Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: Registered Magnum

Serial Number: 56646

Registration Number: 3729

Year of Manufacture: 1938

Caliber: .357 Magnum

Action Type: Double Action / Single Action Revolver with Swing Out Fluted Cylinder

Barrel Length: 6 1/2"

Sights / Optics: This revolver is fitted with a McGivern-pattern front sight with bead and an adjustable square-notch rear sight, as specified on the original factory order.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The revolver is fitted with factory Magna stocks, matching the original order form. The stocks show light, honest handling wear consistent with age, with no cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color Hammer and Trigger

Finish Originality: Original factory finish.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with strong rifling. There is no visible erosion. There is minor fouling in the chamber end. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 95% of its original finish. There is light edge wear and scattered handling marks, with clear, sharp rollmarks and correct screws throughout. There is some finish loss on the muzzle with some more notable surface scuffs on the right side of the barrel at the muzzle. There is turn line on the cylinder.

Overall condition rates Excellent for a pre-war Registered Magnum.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly in both single and double action. Cylinder lockup is solid and timing appears correct. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver is accompanied by its original blue Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum box, wax paper, and extensive period documentation. Included are the original 1938 factory order form detailing the revolver’s custom specifications, period correspondence from the original purchaser Lloyd J. Palmer, and later factory historical correspondence confirming Registered Magnum production details.

Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum represents the absolute height of pre-war American revolver craftsmanship, produced during a period when each example was built to individual order and recorded by a unique registration number. Introduced in 1935, these revolvers embodied Smith & Wesson’s willingness to push performance, precision, and finish beyond anything previously offered in a production handgun. This 1938 example reflects that philosophy in both execution and documentation.

Chambered in the then-new .357 Magnum cartridge, the Registered Magnum was designed to deliver exceptional velocity and penetration, setting a new benchmark for revolver performance. The 6 1/2" barrel length strikes a balance between sight radius and handling, while the McGivern front sight and square-notch rear sight point toward an emphasis on precision shooting. The revolver remains in honest, well-preserved condition, retaining strong original finish and a bright bore.

What truly elevates this example is the accompanying factory documentation, which clearly records its original configuration and the factory’s handling of the grip adaptor request. The survival of the original box and period correspondence transforms this revolver from a fine pre-war Magnum into a documented historical artifact, offering a direct connection to Smith & Wesson’s bespoke Magnum program.