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Mark_Mark
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Hard copy of the Standard Catalog of Colt is selling for $100-$400
my 1st. Classic S&W What did I buy?
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Driftwood Johnson
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Try Amazon. The hardcover edition with the Colt Paterson on the cover is selling for $27.56. That is the same version I have.
SwampWolf
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Browning had to dodge his own patents (for the 1911) when designing what eventually would be the P35/ Hi-Power pistol.
Jim Watson
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And after Mr Browning died, Msr Saive reworked his designs into final form, including features whose patents had lapsed.
Mosin77
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A finish-challenged Model 28 is a more affordable alternative to a Registered Magnum.
It's the same revolver without the fancy details and paperwork.
And a model 27 is the same thing but with prettier finish. I’d choose the 27 if I could, though the 28 is often to be had more affordably. To me, the 28 is less appealing visually than even a basic model 10.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Standard Catalog of S&W is the bible for that brand, except the pricing is useless. None of the other "standard catalog" books are good for much. Surely not worth those asking prices.
I used to look down my nose at the HWP/28, back when a good 27 or 29 was $400 and a 28 was under $300 but time changes everything.
I used to look down my nose at the HWP/28, back when a good 27 or 29 was $400 and a 28 was under $300 but time changes everything.
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Mark_Mark
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the top of the Registered Magnum looks very cool. You guys think that was hand checked?
stonebuster
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The Model 27 has the same or similar checkering on the top.
Driftwood Johnson
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I totally agree the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson is the bible for that brand. Except for the pricing of course. Almost everything you could possibly want to know about Smith and Wesson products from Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson's development of what became known as the Volcanic firearms staring as early as 1852 right up to the present day. Well, as I said before I prefer my 3rd edition which was published in 2006. I am not interested in anything S&W has done since 2006.
I will disagree slightly about the other "Standard Catalog" books. Although clearly mimicking the Smith book, and published by a different outfit, I do find useful information in the other "Standard Catalog" books.
The Model 28 was introduced in 1954 as a 'utility version' (quoting from SCSW) of The (N frame) 357 Magnum. When introduced it was called the Highway Patrolman, changed to Model 28 in 1957. The Model 28 lacks the high polish of the Model 27 and does not have the checkering on the top strap and barrel rib.
I have three of them.
Although the finish of a Model 28 is not as bright and shiny as a Model 27, this one has actually been refinished and looks to me it was sandblasted.
The Highway Patrolman marking can still be seen on the barrel.
Also, the Model 28 has the Baughman Quick Draw front sight. The Model 27 has the Patridge front sight.
As has been stated several times, the Model 27 retains the checkering on the top strap and barrel rib of the original Registered Magnums. My Model 27 is in the foreground of this photo, a Model 28 is in the background.
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Driftwood Johnson
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No.
Wood can be checkered by hand, although most of it is done by machine these days.
Steel is not checkered by hand. It is done with a hardened roller that impresses the pattern into the metal.
Here is a photo from about 1950 of the stock checkering machines at S&W. The work pieces were clamped into the fixture, then powered cutters did the checkering.
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Mark_Mark
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very cool!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I don't know how S&W did it but gunsmiths do checker by hand. S&W probably used a machine but it is cut, not pressed.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Smith and Wesson was producing 120 Registered Magnums per month. They most certainly were not taking the time that guy is taking to cut checkering on the top strap and barrel rib. I made an assumption that the checkering was pressed into the registered Magnum, as well as my Model 27. I suppose I could be wrong, I'm sure they could have come up with a mechanized way to cut the checkering. They most certainly did not take the time to do it one at a time as that guy is doing. It just seemed more obvious to me that a hardened roller could be used, just like roll engraving is done.
Hmm....maybe I will post a question on the Smith and Wesson forum, somebody there will probably know.
Years ago I bought some checkering chisels to try my hand at checkering wood. Never actually did any.
I toured the Remington factory years ago and got a chance to watch the checkering operation they were doing on rifle stocks. The stock was clamped into the machine, then two cutters made a swipe across the stock, each cutter going a different direction to cut the diamond patterned checkering. The machine Remington was using was obviously very old, it was all mechanical, built long before computers existed.
Hmm....maybe I will post a question on the Smith and Wesson forum, somebody there will probably know.
Years ago I bought some checkering chisels to try my hand at checkering wood. Never actually did any.
I toured the Remington factory years ago and got a chance to watch the checkering operation they were doing on rifle stocks. The stock was clamped into the machine, then two cutters made a swipe across the stock, each cutter going a different direction to cut the diamond patterned checkering. The machine Remington was using was obviously very old, it was all mechanical, built long before computers existed.
Jim Watson
Member
My postwar .357's rib, a "pre-27" to a collector, sure looks like the cut checkering on the frontstraps of my hand checkered and machine checkered 1911 front straps. The only attempt at pressed checkering in metal on a gun that I know of was the knurled type on the mainspring housing of 1911A1s before they went to serrations.
Mosin77
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I assumed such things were probably done with some kind of a milling machine bit… but I am not a machinist. Either way, probably not “hand” done, if by hand-finished you mean a guy with a graver. A guy running a machine, or even a few guys running a few machines for multiple steps in the process, very likely.
Driftwood Johnson
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I posted a question on the Smith and Wesson forum about how the checkering on the Registered Magnums and Model 27 were done.
No definitive answers so far, but I guess I have to concede the checkering was not done with a hardened roller.
But producing 120 per month, I suspect they were not 'checked by hand'.
I'm sure S&W could come up with tooling to cut the checkering on a machine, not do them individually with gravers or checkering files.
No definitive answers so far, but I guess I have to concede the checkering was not done with a hardened roller.
But producing 120 per month, I suspect they were not 'checked by hand'.
I'm sure S&W could come up with tooling to cut the checkering on a machine, not do them individually with gravers or checkering files.
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Mark_Mark
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well.. I finally got money! Always wanted to be a collector, and tomorrow is not guaranteed.
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Mark_Mark
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That would be interesting to find out. I’ll ask the dealer collectors next time to see his RM again and take photos. I’m sure there are a few machinist here that can tell
Driftwood Johnson
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S&W made up just about all of their tooling. I saw a lot of it when I took a factory tour a few years ago.
It would not be difficult for them to come up with tooling to cut the checkering.
Driftwood Johnson
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I guess I am a late comer. I did not buy my first S&W until 1975.
Two of them actually.
A Model 17-3
And a Model 19-3
Still have them both.
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Mark_Mark
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nice pencil sketch!
