I snagged one this afternoon. I don't have any pictures yet and probably won't until I get back home in a week or so.

It has a five inch barrel, all matching numbers, except for the grips. Someone in the past swapped out the original grips for a set of Diamond Magnas. The serial on the gun is 33504, the grips are stamped 129339. It appears to be original bluing, guessing maybe 85% due to a few thin spots. It has been shot plenty by the looks of the recoil shield, but there is hardly a turn line.

I'm on the road and don't have my book with me, but the shop claimed it was a 1929 gun. I can't wait to get home and take it for a spin. I'm betting it'll be a great shooter.

I do have my camera with me, so maybe I'll be able to get a shot or two in the next couple days. We'll see.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MKT,

Very cool. We are waiting with baited breath.

Congradulations Moosedog!!! I too scored on a 2nd model .44HE today. My gun is about 50% or less and is a well used shooter. Don't have photos but will soon. I'm anxious to see your gun.

Excuse the poor pictures, I had my camera with me and decided to grab a few shots in the hotel room.









The lighting in the room make the finish look thinner than it is. It actually looks much nicer in person. I just couldn't wait to show it off.

Now time to clean guns for tomorrows festivities.

A superb specimen. When that gun was about 30 years old, somebody liked it a lot and "upgraded" it with a set of magnas so it would be more controllable. It may just be the best fighting revolver S&W made. Big caliber, fixed sights, mushroom headed ejector rod (easy to hit hard with the palm of the hand), and as much as we like them , the underlugs can fill with dirt.

Great revolver.

Mike

It looks like the extractor lug retaining pin, under the barrel, is sticking out
too far, as though either the extractor rod, or the crane, is bent. You can
open the cylinder, rotate it one charge hole, and close it , repeating through all
6 charge holes, and see if any of them allow that pin to seat further. Or, you
can move the end of the extractor rod laterally, and see if that causes the pin
to seat. If the pin will seat deeper, then something is bent.

Later, Mike Priwer

Excellent catch, Mike! I've been looking for one of those for a very long time. Glad to see someone deserving found one.

Jerry

Thanks for the comments Mike. I double checked the gun and everything appears in order. The pin is fully seating in the ejector rod knob on all six chambers. I also checked the length of the pin with the cylinder open as well as closed and the pin sticks out the same amount in both positions and moves freely when the ejector rod pushes against it while opening/closing. I don't have my measuring devices so I am using "eyeball" measuring. I'll try to get you a picture of three position, fully open, fully closed and partially closed for comparison.

quote:

Originally posted by MKT:
Thanks for the comments Mike. I double checked the gun and everything appears in order. The pin is fully seating in the ejector rod knob on all six chambers. I also checked the length of the pin with the cylinder open as well as closed and the pin sticks out the same amount in both positions and moves freely when the ejector rod pushes against it while opening/closing. I don't have my measuring devices so I am using "eyeball" measuring. I'll try to get you a picture of three position, fully open, fully closed and partially closed for comparison.

Also, I'd presume if you push the cylinder thumb latch and the pin moves forward that although it does stick out a bit "at rest" it actually is well seated, correct?

Mike,

Here are three shots of the gun. The first is with the cylinder closed, second cylinder fully open and the third is with the cylinder almost latched. When the cylinder is fully open the pin is at rest against the retaining pin. It appears it may be almost at rest against the pin with the cylinder closed. When the cylinder is almost latched, the pin is at its full extension, again, almost against the retaining pin. I'm thinking it left the factory with a slightly longer ejector retaining pin.

Sailing1801,

You are absolutely correct sir.

Here are the three shots