Over the past couple of weeks, I've been on the kind of junior collector's wild ride I suspect many have been on at some point--buying something sight unseen, finding out that it was mismarked, trying to sort out what it is exactly and being alternately disappointed and excited by what it might actually be. To make a long story somewhat shorter, I thought I'd bought a 1st Model Hand Ejector "Triple Lock" in .44 Special; it now looks like I may have ended up with a Pre-War 1926 3rd Model "Wolf and Klar" .44 Special Hand Ejector. And to put the cherry on top, it appears to be the target version, with a 6 1/2" barrel.

In trying to save your valuable time, I did as much research as I could to get to what I think is the right conclusion, but a couple of small details are still whispering in the background. First, the serial number, 29xxx, dating to 1928 is not preceded by an "S", as it's suggested the Wolf and Klar pieces are, however it certainly does not have the under lug of a 1st and it does have the ejector shroud of a 3rd. Second, Supica and Nahas suggest that the front and back straps should be serrated; they are smooth. Finally, the grips do appear to be original and are in wonderful shape, but do not have medallions and aren't numbered in any way.

Could I impose upon the more knowledgeable to weigh in on what they think this one really is? It would also be educational to get your evaluation of condition and value; numbers seem to be all over the board in recent years. Thanks in advance for having a look--it sure has been a fun exercise to learn more about the whole series of these wonderful revolvers.

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I would think we would like some more info. Is the barrel serial numbered to the gun? If so, then I would send off for a letter from Roy Jinks to validate it left the factory as a target gun. The gunsmiths from that era were pretty good and could add a front site and rear site and make the work look like factory. Some pics from above the rear site and close ups of the front site would help also.
Hope this helps,
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

Bill,

Thanks for the reply and here are a couple more shots of the sights and barrel. At the risk of sounding completely ignorant, where can I find a barrel serialization? The frame, cylinder, inner shroud match, as do the assembly numbers for the crane.

Thanks for your interest and help.

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1926 target models are a rare item, if they are factory. By all means , get a letter for your gun. Not all 1926 models went to Wolf & Klar. And to make it more confusing, some factory 1926 targets that went to W&K are real but won't letter because the clerk that put in the shipping data, got very lazy and when a large shipment, like 50 guns, of various configurations, including target models, went to W&K the clerk recorded them as all standard service revolvers, regardless of what they actually were ( targets, engraved, blue, nickel, etc.) . To tell if you have a factory target model, pull off the rear sight assembly ( base & all) . If it's factory, then the serial number will be on the bottom of the sight base. If it's not, it's a later conversion to target, after market. Ed.
( If the barrel is serial numbered , it will be in the extractor shroud under the extractor rod.)

Ed,

Because I lack the "it's time to go to bed now" gene, I ran down to the basement and popped the rear sight off. Bingo, matching serial number. And to confirm, there is also a match inside the shroud.

That S&W is older than me and in better shape.

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S&WHF 366

I see no clues at this point that it's anything but original. If you went to the trouble to pull the front blade, you'd most likely find that it's numbered and matches as well. The grips are 20 to 29 vintage (no medallions and convex where they would be), the correct vintage. Pre war stocks were serial numbered since 1857 by stamping until about 1900; penciled (or scratched on hard rubber) until 1929, then stamped again. So look in sunlight for smudges of a penciled serial # inside the right stock.

1st scenario: It's a very early number in the known target serial # range so it could be before the fore and back straps were serrated. Remember, these 3rds were made concurrently with the 2nd models and only LATE 2nd model targets had serrations. So likely yours is 'transitional' in that regard (not to be confused with a 'post war transitional' 3rd model 44). Anyone else seen this on an early known 3rd model target?

On the other hand, if it went back to the factory to have the sights installed, the serial # would not have been stamped on the sight parts. However there would be other factory stampings to indicate factory re-work, such as a star in front of the butt serial # and a date on the left side of the grip frame by the 'toe'. But you didn't mention other marks and I don't see any in your photos. So lacking more info I'm inclined to go with the 1st scenario.

The 'S' preceeding the serial number is strictly a post war indicator for the then-new slide-activated hammer block. Your gun is correct w/o the 'S'.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Congratulations. With matching numbers all around it looks like you have a depression era 44 Target. You lucky dog.
Fill out the form tomorrow and send for a letter.
Hopefully the gun shipped to someone of note. Wouldn't that be groovy.

Good luck
Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Why would a commercial target revolver have a lanyard loop? I agree with others that a letter is mandatory. As you have described it, this feels like an unmodified factory configuration to me, but you need the letter to establish that. W&K? Maybe, maybe not.

In any case, I think this is a more interesting revolver than a target triple lock. I think you are WAY ahead of the game on this one.

Condition looks about 95% to me; I might refine that with a hands-on inspection. It does not appear to be refinished. Value? Over a thousand, I'd say, but how much over I have no idea. The 1926 gurus need to express an opinion on this one.

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David Wilson

If we can believe SCSW about commercial models with lanyard rings it's apparently not unprecedented on these 3rd models in particular, but other N frame models as well. If a frame in inventory was drilled for it, it was shipped with a lanyard ring. Also in that era, it was not uncommon to be individually ordered with one.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

It may be just the photo, but I read the caliber marking as "44 S&W RUSSIAN CTG". Is this right? Have the chambers been deepened to .44 Spl? If not, I would think this is something of a rarity. Experts?

lebomm, not sure which photo you are looking at but the closest I could get using the blow up feature plus a magnifying glass, it appears to read .44 S&W SPECIAL CTG.

Perhaps the OP can clarify.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Looks like special to me.

Man what a great find and what a great post this is. Congratulations!

Regards
Bill

This is a very interesting post. What a great find!

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Pat Henson

We will be looking forward to the results of your letter. Be sure to include pictures of all area's of the gun when you send in your letter req.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Wyattingraham, "Bingo" Now that you have found all the correct serial numbers in the places they should be on a factory original gun, be sure to tell Roy this, with good photos, in your request for a factory letter. - And, here's the pucker time factor : Hope the recording clerk at the shipping dep't wasn't asleep at the switch the day it was shipped and properly recorded the gun in the ledger as a Target Model. If he didn't, and it's lumped in with a 200 gun shipment, all recorded as standard guns, then the best Roy can do is to say it's not recorded as a target gun, however based on the factors presented (photos) it's his opinion the gun was originally made as a Target Model. I've had to do this drill several times with 1926 Targets, but you might get lucky and the gun was shipped to someone different than W&K. W&K would return standard models to S&W to have them converted to target guns, at a customer's request. This conversion was done in the service dep't and did not need to have serial numbers stamped on hidden parts, as it was a one gun conversion operation and the parts were not mixed with others for bluing, etc and then reassembled, requiring the serial number to be on the parts so they could get back together on the same gun for final assembly. Be sure and post your letter when it's received. Good Luck, Ed.

wyattingraham,

You just hit a home run! The Third Model Targets are significantly more scarce than the Triple Lock Targets. I can't tell you the numbers produced but perhaps Jim Fisher will come on board and he probably has as good a guess as anyone.

Not long ago I was fortunate to find both a 1st Mod. Target and a 3rd Mod. Target from the same source. I had to pay a breathtaking sum for the pair but I cherish both (both 99%ers) and if I had to part with one, it would be the 1st Mod. because I know that the 3rd Mod. would be much more difficult to replace.

Mine is sighted just as yours is but is a later gun (sn547xx) and shipped on Sept. 16, 1940 to John J. Tobler, Union City NJ. It does letter as being shipped with the target sights and Magna grips.

Congratulations. Get a letter, and like Ed said, keep your fingers crossed that it was correctly entered in the ledgers when it shipped.

Bob

wyattingraham,

For what it's worth the SCSW reports estimates for 3rd model targets
of only around 200. Experienced collectors may have other opinions.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Wow, 200 seems like an awful lot of them. Many of us figure the 44 3rd model Targets are about as good as it gets. Way fewer than RMs or even 1940 K22s. I think Lee once said the only thing rarer are postwar 3rd model Targets. I've heard those estimated at 50 guns.

Now someone needs to tell us the numbers by length!

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Dick Burg

All,

I greatly appreciate the swift and valuable feedback. This is a fantastic community and I hope that with a few more adventures like this one under my belt, I can actually contribute something back to someone else one of these days.

I spent the evening getting some additional shots together for my submission to Mr. Jinks. Hope to get that in the mail tomorrow and will certainly post the evaluation I get back from him. However the story ends, it sure has been an intriguing ride. Someone could really catch a fever for this collecting thing.

Please tell us the story on how you got to own the revolver, we like stories!!

A factory target w&k would have on the frame, a 6 line serrated backstrap and forestrap.I don't see this on your revolver.

I'll second that motion!

tp

After a couple of weeks of waiting, but really not all that many weeks, I have my first letter from Mr. Jinks. It arrived while I was at work and I almost made my wife open it and read to me over the phone. Fortunately, more mature heads prevailed (hers, not mine) and I opened it when I got home. The letter is linked below, but here's the quick synopsis:

On the count of model, it is indeed a .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model.
On the count of shipped to, it was indeed sent to Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth on May 3, 1927.
On the count of original target, it is not. It appears that both the rear sight and butt swivel were added later.

I am still extremely happy to have found such a fascinating revolver, mis-marked as a 1st Model "Triple Lock," and to have gone through a great learning process. Of course, I have a few new questions for the committee.

As the rear sight is properly serialized, is that a legitimate indication that the gun was returned to S&W for that additional work? If not, who/why would it have been done?

How would the addition of "after market" sights and swivels affect the gun's value?

To be fair to my inventory list or a future buyer, what would be the most ethical way to refer to this revolver?

W/o re-reading the entire thread, did anyone suggest looking under the left grip down near the 'toe' of the grip frame for a month and year date? If the rear sight is numbered and matches your gun #, there is a star by the serial # on the butt and there is a date stamp, I'm of the opinion it could be a factory rework. W/o a rework date or star I'm not convinced it's not a factory target.

The main rule with S&W guns is that there are no rules. I understand that it's not impossible that the shipping clerk did not take the time to record the target sights or lanyard ring because of such a large shipment. Bottom line is there may not be a way to positively confirm whether or not it was shipped as a target. Let's see what others opine.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

This may be heresy, but I am not convinced that the factory shipping records are 100% accurate on configuration details. If there happened to be a last minute special order for a .44 with adjustable sights and a lanyard loop, maybe a gun was pulled from inventory, returned to the floor, modified, and sent back for order fulfillment. Maybe the gun was shipped in the basic 1926 configuration, but a potential customer at the W&K counter said, "I'll take it, but send it back for a couple of additions." In that case, the gun shipped as the letter describes, but was modified as a dealer return before being sent back to Texas for a particular customer. I would not expect to see a star on such a revolver, because from the company's point of view it is still new, never having been delivered to a final customer.

When the company records for 1927 are digitized, this is a gun that I would definitely have researched in the SWHF data base. Actually, on the off chance it was returned for work a decade after it was shipped, I might ask for a SWHF serial number search right now; records for the late 1930s have been digitized.

That numbered rear sight speaks to me more loudly than the letter does. I think you have a very interesting revolver, and I would keep pushing the research as far as I could take it.

EDITED TO ADD: I see Jim has similar thoughts but expressed them more simply than I did.

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David Wilson

The first series of photos shows no date code stamp on the left lower frame that I can see. My vote is for factory original with loose factory record keeping.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Hi
Just to add some more information to the thread I have a 6 1/2 fixed sight 1926 that was shipped a month earlier in a shipment of 45 revolvers and the letter does not show the butt swivel. but it has one.
Jim
I would agree with the rest I think it is a original Target.

I don't know how I missed this post when it first came out but am very glad to find it now - and congratulate you on finding a very special old six-shooter. I concur with the other posters who would love to hear more about how you came onto this gun.

Thanks,

Jerry

Put my vote in the "Original Factory" column. (I try to vote with Fisher and Cornett every time that they agree with me)

Ed let us in on the most likely explanation very clearly back in his post #4. As Roy has told us many times, historical accuracy was the last thing on the mind of the clerks who entered these things.

Bob

wyattingraham,

As far as your inventory list or for a future buyer, print out this entire thread and keep it with your list. After all, you have some of the most knowledgeable folks in the S&W collecting community giving their opinions.

Nice revolver, by the way. Thanks for sharing.

bigmoose

Guys about lanyard loops on target model, this is not uncommon on Colts as well as S&W's that went to British Common Wealth Countries such as my own beloved Canada, just a left over of British Military shooting. And many of these guns were ordered from US firms then shipped up here, just my observation, cheers Dale Z in Canada!

Here is a quick thought about the lanyard loop on this very interesting pistol. From what I have seen, the early factory-installed and most aftermarket loops were installed by merely drilling the butt right through the butt serial number, a bad practice in my opinion. However, by the time the serial number of this one (about 29xxx) came along, the factory wised up and started offsetting the butt serial numbers when lanyard loops were installed. Which configuration is yours (drilled through or offset)?

So are you ever real comfortable when they vote against you or don't agree with you? Very infrequently I admit to being wrong. But if I had those guys on the other side, I'd be tempted to take a real long and hard look at my conclusions!

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Dick Burg

Dick,

If I ever found myself on the opposite side of those two (and/or you), my best ploy would be to attempt to set one against the other and then step back and wait to join with the survivor.

Bob

My serial numbers on my 2 S&W MKII HE 455's serial number is to one side, but the lanyard loops are offset from dead centre also. ANd one of these is a Target model, I have no other guns with lanyards other than a Colt OMT that has a factory lanyard, but it is drilled centre of but? Anyone care to discuss where there serial number on the targeted HE with lanyards are drilled? cheers Dale in Canada!

I am sure that it is an original 1926 pre-war target.
Ser. # 29378 has a lanyard ring and target sights April 20, 1927 and letters the same as yours.
Ed's last 1926 pre-war target with lanyard ring was 100 numbers from 29378 and his lettered the same the first time. The second letter said it was a target after Roy looked at the gun. So I am with the majority of the go to members. There was a lack of detail as far as the factory records of the guns to Wolf and Klar was concerned.
D.B.

So many great responses here that I hesitate to single any one in particular out. I will say though that I think bigmoose makes a perfect point on everyone's behalf--you folks are the experts and your collective thoughts will go definitely go into the personal registry on this one. My sincere thanks.

To clean up a couple of details, it doesn't have any star markings and the serial number is offset with the lanyard ring inserted in the center.

A couple of you have asked for the story behind the acquisition and I hate to say it, there isn't much of one; I bought it, rather uneventfully albeit at several factors cheaper than .44 HE 3rd Model Target, at auction. That said, I've put on my snooping hat and hope I can uncover a little more history. I will also look into the digital records DCWilson suggests--either now or when the late 20's are available. If I find anything interesting, I'll certainly post it here. Thanks all.

Any updates?

I agree that this gun is most likely an original Target that was not recorded correctly in the log.
I would like to see pics of the top of the frame and rear sight.

Grooved Tangs-
N frame Target guns did not have grooved tangs till the engineering order of Oct 17, 1927. This gun shipped more than 5 mos before that order.

Butt Swivels-
Any gun could be ordered with one. Riding horses, canoeing and boating, skiing and snowshoeing, riding motorcycles, etc probably figured into many such orders.
N frame swivels were never centered- the center of the swivel was always 1/10 inch forward of the bottom strap's center. Guns originally manufactured with a swivel always had the usually centered number OFFSET.
If a finished gun was pulled from the vault to fill an order for a gun with a swivel, they drilled through the number and restamped the number on the lower left tang under the grip.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Wyattingraham, Never fear. Your gun is a 100% factory target. Four factors support this conclusion (1) Known poor record keeping on guns shipped to W&K, (2) serial number stamped on rear sight base, (3) no rework/repair dates stamped on grip frame. and (4) several close serial numbers of similar target guns are not recorded in the records as targets, but were lettered, or can be, as targets, if Roy Jinks personally examines the gun and can letter the gun as " not shown in the records as a target, however in his opinion the gun is a factory target." Service sighted guns returned to S&W for addition of target sights by the Service Dep't. will have the date code stamped on the grip frame and NO serial number on the rear sight base. At least one of such guns also had a "S" stamped on the sight, indicating work done by Service Dep't. Ed.

Many thanks for that info. I also have a 1926 Target? Similiar to the one being discussed. I saw the 1148 on the front side left butt did not know what it was. Also have star on butt after serial number.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

You're very welcome and I'm happy it was useful!

Since yours is a return to the factory installation, this is an opportunity to add to the information. As you undoubtedly read above, target sights added later by S&W are unnumbered to the gun but may have an S stamp signifyling the 'Service' Dept. did the work. Now I understand completely if you would rather not attempt to remove the rear sight. But if you are so inclined, what you find there will add to the database and observed information already recorded. Again, totally your decision though.

Thx,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks all for the rekindled interest in this thread. I'm happy (and a little humbled) to say that the 3rd Model is doing well and that I've been able to add a couple of stablemates to keep it company. I've posted a couple of additional images--rear sight serial, swivel and frame. If these aren't telling, I'm happy to try again.

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