Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is a 1/2 scale Smith & Wesson pre -WWII .357 Registered Magnum double action revolver made by master miniaturist & gunsmith Raymond E. Hutchens of Indianapolis, Indiana. This exact miniature featured on page 74 of Joseph D. Kramer’s book “Scale Model Firearms”. 7″ long overall with a ribbed rifled barrel which measures 4.165 5/16″ long with a bore diameter of .178. The bore has the correct number of lands & grooves, to the correct depth, with the correct twist. Solid steel machined construction with a the typical beautiful black blue high polish Smith & Wesson finish except for the hammer & trigger which are properly case hardened. All parts that are supposed to be hardened are. Two piece checkered rosewood grips with brass escutcheons and a single nickel plated screw entering from the left side. The top of each grip has an inletted round nickel plated Smith & Wesson grip medallion. All of the markings on this miniature were done in the exact same way Smith & Wesson did it. Roll dies &, punch dies as necessary. The left side of the barrel marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The right side of the barrel marked “S. & W. .357 MAGNUM”. The rib on top of the barrel is checkered. The blade front sight is pinned to the integral sight boss at the front of the barrel.  The frame top strap is also checkered on each side of the rear sight. The left rear of the frame marked with the intertwined S & W logo with “TRADE” at the top and “MARK” at the bottom. The right front of the frame marked “MADE IN U.S.A.”. The rear lower portion of the rear sight is serrated. The rear sight is screw adjustable for both windage & elevation. The cylinder release is checkered, as is the hammer spur, and the end of the ejector plunger. The front and rear grip straps are serrated. The bottom of the butt, rear of the cylinder, the barrel in the channel where the ejector rod sits, and the back side of both grips marked with the serial # “47215”. The frame and crane marked 4915, only visible when the cylinder is swung out. The frame also marked “REG. 723” only visible when the cylinder is swung out. The rear of the trigger & the back rounded part of the hammer are roll stamped “REG.U.S.PAT.OFF.”. Included are six, what look to be live, miniature 1/2 scale .357 magnum rounds of ammunition, but they may be dummies. These have nickel cases, nickel primers, and copper jacketed lead nose bullets. The bullets measure .171 caliber at the case mouth. OAL is .772″. Case length is .652. Case diameter is .186″. Rim diameter is .220″. The rounds are headstamped “W.R.A. S&W .357 MAGNUM”. All of the above housed in the original Hutchens ebony hinged top case with push button latch. The latch button is inlaid with a miniature S & W grip medallion. The top of the case with an unmarked oval escutcheon. There were originally silver corner protectors on the top corners of the lid, but they have been lost. The interior is English fit, & lined in a dark green velour. There is a lidded compartment for the miniature ammunition, the lid with an ivory knob. The bottom of the case stamped “HUTCH” with an engraver’s ball vise under it. Mr. Hutchens is, in my opinion, the best miniature firearms maker to every walk the planet, equaled only by Leon Crottet in Switzerland. Mr. Hutchens miniatures are nothing short of perfection in every conceivable way! Mr. Hutchens made only one of these 1/2 scale Smith & Wessons. Mint condition except for a drag mark on the cylinder and the above mentioned missing silver case corners. Stock # BDMI-03. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
