In another lifetime a couple of .44 Hand Ejector Second Model S&W revolvers followed me home.

The fixed sight gun -- serial number 251XX -- is as new and reflects 1920 S&W excellence. (My pictures don't do it justice.)

The target gun -- serial number 319XX -- was rode hard and put away wet, but it does have adjustable sights.

While the target gun shoots well in spite of a sloppy lockup (a new cylinder latch/stop is on the way), I've vacillated for years over having it professionally refurburished and reblued. (The factory turned me down in the late 70s.)

Time for questions.

1. What can you share about these two Hand Ejectors?

2. Of the reported 17,510 Second Model Hand Ejectors produced, is there an estimate of how many were target models?

3. Since there's only 65-70% of the bluing remaining, what would be the consequences of rebluing the gun?

4. Is there a downside in using this gun as a shooter?

Attached Images

	2nd Issue HE .44 Spl .JPG (75.6 KB, 353 views)
	2nd Issue HE .44 Spl .JPG (60.7 KB, 280 views)
	2nd Issue HE .44 Spl Tgt .JPG (49.1 KB, 357 views)
	2nd Issue HE .44 Spl Tgt s.JPG (48.0 KB, 359 views)
	2nd Issue HE Tgt Brl.JPG (87.2 KB, 296 views)

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Dave
SWCA #2465

I hate to sound blunt, but the consequences of reblueing the gun would be to make it worthless.The gun looks like it has some history and good honest use. I have a 3rd Model 44 which looks a lot worse, and I would NOT dream of having it refinished. I have a first Model that looks like it was drug behind a horse, same thing. Good honest finish wear, patina, whatever you want to call it, gives a revolver distinction. Buffed off roll marks and rounded corners lessen the original craftsmanship much more in my opinion.
I think you have a set of great looking 2nd Models. I say shoot them and care for them. You have two original pieces of history.

I agree 100% with Phenson. You have target model that looks beautiful. Refinish it and it will look refinished. As an added advantage to leaving it as it is, you can shoot it all you want, take care of it, and it will still be a 65-70% gun.

Bob #946

I like the heck out of the target model. I like it even better in the condition it is in. That may sound wierd but I like guns with that kind of character and most of mine are just like that.
On a kinda similar note, I also like old coins..and would much rather have one showing "some" wear and weathering as opposed to a cleaned shiney example.
Just my 2 cents.

Roger

Still unanimous on the question of refinishing -- please don't. I have guns that look worse than that, and I figure part of the responsibility of owning them is to keep them from looking worse yet. I can't turn back the clock, but I can keep it from advancing as fast as it might in somebody else's hands.

Also, if you refinished it, it would look so nice you would be tempted not to shoot it. What's the point of that? Either of these guns can be shot. I tend to use either match ammo or somewhat low pressure cowboy action loads in my older revolvers.

I think the percentage of adjustable-sight configurations in basically fixed-sight model will vary. For .32 HEs, I bet it's below one percent. For .38 M&Ps, two-three percent may be target models, but because production volume is so high, a small percentage of a big number can still be a pretty big number in its own right. I think the percentage of target .44HEs may be higher -- say 5-10% of production. But because the total number of prewar .44s produced is so much smaller than the number of .38s, the total number of target .44s will be smaller.

I'm offering those thoughts at the level of grand approximation. I don't have stats to back me up except that I do actively look for prewar target .32s and rarely find them. There just aren't that many. On the other hand, prewar .38 and .44 target models seem to show up fairly regularly (though way less frequently than their fixed-sight siblings, of course).

Dates: 25xxx is probably from about 1926-27; 31xxx could have shipped from 1928-1932; .44s were slow sellers during the Great Depression.

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David Wilson

The target gun looks great "as is" ! I think everyone here would be VERY happy to own that one ! Find a classy period holster for it and carry it proudly !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

HE, I've got the solution for you. If the target model is too rough for you, sell it to me (I ain't so young and pretty myself) and take the money and probably less difference than you'd spend getting a proper refinish and upgrade. The high condition ones are out there. Heck, I'll even pay for the parts you've ordered.

That looks like a nice gun. I think the 2nd. models are underappreciated. I've got a target model and a standard gun and am happy with both.

Oh, and I'm not kidding if you want to sell her and upgrade. Less fuss and time involved than waiting a year to get a proper refinish.

Bob

Hi Dave, Those are sure nice 2nd models, I have a target model in the 38000 range that has about 3% remaining finish remaining and makes your gun look brand new.The good news is that it has the best action of any S&W I have ever owned and it is tight as a drum. My best guess is about 10% of the total production would have been targets ,don't know for sure.Thanks for the nice pix. Best regards, Bart

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H.E;Bart

I have a nice .44 Target that was shipped from the factory in May, 1940. I have never seen many of them, would guess that less than 2000 made. In Elmer Keith's book "Sixguns", chapter XVII, is pictured a .44 Target that was blown-up by a heavy handload. Sad, but many probably had an end like that.

It ain't that bad . . .