SOLD - Ultra Rare, Boxed U.S. Post Office Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum - Finest Known

Description

7/13/21 - The Registered Magnum was the first production gun chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and served as an influence on all later large caliber double actions. Built to customer specifications and registered to the owner by Douglas Wesson himself, the approximately 5,400 Registered Magnums made between 1935 and 1939 are virtually custom made revolvers and remain "state of the art" in handgun manufacture today. This is No. 10 of a total of fifteen Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum double action revolvers purchased by the U.S. Government for the Post Office prior to World War II. In "U.S. Handguns of World War II," author Charles Pate writes that the U.S. Army actually purchased the fifteen revolvers for the Post Office. The left side of the frame under the cylinder latch has the Post Office marking: "P.O. DEPT./No. 10." Otherwise, the revolver has standard S&W markings with "REG. 2800" stamped on the inside of the yoke. The revolver is also one of 869 Registered Magnums manufactured with a 5 inch barrel. The S&W factory records confirm this revolver will letter as one of 15 shipped to Springfield Armory for U.S. Post Office Department on August 24, 1937 with marked frame, 5 inch barrel, Magna grips and King/Sheard gold-bead front and "U" notch rear sights. The original S&W factory Type II box carries the illustration of a Magnum fitted with Magna stocks. The box has the small white label on the bottom that retains the serial number and registration number. It features a pinned blade gold-bead Marbles/Sheard front sight on a King base, adjustable "U" notch rear sight and un-numbered Magna grips. Matching serial numbers are found stamped in the ejector shroud, rear cylinder face and butt. The assembly number "10858" is stamped on the yoke and crane. The revolver retains 99+% of the original blue, with just a faint drag line on the cylinder. The condition of the grips and bore match the quality of the blue. Just an immaculate example of one of the most iconic revolvers ever made.