This custom engraved masterpiece is a one-of-a-kind firearm. Appraisal letter and Smith & Wesson factory letter included. Only factory fired. Made in 1954.
“Overall Condition: Your near Mint Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum pre model 27, with S-prefix Serial Number, build on a 5 screw N-frame variation, comes with a 5 barrel and is heavily engraved.
A factory letter accompanies this incredible engraved Revolver, confirming its early history when
shipped on September 30, 1954. The factory letter says the revolver shipped with a 5 barrel with
a ramp front sight, Blued finish, and checkered walnut grips. The heavy Master engraving came
after the gun was sold. At the time of this appraisal the engraver is unknown by this Appraiser
and could change the market value in the future if found that the engraver was someone famous.
The gun maybe giving us some clues to who the engraver is. On the right rear of the receiver
there is a wonderful engraved fight scene with a man and a bear. On the legs of the man it looks
like what I think is the engravers initials. You can see
what looks like a GU on the right boot of the man
and a R on the left boot. Unfortunately, we could
not match it up with any known engraver. It was said
that one of the previous owners was a military man
and the gun might have been engraved in Germany,
but that is only hear say at this time.
The Revolver itself is in near mint condition except
for some faint cylinder drag. The engraving is
wonderful and certainly done by a Master engraver.” – Appraisal Letter
When first introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1935, it was known as the Registered Magnum. The model was essentially a custom-order revolver. Barrel lengths could be had in one-quarter-inch (6.4 mm) increments from 3 12 to 8 34 inches (8.9 to 22.2 cm) inches in length. In addition to the different lengths of barrels available, there were different grips, front sights, triggers, hammers, and finishes available. Each Registered Magnum came with a certificate of authenticity.
Even though it was introduced in the middle of the Great Depression and was extremely expensive, Smith & Wesson found itself backlogged with orders for the four years that it produced the Registered Magnum. The Kansas City Police Department issued the Registered Magnum to its officers, and many other law enforcement officers across the United States carried the Registered Magnum. In 1939 Smith & Wesson stopped producing the Registered Magnum. It was replaced with the .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum was available with barrel lengths of 3 12, 5, 6 12, and 8 34 inches (8.9, 12.7, 16.5, and 22.2 cm). It has been reported that these were the most popular barrel lengths for the Registered Magnum. Essentially the .357 Magnum was still the Registered Magnum, but standardized for ease of production and economy. The Smith & Wesson Model 28 “Highway Patrolman” was introduced as a lower-cost version of the Model 27 in 1954, stripped of some of the features of the Model 27, such as polishing.
It was noted for its durability and reliability. The 312-inch barrel length was extremely popular with FBI agents from the 1940s through the 1960s. Skeeter Skelton considered the Model 27 with a 5-inch barrel as the best all-around handgun. General George Patton carried an ivory-handled Registered Magnum with a 312-inch barrel (along with his ivory-handled Colt Peacemaker); Patton called the Model 27 his “killing gun.”
Caliber: 357 Mag
Barrel: 5″
Capacity: 6 Rounds