I think I scored a Unicorn.

ontarget

ontarget

Contributing Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
4,345
Location
Michigan (Gods country)
Yesterday I went to pick up my new 19-3.
The owner of the LGS knows me, and my love of S&W revolvers. He tells me to get out my wallet, and starts showing me a bunch of consignments that were brought in. Nothing I was interested in or didn't already have. Then he shows me a 4 inch "Pre-27". It was in very good condition and I didn't already have one, soooooo, it came home with me today.
Well, as it turns out, it is definitely a very "Pre-27". It's a 1940, Pre War, "Non-registered" Magnum. It seems that when S&W stopped the RM program to focus on the war efforts, they still sold the remaining RMs but without the factory registration. Looks like only about 1400 in total. Here's mine.
20240814_182207.jpg 20240814_182146.jpg
It's very clean, with a bit of holster wear at the muzzle, and the wrong stocks, but I think I did pretty good for $800.00
What do you all think?
Yes, I did have to register it with the MI State Police, so I guess now it's technically a RM. LOL.
 
ontarget said:
Yesterday I went to pick up my new 19-3.
The owner of the LGS knows me, and my love of S&W revolvers. He tells me to get out my wallet, and starts showing me a bunch of consignments that were brought in. Nothing I was interested in or didn't already have. Then he shows me a 4 inch "Pre-27". It was in very good condition and I didn't already have one, soooooo, it came home with me today.
Well, as it turns out, it is definitely a very "Pre-27". It's a 1940, Pre War, "Non-registered" Magnum. It seems that when S&W stopped the RM program to focus on the war efforts, they still sold the remaining RMs but without the factory registration. Looks like only about 1400 in total. Here's mine.
View attachment 1223302View attachment 1223303
It's very clean, with a bit of holster wear at the muzzle, and the wrong stocks, but I think I did pretty good for $800.00
What do you all think?
Yes, I did have to register it with the MI State Police, so I guess now it's technically a RM. LOL.
Click to expand...
Show some photos of the top of the gun. my favorite part of of a RM

congrats on your Non Registered Magnum ! $800 is no joke good deal!!!
 
$800? That would seem to be a smokin' deal (so long as the gun's in good mechanical condition, locks up tight and timing checks out)!
Frulk said:
Nice gun. Why did it need to get registered with the state police?
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's a pesky aspect of living in the Great Lakes State. Has had formal gun registration for many years. I kept Michigan as my state of legal residence until I retired from the military, may go back, but it would surely be a PITA with all the firearms I'd be bringing into the state.
 
Old Dog said:
$800? That would seem to be a smokin' deal (so long as the gun's in good mechanical condition, locks up tight and timing checks out)!

Yeah, that's a pesky aspect of living in the Great Lakes State. Has had formal gun registration for many years. I kept Michigan as my state of legal residence until I retired from the military, may go back, but it would surely be a PITA with all the firearms I'd be bringing into the state.
Click to expand...
my Shop here sold a Pre-27 4” for $1600 or $1700 ~ believe they also had the ultra rare shorter barrel but that when on GB
 
Your LGS guy didn't do his homework too well if you got a Non-Registered Magnum for only $800. They typically bring much higher prices than Registered Magnums of equal condition. SCSW values a pre-war Non RM in fair condition at $1500 and that is a 2016 valuation. Yours looks to be quite a bit better than fair, the non-original stocks would make it fair. The values jump quickly as condition improves, Good condition is around $2500, VGC is $3250. One in excellent condition without the box, etc would bring $4500. ANIB, if you ever found one, is $11K. What's the SN (partial) to date it by?

Too bad it isn't a post-war Transitional. Even a fair condition example is five digits in price. You done good.
 
Mark_Mark said:
my Shop here sold a Pre-27 4” for $1600 or $1700 ~ believe they also had the ultra rare shorter barrel but that when on GB
Click to expand...
Shoot, I paid $1500 for a 1955 "357 Magnum" (not really a "non-registered magnum", but close) about twenty years ago, back when I first got interested in this madness. It was in VERY good condition and had the original gold/blue box and some of the papers even. The only thing "wrong" with it was the S/N on the stocks was off by one digit, the last digit, from the gun. The gun ended in 5, the grips ended in 6 or something like that. Probably still the originals even that that.

Alas I was too dumb to know what I had and ended up selling it for something else a year or two later. And yes, I took a beating on it when I sold it.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Nice find -- why is it I can never find one of these!

If you decide to shoot it much, and cannot bring yourself to install oversize rubber grips, consider a period-correct grip adapter.

View attachment 1223331
Click to expand...
Hear me out…I thought the Grip Adapters were cool at one point, but it kinda takes away from the curve of the gun.

just me or anybody else think too???
 
ontarget said:
Absolutely. A letter is in this guns future.
Click to expand...
the Letter is really COOL! I got one from Jinks (I think) and it adds to the gun. I got a Colt Factory letter one too, equally as cool

How much are letters?
IMG_2038.jpeg
 
Green with envy indeed!

Someday, when I grow up, I want to be like you gents that have the lucky revolver gene. You know the one where sellers offer you treasures at super great prices. 😆
Or is it your after shave?…

Kidding aside, @ontarget , that is a spectacular revolver. Congratulations. 😎
 
Pat Riot said:
Green with envy indeed!

Someday, when I grow up, I want to be like you gents that have the lucky revolver gene. You know the one where sellers offer you treasures at super great prices. 😆
Or is it your after shave?…

Kidding aside, @ontarget , that is a spectacular revolver. Congratulations. 😎
Click to expand...
you don’t dress up fir the Shop??? it’s like date night, but with guns!
 
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