From 1935 to 1939 some 5,400 Registered Magnums were manufactured by S&W and were virtually a custom made handgun. The .357 Magnum was the most powerful handgun cartridge at the time, and this “state of the art” handgun quickly gained popularity with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, looking for a sidearm to deliver more stopping power. This particular Registered Magnum (reg. no. 4741) was built with a scarce and desirable 4 inch barrel. Short barrel lengths such as 4 inches were popular with law enforcement as clearly proven on this example as it was ordered by the City of Evansville, Indiana Police Department. It is also one of only 144 manufactured with a nickel finish. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on May 19, 1939 and delivered to the Board of Works and Safety, Evansville, Indiana with a 4 inch barrel, nickel finish, humpback hammer, Baughman quick draw front sight, square notch rear sight, and checkered Magna grips. In a second included factory letter it is stated that the City of Evansville received a total of 24 Registered Magnums in this shipment and all but one had the humpback hammer. Includes the S&W order form and invoice for the revolver which confirm the configuration and shipment to the City of Evansville and show this order was personally handled by S&W Sales Manager Cy Bennett. Right grip panel numbered to another gun. Matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder, and ejector shroud. Provenance: The Gary Garbrecht Collection; The Geoff Moore Collection; The Ray Cheely Collection; The Dave Ballantyne Collection

Excellent, retaining 97% original nickel plating with some slight flaking and a cylinder drag line. The grips are very fine with a slight chip near the bottom (right panel) and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An incredibly rare original nickel Registered Magnum.