I am very curious. Do any of you fine folks have a 3rd Model HE .44 that was "NOT" shipped to Wolf and Klar? Do they exist? I realize that W&K was basically responsible for the creation of the gun but wasn't it finally listed in the S&W catalog?
I just received my factory letter on my gun and of course it shipped to Wolf and Klar. But I suspect that late in the run there had to be some that went elsewhere.

Thanks, Roger

Hi
I have 10 1926,s out of the 10 4 were shipped to other than W&C
breakdown as follows.
2 to police dept or officers
2 to business
dates were
1. 2/1938
1. 12/1939
1. 3/1940
1 7/1941
I think the key here is the Date.
after 1938 they could have been shipped to anyone.

hope this helps
jim

Thanks Jim, That solves a big mystery for me.
By the way, you are an awesome smith and wessonist.

Roger

Memphis,

I have one, a blue 5" 44HE 3rd model humpback, shipped August 20, 1940 to a police officer in Bozeman, MT.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Thanks Tom, that sounds like a fabulous gun. I am a gigantic fan of the Humpback Hammer. What a nice combo.
And now, that reminds me that I do seem to recall that our very own forum owner has a 3rd Model TARGET with a Humpback Hammer with matching Magna's..and it also didn't go to W&K. Man I sure would love to own that gun.
Dave Balentyne let me touch it when Lee was away from his booth!
Hmmmm Lee, do you accept trades..lots of them?

Roger

I have a 6.5" 3rd Model .44 HE ser# 41767, which shipped October, 1933, to Hobbs Hardware in Raton, NM.
It's the top one in this photo. The bottom 5-incher shipped to W&K.

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John

hi
if you like 44,s and would like to see more of them
I will have a display at the annual meeting in tuscon in july
It will 47 guns from 1881 to 1961 all 44 caliber large frame models.
here is a sample.
this is a 1926 3rd shipped 1940 in 99% condition with King sights and a hump back hammer.
jim

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members...model-king.jpg

Sure.
Talk to me.....

That gun shipped June 20, 1940 to an individual in NY.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I am away from home now, but I know for sure that among the 8 or 10 3rd Models I have, one letters to the Washington Sate Patrol and it has a HBH and another went to the Providence, RI Police Dept

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Gary Grace
S&WCA #1837

It is my understanding that for the first few years all 1926s went to W&K. Someone noted 1938 as the date others could get them and I can't argue although it may have been another year. I have two and one went to W&K in 1928 and the other to another Texas dealer in 1939.

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No life story has happy end.

David Carroll still has his old duty gun, a 3rd model with a HBH. Its a long barrel gun, 6 1/2 nickel, fixed sights. Back when he became a police officer, they had to supply their own weapon. He found and bought his, with no clue how rare or desirable it was. He just knew it had a big hole and a long barrel, and like Red Riding Hood, he knew it was all the better to hit someone with. If you see him at a gunshow, ask him about it. No, its not for sale.

We also had a teaser here a while back where someone indicated we might be getting access (for a price) the W & K files. My understanding is they still exist, if disorganized. Anyone know about this?

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Dick Burg

David's gun is a 5 inch.

The W&K files may just be an urban legend.
Somebody told somebody that somebody knew somebody that knows somebody that knows where they are.......

Could you go pick them up for me?

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Just looked and the 1939 gun also went to Houston but it was Oshman's. Wonder if that's the granddaddy of the chain operation by the same name?

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No life story has happy end.

Saxon,

Yes, it is the same parentage. The current chain bears little resemblance to the original sporting goods store. Sorta like comparing the current Abercromby & Fitch to the original...completely different animals now...too bad!

Lee,

I bought a 5" nickel M1926 from David at the SWCA show back in '05. You don't think he got mixed up and sold me his old duty gun do you?

Bob

I have a 4" (#34859) that went to W&K in 1930 and a 5" (#38901) that is a Providence RI PD gun circa 1932.

Best,
Charles

Mine was shipped to Jim Croton's in Davenport, Iowa.

I suspect S&W shipped them to any and all who would pay for them.

Ralph Tremaine

Mine is still awaiting me to find it.

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Matthew Conrad

What date did it ship?

Best,
Charles

An entirely reasonable question------the answer to which was deliberately overlooked at the outset. That answer is January 28, 1941---and I submit it is entirely meaningless.

Most of what I know about this stuff, which is to say accept as fact, is what I've seen with my own eyes. The remainder comes from the printed word found in books---most particularly books which were written as a "labor of love" rather than a venture for profit. Those in the former category seem to still be available. Those in the latter category seem to have fallen by the wayside---for good reason. I've had these books for a loooooooong time. I have not read every word in them----only those words which pertain to guns/things/people I care about. The odd thing is I keep going back to them. There's a pile of books on the floor in front of my bookcase almost every day---except Wednesday's. The housekeeper comes on Wednesday's, and it has been made clear to me by both her and the Boss Lady that the floor in front of the bookcase will be clear---on Wednesday's.

Okay, so my gun was shipped on January 28, 1941---so what? I found myself truly amazed by the talk of dates I've seen here---mostly because I'd never seen/heard such talk before----and was about halfway believing I'd missed out on something. So----back to the books.

Here's a synopsis of what they had to say: This revolver came into being at the behest of Wolf & Klar---who placed an order for 3,500 such guns. This is known as attracting attention---and putting your money where your mouth is. It worked. S&W made a bunch of them---not a great big bunch, but a bunch---4,976 of them to be exact (pre-war). 1,000 of these were shipped to Wolf & Klar. I reckon they could have had more if they wanted them. At this point it seems reasonable to expect 3,976 of them were sold/shipped elsewhere.

As an aside, and to make a point, these big thumping handguns many of us so love today seem to have been a drug on the market when they were being made---especially the target versions---the only things I have/care about. A case on point: My .44 HE 2nd Target (#58669) was shipped on May 14, 1940. It was one of 39 (THIRTY NINE) guns of identical configuration in one shipment. These 39 guns were billed at $17.00 each. Right about now, you ought to be coming to a screeching halt----$17.00??!!!!!!!!!

Not too long ago, we learned the cost to manufacture a K-22/40---and a grip adapter---and ship it----was $14.55. If one were the wondering type, one might wonder about some stuff. The first thing one might wonder about is the difference between a 22/40 and a 2nd Model .44 Target. The difference of note is more steel is required to make the larger gun. I am unaware of any other difference---other than size, when it comes to making these things---although they're bigger, so it might take longer to polish them. Okay, so these 39 .44's were clearly a close-out---and I imagine the powers that be breathed a sigh of relief---accompanied by the thought (spoken or otherwise) "Thank God those dogs are gone!!" You reckon S&W lost any money on that deal? I don't either. Think about it.

If you pay attention to such things, you might recall the distributor price of a Registered Magnum was $47 and change. You'd be quick to note that left about $13 as margin for the distributor----AND the retailer---and you'd certainly suspect S&W didn't want to sell them to distributors. They wanted to sell them to individuals because they wanted the full price ($60) all for themselves---because they NEEDED it. You'd also realize the only difference between a 2nd Model .44 Target and an RM is a rib---a checkered rib---and you'd wonder how much difference that made in the cost to make one---of each. You'd decide it didn't make much difference.

As usual, I have taken up as much or more space with an aside than I did to make my point. The .44 3rd's were sold to anybody and everybody who'd pay for them. I shall stop.

Ralph Tremaine

first post here...

perusing through this pre '61 HE section, hadda check this thread out!

my mdl 1926 was shipped feb 11 1937 in blued 5" fixed sight config as a one of two order to Roberto A Gonzalez Co @ mexico city, mexico at the export price of $23.06.

above courtesy of the Honorable Mr. Jinks.

netex

When I stumbled across my 4" 1926 in a pawn shop, I promptly fell madly in "like" with the 3rd Model .44 and dove into some research. Anyone with more or especially more accurate info than I possess ,feel free to chime in.

The way I understand it, the story goes that W&K obtained sole rights to sell the 3rd Model in 1927 because their agreement with S&W obligated them to a production run of 3500 revolvers. The contract ran until 1937. The revolver became a cataloged item for S&W sometime after that. Starting in the beginning of 1937, W&K no longer had exclusive rights which would explain the variation in shipping addresses after that date. The number of guns W&K actually sold is a little fuzzy. I've heard estimates that ran under their contractual commitment up to approximately 4,600.

Any further information would be welcomed.

Best,
Charles

Here I go again, giving "likes" on 7 year old posts. Note to self: I've got to start looking at the dates on these things!! Anyway, a nice thread for guys like me that are still trying to learn stuff about Smith and Wesson's history.

Charles, I would like to see a picture of your 4" 1926....

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Here you go .........

Attached Images

IMG_1836_zpsvzcv7r3j.jpg (74.2 KB, 77 views)

I know that this is an old thread, but my .44 Hand Ejector Third Model of 1926, Serial #555XX with fixed sights was shipped in February, 1938 to W. A. S. Thompson Hardware Co. in Topeka, Kansas according to Mr. Jinks. My research shows a W. A. L. Hardware in Topeka, Kansas.

In between me running my mouth to the effect S&W would sell them to anybody who'd pay for them-------at any time anywhere, I've been exposed to and listened to the words of THE man on topics such as this. Here are these words----in essence------as Mr. Jinks spoke/wrote them.

S&W had a contract of exclusivity with W&K from 1926 to 1936 (as respects these guns)-------which I interpret to mean if you wanted one you got it from W&K----or W&K had otherwise laid hands on and blessed the deal during this period of time. Having pondered these words for not very long, I decided they made sense.

Ralph Tremaine

Sorry if I mislead anyone, but I didn't mean to say that it isn't a Wolf & Klar piece. Mr. Jink's letter clearly states that fact. Someday I will get some pictures taken and learn how to post them.

Sometimes, the penmanship in the shipping records is hard to read. Other times, spelling and other errors appear.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I've always wanted a 1926 shipped in 1941 (preferably March 1941), but, never seen one, and then probably couldn't afford to buy it if I did. Would still like an opportunity.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Speaking as no particular authority I am aware of 3rd Model .44's and other N-frames shipped from inventory during 1940 and 1941. But were ANY N-frames being manufactured? I thought that S&W were occupied with making .38's for the British and Uncle Sam during 1940 and throughout WWII. The 44 and other N-frames didn't reappear on the commercial market until 1946.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I'm still waiting on my letter, should have it in a week or two but I think there are some exceptions in that time frame. I have a 5" that went to the Providence Rhode Island PD in 1931. It's my understanding that since S&W is less than 100 miles from there those guns were shipped directly to the PPD instead of way over here to Texas and then back East. Maybe they had a special arrangement with W&K and the order still went thru them but was shipped directly, don't know but I do expect the letter to state they went directly there as is the case with the other 49 PPD 44's. Earl

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Earl Battey

I am also still waiting on my letter.

Here's a rare bird. It's an early post-WW2 3rd Model .44HE with a 6-1/2" barrel. It didn't ship to W&K.







Curl