I believe this is what I have purchased here. I am posting photos from auction site as that is what I have . Can anyone tell me anything else about this gun? I believe it to be early post war , because of barrel rib.

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The hammer says, "Post-1950" to me. I'd call it a Pre-24. I believe some also call them 4th Model HE Target

Larry

Yup, looks like a 4th Model of 1950 to me. The box says 1926 but I think maybe it's an older box. Has the post war action and the 4-line address.

Many 4th Model Targets were shipped in 3rd Model Target boxes. All that I have seen have had a sticker on top of the box identifying the contents as a Model of 1950----i.e. a 4th Model Target.

In other words, there were a whole lot more 3rd Model Target boxes than there were 3rd Model Target guns.

Ralph Tremaine

As said above, it's a 4th Model .44 Target ( Model of 1950 .44 Target), Pre-Model 24, and the box is incorrect for the gun, but it wouldn't be the first time S&W shipped a gun in the wrong box, however when they did, there was usually some indication somewhere on the box that the contents was a different gun. Is the gun's serial number written on the bottom of the box? The gun was made between 1950-57. Ed.

Ok, I see what you all are saying , this is probably a 4th Model in a third Model box.
Now, what does that mean price wise ?
I can not find a 4th Model in Blue Book, I will have to look in my Smith Book
which will be tough because I have just had a surgery and am pretty stove up.I can not get up and down the stairs.
Can anyone help ? Dates made ? aprox price range ? How many made ?
That sort of stuff.I am excited to get it in my hands. It has shipped, should be in town by Wed
Thanks,
Chris

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Getting the serial number would help. It's on the bottom of the grip frame. Maybe you could ask the seller if he knows what it is.

Yours also has a target hammer and trigger. It was either special ordered with those or was "updated" later with them.

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S&WCA 1729

Model of 1950, .44 Target. Pre-24.
Nice bright blue!

A 3rd Model Target would bring more than a 4th Model due to the basic rule of age and scarcity: there are far fewer of them so they sell for more.

This is a really nice gun but I hope you didn't pay the price for a 3rd Model Target as that would be substantially higher than what this gun would probably bring. If the seller represented it as a 3rd you might be able to return it if you feel you paid too much.

I will agree with Saxon Pig. Much will depend upon whether the seller advertised and priced it as a 3rd. Model Target or a 4th Model Target. Both are nice and collectible, however, there is a significant difference in the rarity and price. There were more than 5000 of the 4th Model Targets produced and less than 200 of the 3rd Model Targets made.

Nice 4th Model Targets show up pretty regularly but I could probably count on one hand the number of 3rd Model Targets in collections that I know of.

Your gun is very nice, but just be sure that you weren't deceived by the description.

Bob

Hi,
and thanks to all who have responded. I have not been able to pick this gun up yet do to a surgery. However, the FFL has looked it over and says he thinks it is very nice. I was able to find out from him that the box appears to be original, at least the correct number was written on box bottom.
The serial number is S 144942
If anyone has any more info I would like to hear about it !

1950 Target 44 that probably shipped sometime in 1955. When a 1950 Target 44 was shipped in a 44 Military box, it was usually overstickered like the one shown in the photo below (circa 1955).

Bill

Chris,

My 1950 .44 Military box has the top third ("1950 MODEL") of the same label that Bill's Target has. Check the top right corner of your box for any remnants of glue where the label may have been removed or fallen off. Most of the boxes that are so marked have the glue applied in excess of edges of the label.

Bob

PattonTime, I had your gun on my watch list on Gunbroker. I just went back and looked at the selling price and in my opinion you did very well. If it is as good as the pics show you got a real nice 99% 4th model target at a fair price. Your box at one time could have had the target sticker on it, but sometimes its a hit and miss thing. A very nice package to be proud of.

Chad Gripp
#2323

I have two 1950 Targets that are in 1926 boxes that do not have the 1950 overlay sticker. The serial numbers and special sights are correctly marked in pen or grease pencil. I also have a couple of 1950s in boxes with the overlay sticker, so who knows for sure. The gun was probably shipped in 1957 and it's unlikely the target trigger is original. If it had special sights like a red post or red ramp, the target hammer would be more likely. You just can't tell without a factory letter.

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Dick

Patton Time,

That's a screamer! I 'd break my arm getting a letter request off on that one. Looks like from what's been said above, it's a legit 50 Target. Only the letter will confirm factory installation of target hammer or trigger. But check that left grip frame under the grip when you get it for a factory rework date. It could have gone back to S&W for TH and/or TT.

And hope you get well soon and out to the range. If not, at least in 10 days you'll have something awfully nice to fondle until you do!!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Well, someone mentioned 1957 as possible shipping date, I sure hope so,
as that is my birth year. I have a lot of Colts from that year, Smiths not so many. Which is odd, as I have Smiths at at least a ten to one ratio.
Anyway, I thought I would share the rest of the story, I had been high bid at about $900.00 with two days left. I then called seller and asked if he would offer "a buy now " price, he said no , I then said what a shame I would go $1200.00. He then said , "done" unfortunately Gunbroker no longer lets a seller stop a auction once a bid has been made. I could swear I have done this in the past both as seller and buyer. I then hung in there till I got it at $1780.00 I was hoping he would maybe meet me half way, but he stuck to his guns , which I guess he had every right to. As I thought if it had closed at $990.00 would I have mailed him a check for $1200.00 ? I guess I would not have wanted to , so he is in his rights too. I just want to be fair, but it sure would have been nice to get it at $1200.00 but while I think $1780.00 is high side, I do not think it is outrageous, and likely will seem good in two years or so. Chris

I don't think there is anything wrong with that price for that gun in the original box. When those were new the bright blue finish option was an additional $25. Now that doesn't sound like much but the standard finished gun sold for $84.20 in 1956. So an extra $25 was a 30% increase! Target hammer and trigger were an additional $2.50 each as I recall.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Well, I have picked this gun up. It is absolutely flawless, I have seen many six week old guns in dealers cases with more scratches.
It sure appears unfired and the box is not only marked on bottom with serial number, but there are two labels indicating "1950" model as shown earlier in this thread, they are on both ends of box.
So, I am as happy as I can be ! Now for my letter !

Chris

If you got a Bright Blue 1950 Target that's near NIB for $1780, you did very well.

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Dick

Chris,

That sounds like you did very well with that purchase. I know that you are especially pleased to finally establish once and for all that the gun did ship in that box. Congratulations on getting a very nice package.

Bob

Not 1957, but late 1955 or very early 1956. I have S143776 and it shipped 10/8/55 (unless it shipped way out of sequence which does happen).