Time for a 1950 Target (pre-24) thread,let's see 'em!

[fat tom]

I've often wondered just how many of the approximately 5,050 produced are in the hands of forum members. I bet it's a bunch! I have two of the more common 6 1/2" bbl guns. One in bright blue,one in the brushed finish,even though it doesn't appear so in my pics.





f.t.

[DGT]

Model 1950 Traget shipped 1955.

[Doc44]

1950 Target 44 shipped in November 1955 with bright blue finish, TT, TH, RR, and WO. The original walnut target stocks have been replaced with Kearsarge style stocks by Keith Brown. Second 1950 Target with a 4-inch barrel, bright blue finish, red ramp, and smooth target stocks of zebrawood by Keith Brown was shipped in March 1955.

Bill

[Xfuzz]

Shipped in 1954...

[Hondo44]

One of two 1955 6 1/2" 1950s. This one is bright, the other satin.

[semperfi71]

T'ain't fair!!

I only have a M24-3, a M624, and a itty-bitty M696 to satisfy my .44 Special desires. And I'll never get a M1950 unless I can find one for $500.00 or so (wishful thought).

Very nice revolvers and pictures.

[brick]

Got one but I can't seem to load the photo. 1953 model.

[keith44spl]

Well Tom,
I ask ya...What would my handle be without one?







Su Amigo,
Dave

[Dave T]

My "1950 Target" story is a sad one. This gun, which shipped in Feb. of '54, started life as a 6.5" like most of the others pictured here.

It belonged to a Border Patrolman in South Eastern Arizona who retired to Tucson. When he passed his wife contacted one of his former BP friends about helping with disposing of his guns and reloading stuff. That man is now a gun smith and S&W fan and remembered the deceased man had a 44 Special. He paid the wife for it, sight un-seen, only to find that the previous owner had for reasons un-known chopped off the barrel to about 3-1/4"...himself. It was just sawed off, possibly with a hacksaw, and a steel washer cut in half was braised onto the rib as a front sight. No ramp at all and no crown.

To say my friend was disappointed would be a gross under statement. In helping the widow sell off and dispose of the remainder of her husbands shooting gear (a roll that fell to me as I was still living in Tucson) I talked to my friend in Reno a number of times and learned of the 44 Special. When he said he had a 24-3 barrel that had been properly cut down to 4" which he was going to install on the gun, then sell it, I offered to buy it from him. I wanted a shooter and this one turned out to be just that.

The 1980s vintage barrel didn't come close to the 1950s polish on the cylinder and frame of the 44. To keep the price in line with the shooter roll it would fill he fine bead blasted the finished gun, replaced the target trigger with one better suited to DA work and installed a colored front sight insert for my aging eyes.



The result, wearing Grashorn elk antler stocks, isn't a collector's piece by any means but it is one of my favorite N-frames and gets shot on a regular basis.

Dave

[Art Doc]

Number S140775 went to St. Louis in April of 1955 (exactly one week after I was born). Number S143776 (at first glance they appear to be consecutively numbered but they are actually 3,001 apart) went to New Orleans in October of 1955. The story that came with them was that in 1970 they were together with one owner who sent them back to S&W for work. But they bear no S&W repair stampings. One had a replacement 5" barrel installed and the other had its barrel cut to 5". Both were fitted with wide, smooth triggers. Both have the original numbered Magna stocks.

I almost split them up in 2005. Both were for sale and I bought one. My wife asked me why I didn't buy both. I didn't have a good answer so I called and bought the other one, too. This is one of those fairly rare instances where I feel like I maybe paid a bit too much for a gun. But I had wanted one for a long time and suddenly there were two of them in front me.

[4-Screw]

Pre-24, 6.5", Bright Blue...shipped July, 1955

[GLL]

Jerry

[bravastar1]

Here is my Two Tone 4 inch pre 24. I also have a standard blue 4 inch. The 3 1/2 incher is a pre 27.

[JayCeeNC]

Here's a pair, both in bright blue. I sold one to a fella in SC a couple years back.

[STCM(SW)]

Gee, I feel left out.
Mine is a 1923 Target with the letter from S&W.
Not a looker or safe queen to some, but a shooter
I have wanted for many years...

[rck281]

4" Bright Blue, Red Ramp

6 1/2" Bright Blue, McGivern Gold Bead Front Sight (Letters)

[feralmerril]

S 127923 shipped jan 17, 1955 to union hardware co. los angeles ca. It had the original grips and I put on others and somehow lost the orginals. I have owned it since about 1971.

[Nimrod44]

Here's my one and only (so far), bright blue serial # S 146803.

[DGNY]

Beautiful array of .44 Specials! And, with them as hardware, conceivably the nucleus of a reborn group of .44 Associates! Dedicated this time to preservation rather than pushing the envelope.

Thanks for sharing all these.

Dyson

[Seaburry]

[bgrafsr]

Shipped in April 1955, # S144281.

[S&W ucla]

I'm sure many of you, like me, owe at least a part of our interest in these wonderful guns to the writings of Elmer Keith. I'm looking forward to seeing his guns in Boise! I read "Sixguns" cover to cover over the winter every year. Enjoy it every time.

[Engine49guy]

Had convinced myself that this S-85504 (late 1952 ?)
five screw 6.5" had a 4" barrel in its future ,
After shooting it now am VERY HAPPY with the 6.5".

[Lee Barner]

S147257(1955) this was a gift from the gun shop owner where i worked part time while in the service. i found a gun collection for sale, which he bought. this was the only one without the original box. great finder's fee. also my first .44 special. lee

[1950jcb]

Bright blue, TH,TT, non-relieved smooth rosewood targets. I have a couple more in satin, but this is my favorite.

[STCM(SW)]

So, do I have to get one of the beautiful ones like posted to be part of this group?

[bgrafsr]

Originally Posted by STCM(SW)

So, do I have to get one of the beautiful ones like posted to be part of this group?

Not at all, but it wouldn't hurt. Well, maybe in the wallet.

[Smith &W]

[Smith &W]

/Cescls/44SPL002.jpg[/IMG] Lettered 4" and 5".

[Bill Bates]

Here's mine...looking at others here the serial number would indicate it may have shipped in 1955. The grips are not original. It was wearing some kind of aftermarket targets.

[bmg60]

Hi
How about a 5 inch engraved with Ivory stocks.
shipped 1955. Engraved by Neil Hartliep one of the master engravers
Jim Fisher

[phenson]

Mine shipped Oct 1956. The finish has some issues, but the action and the accuracy do not.

[OldBlood]

This is one of my favorites

[OLMDDat71]

Got one here serial # puts it at 1955 but haven;t lettered it yet, picture of it with stock grips and trying the FITZ on it,

[delcrossv]

Mod 1950's ( and a Mod 22 snuck in!) The Mod 1950 is my favorite postwar N frame. 2 clicks should get full resolution.
.45 LC, .45 acp, 45 acp, 44 spl.



#1 daughter taking one for a spin.

[4-Screw]

.44 Target Model of 1950 was shipped on October 29, 1956 to Belknap Hardware Co., Louisville, KY and was one of two 4 inch blue revolvers in the shipment."

[4-Screw]