[QUOTE=bmcgilvray;136695142]How do you guys manage the large photos here on the Forum now? I used to be able to accomplish that but seem to have lost the knack.

Photobucket

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Field Researcher. IGC

Thanks pilgrim6a.

I use photobucket and have posted in the larger format here since the forum reconfiguration but it must have been an accident for I can't intuitively make it happen.

BTT

Boys, don't let this'n wither on the vine!

Show & Tell us bout your 3rd model experience


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I'm with friend Dave!
And more pictures!

It's in the middle.

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Field Researcher. IGC

Gents, thanks for sharing all the pictures of your 44 specials. Its very much appreciated. Anyone who does not like them has no soul. Frank

Just picked this one up recently at Greensboro NC gunshow. #S 687xx. Posted pics in another thread, but thought I'd join the party here.

A couple freckles here and there and a bump on the botton left grip panel, but grips match and seems to be all original. I always liked these old 44's. You guys have some beauties.






Charlie

Bluongo,
You obviously didn't get the recall notice on those last two. One is missing the underlug and the other has no front latch at all! Clearly unsafe, better send them to me for disposal:-)

Nice bunch there.

I had read Skeeter Skelton's account of the Wolf & Klar order but didn't realize they were in Fort Worth. Now I must have a W&K 3rd model. Where I grew up, Fort Worth was where you had to trek if you needed something that couldn't be ordered at the Sears or Montgomery Ward catalog stores. I currently live just Southwest of it.

Got this a few years back.Had Jay Scott's on it until recently(thanks swchad)! Serial # 38904 and has P.P.D on backstrap.It also has #365 stamped on the left side of grip frame.The lanyard ring is missing,hoping to find one some day.Great shooting revolver.Jobyt

Attached Images

	1926 001.jpg (49.8 KB, 165 views)
	1926 002.jpg (52.3 KB, 157 views)
	1926 003.jpg (35.1 KB, 129 views)

This post war lettered to the Washington State Patrol.
I no longer own it.

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Watch & Pray

Charlie:

Outstanding !
I pushed the "LIKE" button four or five times but it only listened once !



Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

I am half-way in the 1926 club. I received my first, and the cylinder locked up during my initial inspection. It is now in North Carolina in very capable hands. When it gets back to me, I will post some pics. It letters as shipped to W&K in 1932. Nickle, and the grips are one digit off. Factory mistake?

I just joined the forum specifically to look into this model. Here are some pictures from my modest collection.
My shooter grade, reblued including trigger and hammer, I think from about 1927, serial number 28912
6 1/2" serial number 29320, letters to W&K ship date of 4/16/27. Cylinder starting to go purple but I believe gun to be original finish.

I haven't lettered this one yet, serial number 31722, which I believe should put it about 1930. Just a guess, but I believe it will letter to W&K . I have been told that the name on the side plate can be found on the Smith county, Texas sheriff department wall of honor from about the time revolver would have shipped but I have yet to verify this. Hope y'all enjoy my poor collection.

Widetrack,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing those beauties with us. I am partial to the scratched up W&K guns myself, It would be interesting to research that Gomez gun.
This thread really needed the bump thanks


Dan

I'm still waiting for my nickel W&K to get out of the shop, but I added this 1926 #38928 that was one of 50 (#42) that shipped to the Providence RI PD in September 1931. I did find a pair of the correct stocks that she wears now.
And this 1926 Transitional #S66801 that shipped in August 1946 to W.H. Hoegee Co. Los Angeles Ca.

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

Shot my 1926 .44HE Post war today, its been reblued and front sight modified but shoots great! My load is 6.5 Unique under my hand cast 250Gr. Keith SWC

Attached Images

44 1926 transitional.jpg (141.6 KB, 129 views)

"My load is 6.5 Unique under my hand cast 250Gr. Keith SWC"

This has been a good load in every .44 Special I've shot it in.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I am so proud of this one. March 1931 ship. Haven't gotten letter back yet, Houston PD and inventory number on backstrap. This gun is just in incredible shape. One bad spot on sideplate, rest is well, just pristine. Will take some outside photos soon. I believe letter will show it was one of 187 shipped to Wolf & Kahr for HPD. 3rd model.

Attached Images

	001.jpg (80.9 KB, 163 views)
	002.jpg (83.3 KB, 132 views)
	003.jpg (47.2 KB, 107 views)
	004.jpg (74.9 KB, 98 views)

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Bill
Dis B. Leaf

I love this gun. It's so much fun to shoot and the 44 special is my favorite. This group was a combination of 10,25 and 50 yard shots with the 1926 and 3 100 yard shots from the 30-06 (a BSA royal featherweight). The 30-06 and the 44 special are natural comrades. Both have enough, not too much.

Subscribed, great show.

Saaaaay.... there's that front sight again. Paul, is your refinish by chance a factory job?

[IMG][/IMG]


And mine. All matching. Original box. Made in "47".

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Twogunnes
John 3:16

Linky to a 4" 44HE 3rd transition that found me in December 2012. Roy's letter arrived today, September 3. It's got a story. . .

S69015 left.jpg

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-han...#post136890456

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

No, refinish is not the best. The sight modification is very well done with no file marks and perfectly even/square and provides a very distinct and clear sight picture.

56527 44HE3rd right.jpg 61406.jpg S63104 44HE 3rd.jpg S68764 44HE 3rd Nov 7 1947.jpg 1950 44 Military S142499.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Just a beauty of a shooter

Since this thread first started I've add a few more .44 Specials.

Here is a recent family photo of my .44s a 1950 Target, a Washington State Patrol Transition, the 4 inch transition and a 1950 Military.

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Bill Bates

4" barrel with fixed sights caliber is 44 special,S/N 29197. Can anyone tellme more about this gun?

Welcome to the forum. I don't know what it is but it almost certainly a very sweet revolver. It sounds like it is most likely a model 1926. But, it could be a 2nd model. When the cylinder is closed is the ejector rod protected on the bottom by the barrel shroud? If so then 1926. If not then second model. I don't think 4" barrels were very common with 2nd models but you never know.

Probably very late 1920s vintage.

Scroll up to post 62, I think the grips would have originally been like that. If your lucky they still are like that.

Now post some pictures.

Hi
Here are a couple of 3rd model Transitions that you don,t see very often.
A 4 inch and a 5 inch King gun.
Jim Fisher

I really like your 3rd model.

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Twogunnes
John 3:16

wow Jim, I knew that my old 4 inch well used 1926 Transition .44 was rare ;what transition .44 isn't, but I had know idea it was that kind of rare. I guess I'll keep it ;^)

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Bill Bates

Bill-
The "transitional" in this case indicates a post war gun using a pre war long action frame. You might notice that the thumb piece on the hammer is attached high and tapered. That's the pre war style. When you see that in combination with an S pre-fix serial number, then you are looking at a transitional gun.

My 4 inch in the photo below is serial number is S 69231 and the Washington State Patrol 6 1/2 inch is S 62684. Now I'm waiting to stumble onto a 5 inch I can afford to round out the family

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Bill Bates

A 3rd model HE original finish shipped June 1929.


A 3rd model factory nickel shipped March 1930

First let me apologize for the poor quality of the images. I took these quickly and in bad light. Here are three consecutively numbered Model of 1926 .44 HE 3rd. models #S 38929, S 38930 and S 38931. These 5" barreled Smiths are obviously police guns. The grips were trashed and have been replaced with ivory magna grips with "New Century" medallions. Two appear to be original finish and one with the grip frame exposed appears to have been re-finished. The lanyard loops seem to have been added by the department as they go through the serial numbers.

Nice!!

Since they all went to the same PD (Portland?), I would letter one of them.

The restamp of the serial number on the grip frame is something that S&W did on revolvers that had lanyard loops added to them. I believe those loops are factory installed.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

RB, those are very nice indeed. Are you sure about the S pre-fix? I believe you have three 3rd Models from the contract for 50 guns shipped to the Providence Rhode Island P.D. I have #38928 marked No. 42. I lettered it and it shipped in September 1931 with the lanyard ring. I suppose the S could have been added if they were returned for the updated hammer block like the Victory was.

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

I posted these pics the other day. I bought this Wolf & Klar 1926 in September 2012. When I got it, it had a lot of original finish, but the internals were trashed. Locked up 5 minutes after I opened the box. Rather than send it back, I decided to try and save it. It had the cylinder replaced before I got it and here's the work order to salvage it: -Refit gas ring to cylinder.
-Align and true yoke, install shims to correct endshake.
-R&R barrel, lathe turn shoulder to set back 1 turn, recut forcing cone as needed.
-Shorten ejector rod and center pin to fit.
-Install replacement trigger, set pull as factory.
-Install replacement rebound slide.
-Stone burrs from hammer stud and sideplate boss.
-Install replacement sideplate screw.
No collector value, but huge shooter value...to me anyway. Lee

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

Of course you're right about not having an "S" prefix. I've been looking at a bunch of "S" frame Smiths lately so when I looked at the S/N in the ejector rod housing with my unassisted (poor) eyes and saw what looked like an "S" I turned off my brain!


I think you may also be right about the Providence Rhode Island P.D. The lettering looks identical. I'm showing rack #45 and you have #42... wouldn't it be cool to find number .44!

At least we know where 38928,929, 930, and 931 are.

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

Great thread. Thanks for sharing the pictures and information.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

When I first saw this thread almost fifteen months ago, I started looking for a 1926. I finally acheived success this week and landed an August '46 transition model. I took a leap of faith when buying it and got lucky. It is easily 97% with all matching numbers including the grips. My camera is currently visiting my oldest at college but hopefully it returns for pictures this weekend.
I think this will be my new favorite HE.

That's what happened with mine. Shooting the 44 special in an accurate fixed sight N frame is darned near perfect.

Looking forward to the pics!

Jim,
Do you have documentation of the known 4" transition .44HE 3rd Models?
Were all in a particular serial range or production run?
Mine is serial number #S69015, shipped on September 17, 1946. See Post #72 above.

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Here are a couple of pics of my 1926. I joined up here several years ago just to learn about these guns. Not lettered, but most likely a W&K. Belonged to a Texas Ranger and County Sheriff. The holster was his, and I have the belt as well. He died in early 40's and my grandmother inherited the gun around 72 or so. I went to the Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco and copied his paperwork and other info they had about him. Pretty interesting. Was in safe deposit until about 2010. I cleaned it up and shot it some and carry it as a BBQ gun some. Serial # is 291XX

Welcome to the Forum, Mike C2.

Nice intro and a great old .44!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thanks! After messing with this Smith I became Smitten. I now have 4 others (all number models) and am quite the fan.

Mike a suggestion, you have a neat old floral tooled holster in the Brill style that is probably original to the gun, however it sure do look "Thirsty".
There is a product called Blackrock, Leather N Rich available on line in various places that will do wonders toward preserving and making that neat old piece of hide look great.

Wonderful Smith, and wonderful history. Thank you for sharing it.

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LEX ET ORDO

What can you say about a revolver like this? Good grief, that is just.....ah, nevermind. Beautiful.

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Halfway and one more step

If there's any way, please share the history with us. That's a fine rig and a great story.

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Halfway and one more step