Overview

Offered here is an exceptionally desirable and historically significant Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum revolver, chambered in .357 Magnum and bearing Registration Number 395. Serial number 46600 places this revolver among the earliest examples produced during the inaugural year of Registered Magnum production.

Introduced in 1935, the Registered Magnum represented the absolute pinnacle of Smith & Wesson craftsmanship and became the world’s first commercially successful .357 Magnum revolver. Each example was individually built to customer specifications and assigned its own registration number, with buyers able to select barrel length, sights, grips, trigger pull, and sighting regulation preferences.

This revolver is accompanied by an outstanding collection of factory research letters, copies of original order correspondence, registration information, and historical research relating to the original owner from Scranton, North Dakota. The included archival material substantially enhances both the historical significance and collector desirability of this revolver.

Factory records confirm this revolver shipped on August 27, 1935, to Homer May in Scranton, North Dakota. Documentation further confirms it was specially regulated at the factory for 100-yard shooting with .357 Magnum ammunition using a 6 o’clock hold — a fascinating custom specification from the early days of Magnum revolver development, when customers could request individualized sight regulation beyond the more typical 25-yard setup.

The factory historical letter confirms the revolver originally shipped with:

• 8¾" barrel
• Patridge front sight
• Square notch rear
• Blue finish
• Checkered walnut grips
• Wesson Grip Adapter
• Registration Number 395

The revolver is currently outfitted with a desirable McGivern gold bead front sight and adjustable peep rear sight configuration, and no longer retains the originally specified Wesson Grip Adapter. These details are noted for historical accuracy and transparency.

The revolver itself displays the unmistakable features collectors seek in early Registered Magnums, including the long 8¾" barrel, finely polished pre-war blue finish, checkered top rib, precision-fitted action, classic pre-war N-frame profile with grips serial numbered to the gun. Condition shows honest handling wear and finish thinning consistent with age and use while maintaining strong collector appeal and excellent historical presence.

Examples of Registered Magnums accompanied by substantial provenance and factory documentation have become increasingly difficult to locate, particularly examples with surviving correspondence directly tied to the original purchaser. The included historical material creates an unusually personal and traceable connection to one of the earliest Registered Magnums shipped during the Great Depression era.

This is an important and highly collectible documented pre-war Smith & Wesson Magnum from the beginning of .357 Magnum history.

Specifications

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: Registered Magnum
Caliber:.357 Magnum
Capacity: 6 Rounds
Barrel Length: 8¾"
Action: Double-Action / Single-Action Revolver
Frame: Large N-Frame
Finish: Blued
Front Sight: McGivern Gold Bead
Rear Sight: Adjustable Peep Rear Sight
Grips: Checkered Walnut Stocks
Serial Number: 46600
Registration Number: 395
Shipment Date: August 27, 1935
Original Owner: Homer May – Scranton, North Dakota
Condition: Good vintage condition with honest handling wear and aging consistent with use

Included Documentation & Provenance

Included with the revolver is an exceptional collection of historical materials, including:

• Smith & Wesson factory historical research letter
• Copies of original order correspondence
• Original registration/order paperwork copies
• Correspondence discussing production timeline and shipment
• Historical research regarding Scranton, North Dakota
• Historical research relating to original owner Homer May

The documentation provides a remarkable glimpse into the special-order process surrounding early Registered Magnums and helps firmly establish the provenance of this revolver.

Historical Significance

The Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum remains one of the most important and collectible revolvers ever produced. Introduced in 1935, it established the benchmark for premium double-action Magnum revolvers and directly influenced generations of Smith & Wesson performance revolvers that followed.

Each Registered Magnum was individually built and registered to its purchaser, making no two examples exactly alike. Customers could specify nearly every detail of the revolver, resulting in highly personalized configurations rarely seen in modern production firearms.

Only approximately 5,500 Registered Magnums were produced prior to the discontinuation of the registration program and wartime production interruption, making surviving documented examples increasingly scarce.

Long-barreled early-production Registered Magnums with factory letters, archival documentation, and traceable ownership history remain among the most sought-after revolvers in advanced Smith & Wesson collecting today.

COMPLIANCE & SHIPPING

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An FFL is required for shipping upon purchase of this item. During checkout, please enter the billing and shipping address associated with your form of payment. Your preferred receiving FFL may be noted in the order comments section; the business name, city, and state are sufficient.

It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure this item is legal to own in their state and locality. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and reserve the right to cancel any transaction that cannot be completed legally. Once payment and FFL information have been received and verified, your order will be processed for shipment.

Please feel free to reach out to info@tylergunworks.com with any questions or for additional information.