to get it refinished during the middle of the war. I lettered the gun and all I know is it was shipped to Saginaw MI in October of 1939 on custom order.
 
Peter - excellent results. A query tho - in that first pic - to my eye - the cylinder and ejector rod appear out of parallel.

My crop out has a line overlayed - not quite perfect with the eject rod but - does seem to show up the disparity. Hard to see it as an optical illusion only.


attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • RM-eyk-crane.jpg
    RM-eyk-crane.jpg
    20.1 KB · Views: 603
Great eyes! Give that man a try with it!

Yep it is bent. It was that way when I got it and yes it does bind up the double action a bit. I have investigated getting it fixed several times, but I don't want the gun to leave my possession until I have another Registered to take its place or I may drive up to cylinder and slide and ask them to do it "on the spot".

I know it is an easy fix, but I am just not going to let just anyone try and fix it. Parts are to hard to come by to fix it otherwise. I have bought several 38/44 heavy duties just for replacement ejector rods and heads (just in case).

In Single action you never know it is a problem, thus I single action it mostly.
 
Well - at least my eyes weren't playing tricks (this time) :D. I shot years ago with a guy who had an early M27 - with a similar mis-alignment - he like you was only SA shooting and it did fine. I guess as long as you still have enough clearance on cyl/barrel gap it'll perform and the forcing cone will ''adjust'' the small amount needed.

Be nice tho - one day - to get a full and expert fix - the gun deserves it :)
 
It's a crying damn shame that the Registered Magnum, and the New Century (Triple Lock) without a doubt the finest guns S&W ever made are two of the models that S&W refuses to work on. It seems S&W considers them too old.




It makes you wonder about their so called Lifetime warranty they now offer.

Is that the lifetime of the gun or the lifetime of their spare parts box?
But then, I am not really worried about a 2005 produced S&W lasting into the next century.

The current practice of S&W seems to be to offer the customer a new gun instead of fixing an older one.
I feared this was going to happen when they started dumping their stockpiles of spare parts.
I guess the accountants who really run the show deemed it a better financial strategy to replace guns than to have to worry about storing all of those hungry extra parts. As well as having no further need to replace those people trained in the art of hand fitting parts.
 
Did someone mention the Triple Lock? I just picked this guy up but I can't recall what I paid. Odd, I usually remember. Seems like around $350 or so. Anyway...

standard.gif
 
Did somebody mention the Model 28? I grabbed this one for $290 (included shipping) from a WA dealer about a month ago. It's a first year (maybe first month) production pre-28. I replaced the old Herrett's with a correct set of Magnas I got off eBay for $18. Gun is about 95%. Haven't shot it yet because going to the range is out of the question in July and August.

standard.gif
 
"The registered became the M27 and it became M28,...."

The 28 was made concurrantly with the 27, not a replacement of it, and was intended as a lower cost version, not finished as nicely, for duty use. The 27 has a much higher polished blue, and the entire top of the frame, rear sight, and barrel were finely checkered.

Having had several 27's and 28''s, they both function and shoot well, but the finish of the 27 is head and shoulders above the 28. The 27's are a true work of art.
 
I wish the custom shop would re issue the Registered magnums in its heritage series. I would buy one in a heart beat. My Grandad had one and my oldest brother inherited it. He did not know what he had he took it hunting and allowed it to get soak in a holster. It became baddly pitted so he refinished it. :what: When I found out I wanted to strangle him. I inherited a nice Winchester 53 Target rifle. But I wish I had the Registered Mag.
Pat
 
The 28 was made concurrantly with the 27, not a replacement of it, and was intended as a lower cost version, not finished as nicely, for duty use. The 27 has a much higher polished blue, and the entire top of the frame, rear sight, and barrel were finely checkered.
Click to expand...

Thanks!!
I didn't know that!! I thought the 28 replaced the 27!!
My bad!! :evil:
 
No biggy, just a little Smith trivia.

The 28's I've had and handled were very smooth, just not finished as finely as the 27's. I regret selling all the 27's and 28's I've had. May luck into one again someday.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Raw steel to Smith & Wesson
Replies
2
Views
867
Jim K
J
G
  • Locked
I'm in love, or at least lustful...
Replies
10
Views
785
LAH
LAH
DAdams
  • Locked
S&W Night Guard Line-Up&Shot Show Pics
Replies
0
Views
656
DAdams
DAdams
XavierBreath
  • Locked
S&W 340PD Kaboom
Replies
8
Views
1K
Jim K
J
C
  • Locked
Good man passed
Replies
14
Views
807
Hutch
H
Back
Top