RM Vivas
US Veteran
Magnum Musings – Wartime Magnum Shipment?
It’s generally held that Magnum deliveries during the war were virtually non-existent. We know #62485, the Rottinger gun, went out to the eponymous owner at Quantico in May of 1942. There seems to have been a few others that may have gone out, including office display models that made the rounds for various show and store displays.
While perusing the records I came across this little gem:
It’s a typical shipping invoice for two 6-inch Magnums to go to E.O. Hall & Son in Honolulu, HI in November of 1941. The order was placed through the New York firm of Theo H. Davies & Co., Ltd.
Note the dates: 11/3/41 and 11/15/41.
Also note that it says CANCELLED 8/14/42 on the bottom.
========================================================
Here we have the order from Theo. H. Davies of New York. Note the date at the top of the page as 11/3/41; this jibes with the Customer’s Date on the shipping invoice.
Also note the handwritten 745M / 11-10-41 that matches the Order Number on the shipping invoice as well.
========================================================
In this letter dated 11/5/41 S&W Sales Manager Cy Bassett gives the soon to be typical “we’re tied up on military production; keep the order on file”. Unsaid, for the moment, is the policy of First Come First Served that would guide post war order fulfilment.
=========================================================================
Here’s where it gets weird.
An invoice generated March 11, 1942 for the two guns! Although they were marked as cancelled in the first document, this one ---seems--- to suggest that a shipment was made. The weight and value are calculated and this suggests to me that the guns were at the very minimum packaged and made ready for shipment.
Were they ever shipped? I haven’t seen anything in the archives that says they were NOR have I seen anything that says they weren’t.
Very interesting. A neat little mystery for some sleuth who may have more time and resources than I!!
This is from the Archives of the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. Cool stuff like this wouldn’t see the light of day without them…. Are you a member?
Membership – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation
Best,
RM Vivas
It’s generally held that Magnum deliveries during the war were virtually non-existent. We know #62485, the Rottinger gun, went out to the eponymous owner at Quantico in May of 1942. There seems to have been a few others that may have gone out, including office display models that made the rounds for various show and store displays.
While perusing the records I came across this little gem:
It’s a typical shipping invoice for two 6-inch Magnums to go to E.O. Hall & Son in Honolulu, HI in November of 1941. The order was placed through the New York firm of Theo H. Davies & Co., Ltd.
Note the dates: 11/3/41 and 11/15/41.
Also note that it says CANCELLED 8/14/42 on the bottom.
========================================================
Here we have the order from Theo. H. Davies of New York. Note the date at the top of the page as 11/3/41; this jibes with the Customer’s Date on the shipping invoice.
Also note the handwritten 745M / 11-10-41 that matches the Order Number on the shipping invoice as well.
========================================================
In this letter dated 11/5/41 S&W Sales Manager Cy Bassett gives the soon to be typical “we’re tied up on military production; keep the order on file”. Unsaid, for the moment, is the policy of First Come First Served that would guide post war order fulfilment.
=========================================================================
Here’s where it gets weird.
An invoice generated March 11, 1942 for the two guns! Although they were marked as cancelled in the first document, this one ---seems--- to suggest that a shipment was made. The weight and value are calculated and this suggests to me that the guns were at the very minimum packaged and made ready for shipment.
Were they ever shipped? I haven’t seen anything in the archives that says they were NOR have I seen anything that says they weren’t.
Very interesting. A neat little mystery for some sleuth who may have more time and resources than I!!
This is from the Archives of the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. Cool stuff like this wouldn’t see the light of day without them…. Are you a member?
Membership – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation
Best,
RM Vivas
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