Registered Magnum

[bear401]

Hi all you great gun gurus!!! I just recieved this Registered Magnum...Yay!!! This one has to have a story behind it. Serial # 59xxx... REG 52xx. It has carved ivory grips, 7 ruby jeweled and gold California Highway Patrol emblem. I believe a king "cock eyed" hammer. I think something has been done to the front sight.

Sorry the pictures are not very good, I will get better ones.

I respect your knowlege greatly on Smith & Wesson fire arms. I would appreciate any information you could give me no matter how small.

Thank you all very much!

[SaxonPig]

Obviously done up as a presentation piece or gussied up by a former owner.

Did the CHP exist using that logo at the time the gun was new? May suggest when it was done if not.

I would start with the letter from Roy (if they are available again yet). But this may one of those interesting guns that you never know the full story on.

[DHENRY]

bear401
Thanks for a neat and interesting post!
I have that same front sight on a R.M. that was a S&W test-gun.
I note the CHP medallion covers the 'S&W' crest on the r.h. side.
Factory letters are, indeed, available (again) at the cost of $ 50.
If you need the address and/or form, just email me.
My guess on that gun is that, considering the high serial and registration numbers, it's a very late example, and the grips and double-cockeyed hammer make me think 1940's-1950's work.
The trigger shoe would also indicate (to me) 1950's work.
Please keep us posted, as we're big fans of the Registered Magnum!
Don

[RAB]

Bear401,

Welcome to the Forum. That is a very fascinating Registered Magnum. I would echo every thing that Don said and also encourage you to get a letter from The S&W Historian, Roy Jinks. The $50 cost of the letter is actually an insignificant amount in relation to the value of the gun and will add much more than its cost to the equation.

The grips are also very interesting. Can you tell if they are ivory or some synthetic material? Have you taken them off? If so, please tell us if there are any markings on the back sides and also if there are any numbers or markings on the grip frame of the revolver.

Bob

[bear401]

Thank you Don and Rob for taking a look and answering my post. Work keeps me so busy I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

The gun came from a Dear friend of mine, who's father had a large gun collection. I'm sorry to say he past away. When talking to him over the years, he was proudest of his Volcanic and this Smith & Wesson. He was a wonderful collector of many things and had a great eye when it came to collecting. This gun was in his collection for many years. My friend remebers shooting it as a child.

The grips are ivory but sadly there are no markings on the back. There is a "B" or "8" (eyes are not as good as they use to be) stamped on the bottom corner of grip the frame, you can see the stamp when grips are removed. The trigger shoe has H. Henshaw (I believe for Harvy Henshaw)stamped in it. The Grip adapter is a "sure grip" made by Fray-Mershon inc. Glendale Ca. don't think they are in business either. The CHP emblem has no markings that would help identify it. I have shown it to several CHP Officers that I know, who have gun collections, but they have no idea. They just say, "wow where did you get this."

I have printed out the form from the Smith & Wesson web site. I want to compose a letter to Mr. Jinks giving him as much detail as possible. Any information you can give me is very appreciated.

Thank you all very much!

Ron

Just beautiful! Wonderful color in that Ivory.

[DHENRY]

Ron,
What a neat example!
Your idea of sending a letter to Roy along with the form is an excellent one.
He brings just such an idea up frequently, as the more information he gets the more you'll get back.
Don

[vonfatman]

Ron, Welcome and THANK YOU for posting the pictures of your beautiful RM.

It's a thing of beauty!! I am sure you will treasure it for many years.

Bob

[RAB]

Ron,

Give Roy all the information that you can in the letter. Give the details that you have given us here including the fact that it came from an old collector who also had a Volcanic. Include the pictures of your gun also. You might even mention the name of the old collector to Roy and it is possible that he was acquainted with him.

Your gun is NOT included in the current list of known Registered Magnums by the S&W Collectors Assoc. so it has not been lettered before by Jinks. These old RM's are a favorite of Roy's and he will give you all the help that he can.

Keep us posted on what you find out.

Bob

[bear401]

Pictures of the grips after being cleaned.