Happy 54th!

"We have researched your .44 Magnum Four Screw Variation, Special Order Barrel Length, caliber .44 Remington Magnum, in our company records. These records indicate that your revolver with serial number S176009, was shipped from our factory on April 16, 1958, and delivered to H.H. Harris Co., Chicago, IL. The records indicate that this handgun was shipped with a 5 inch barrel, blue finish and checkered Goncalo Alves target grips. This shipment contained 25 units in the special 5 inch barrel length." -Roy Jinks

That is a great looking 44 Magnum.

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Kevin Cowherd
SWCA #2271

I'm lost for words. She's beautiful. Thanks for sharing the pics. This will probably be the only time I see a actual 5 inch pre-29. That's one rare piece!

Really, REALLY nice pre-29, with a rare barrel length, at that.

Thanks for the great pics. Now I need to clean the drool off my keyboard.

very very nice

Took the words right out of my mouth!

In a black Box to boot!

How does that 5" balance? Better than a 6"?

For me, the 4" N-frame feels the best in my hand. I think the 5" is the most utilitarian....it could have been used by a sportsman camping/hunting, carried by a policeman, and adequate for target use as well.

With that said, my father used to carry a 2.5" Model 19 in the early 70's as his off-duty weapon and he would even shoot in competition with it at 50-75 feet (or he would shoot a K-38). You have to find what is comfortable in your hand, and the 4" works best for me in many different settings.

Thanks everyone....I am glad you enjoyed the pictures.

I believe you have one of the ultimate of the rare and desirable S&Ws. I believe that there are a handful of guns that S&W got just right, then only made a few. Here they are, according to me (having no real credentials or authority to state an opinion), and in no particular order:
1. YOUR 44 Magnum!
2. 3.5" Registered Magnum
3. Target Triple Lock 44 Special
4. 3" Model 19-2

WOW,not usually one to comment but this has to be one of the most must have revolvers out there.Thanks for sharing.

Very nice!!!

Bill

Let me add to what Bill has stated.. "!"

Very Nice set...and a Happy Birthday...

WOW!!

Outstanding....

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John 3:16 .

Nice...Real nice!

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S&WCA # 2045

Not much I can add to what the others have said. Well done!!!!!!!!!!

Well if you really think the 4" is better, I got a couple I'd swap ya.

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE

NICE , the entire package, thats gotta be close to the last HEs, didnt they supposedly start stamping model numbers sometime in 58, makes it even nicer.Congrats, Happy Birthday, Bob

I bought this last year from a friend here on the Forum. He found it 2 minutes from where I work and I never saw it. They shipped it to him and then he eventually shipped it to me.

That's what I think an "N" frame should look like. Blue, nickle, or stainless, I don't care; that should be the template.

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NHI, 10-8.

My but that is handsome.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Wish I still had mine. Just a lottery ticket away.


Ned

Beautiful, the ultimate 44 magnum IMHO. Ron.

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S+W Fan

Real nice . Thank you for the pic

That is just about as good as it gets in the .44 magnum arena! Probably not too many pre 29, 5" in the box, guns around, especially in that condition.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Just about perfect, thanks for posting the pictures

Makes you wonder what happened to the other 24.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

What a beauty! . . . . .

Rod

A 5" 44 mag!!!!! I WANT THAT GUN!!!!!!!

I love it!.

John

very nice indeed!

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Thanks again everyone...I will take some better pictures to post.

Congratulations on the wonderful looking Pre 29 in a rare 5 inch barrel. I personally like the balance of a 5 inch N frame better then with the 4 or 6 inch barrel.

That gun is just too darn pretty. Lucky you!

Congrats on the great looking 5" .44 Magnum, H.H. Harris ordered many 5" barreled S&W's. I have owned a 5" 1950 Target that shipped to H.H. Harris. I had the good fortune to purchase a Pre 29 that came with two barrels, it letters as a 4" and the 4" barrel is s/n'd accordingly. The second barrel was a 6 1/2" of the same vintage, it was not s/n'd. I had that barrel shortened to 5" and now have a shooter 5" .44 Magnum.

Attached Images

	IMG_1043.jpg (144.7 KB, 95 views)
	IMG_1372.jpg (72.1 KB, 100 views)

Personally, I think that a 5" N frame with targets is one of the most elegant firearms ever. Then add the top rib and wow.

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Always bet on stupidity.

Most all of you like a 5" N frame just like I do!

You all have VERY good taste!

John

Thank you again. My uncle has, quite possibly, a new-in-box 5" Pre-29. I need to see if it was in this shipment. It is spectacular...he has been collecting S&W for over 50 years.

4-Screw, You have a great gun. Thanks for sharing.

-Chad

Shoot...I thought it's birthday was the 26th...I missed it by 10 days. Well, Happy Belated Birthday my old friend.

Just to show how crazy S&W shipping can be...........I have a Pre-29 with serial number 180121 and it shipped on 4/8/58. Over 4000 numbers higher and shipped more than a week earlier.

Gotta love that 5 incher!!

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I don't know whether H. H. Harris came up with the ideas and pitched them to S&W, or whether someone else did, but he seemed to have a real instinct for what constituted a great revolver.

The 5 inch 44 Magnum and the 5 inch K38 are two examples, among many, of his great ideas. Elmer Keith thought highly of those guns, and also of the H. H. Harris Chiefs Special with 2 inch barrel and adjustable sights.

In the March 1960 issue of Guns Magazine, page 8, Mr. Keith described the fact that the offset bolt notches contributed to the strength of the J frame and he shot and recommended loading that revolver with 38/44 and 38 Special Hi-Speed loads for defense. That issue of the magazine details his use of 500 rounds of 38/44 ammo or Hi-Speed through both a Chiefs Special and a Centennial with aluminum frames. Both stood the test without any issues.

In that same article he had positive comments about the 5 inch 44 Magnum from H. H. Harris as well.

Happy 61st Birthday...🎂🎉

Amazing and beautiful, did not even now such a thing existed.

Happy 62nd Birthday....I just saw Photobucket plastered their name all over my pictures....I will have to update those.

Thanks for bring this wonderful thread back to life.

Glad to see it again!! I'm sure glad it isn't mine, I'd have to shoot it some!!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

In my early years as a LEO firearms instructor, I had an older officer approach me with his pre 29 that was as filthy as a dirt road. As I gave him a class on handgun maintenance, I noticed that this revolver had a 5" bbl. I looked very closely and it did not appear to be cut. I asked him where he got the revolver and he told me he ordered it directly from S&W with the 5'" bbl in about 1958 and shipped to him at the PD. I told him he needed to get a letter on it and told me" I don't need no stinkin letter". I tried to talk him into a trade with no luck.

What a catch, you're a lucky man. Congratulations!
Steve

Happy 63rd Birthday....

Hope you don't mind me joining your birthday wishes. This one shipped April 16th also, 109 yrs a go. Just picked it up in Tulsa last weekend.

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Charlie