Purchased this pre-model 21, assume that's what it is anyway, ten or twelve years ago. The nickel finish is good but I expect that is a re-nickel as there is no N marking on the frame or on the cylinder. Don't find any indication of factory re-work but the nickel is much better than Bubba usually does. It is very tight and locks up well so it doesn't appear to have been fired much so I wonder why it would have been re-finished. Assuming the pictures come through you can see that the ejector star is blue and the hammer and trigger are case colored. The grips are serial numbered but a couple thousand numbers away from the SN of S142674. The SN appears on the back of the cylinder as well as the underside of the ejector star, on the butt, and in the ejector shroud. A few years ago I showed it to a dealer who said it "didn't look quite right" but offered me a Colt Python in equal trade so I figured it must have some value. Another experienced dealer said it looked "correct" to him but with only a brief review. So, finally got around to asking you folks for opinions. Assume it is refinished so saying so won't hurt my feelings. Would appreciate estimates of value in this condition. Thanks much. I assume it's not worth getting a letter for it, do you agree?

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I agree the 1950 .44 Military has been refinished in nickel outside of the S&W factory. A revolver with an original nickel finish would most likely have an N stamped on the lower lefthand corner of the grip frame, in the ejector rod shroud, and on the cylinder (under the extractor). If S&W did the work, the grip frame would have an R-N inside of a rectangle stamped on the left side of the grip frame.

However, the work looks well done and you have a nice S&W. I will let someone more familiar with this model comment on price.

Bill

This is a wonderful, wonderful gun. For me, the 4" 1950 Military is the Holy Grail of S&W. I have never even seen this gun 'in the flesh.' You are very lucky; I envy you! A true collector would be able to give you an accurate value, given its refinishing. I would not lose sleep about this, I would keep it, shoot it, enjoy it. Supica's book gives this S/N at 1955-56.
Let me stop babbling! VL

I'd guess its a great gun. And I'd probably spend the money for a letter even if I normally suggest the opposite. I think there is one original nickel gun known to exist. Drew has it up in Maine and has even posted pics of it in the past. Oh, let me add its got a 4" barrel and those don't grow on trees. I'm going to guess at a value of maybe $1500.

And I even know where you can get an original factory box for it! I had it for a while but the guy I got it from wanted it back and had a 4" blue box to give me. He's a friend, and the nickel box is for sale! I tried my best to get Drew to go after it, but he wasn't interested.

Maybe my motives aren't so pure. I'd love to see your gun letter as nickel and then Drew would only have one of two known. We have this friendly competition......

From the photos provided I don't see any obvious signs its been refinished. Its why we letter rare guns. Better still, your $1500 gun will be a $2500 gun if the letter comes back correct.

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Dick Burg

Dick (and VL and Bill), thanks for the comments. I will send in for a letter but I'll be very suprised, and very pleased, if it comes back as original finish.

Jeff Bolton

I'd most certainly letter that gun. Whether it is refinished or not, it is a scarce gun. There were only a total of 1200 Model of 1950 .44 Military (pre-Model 21) guns produced and only 400 of the 4" barreled ones.

I think that Dick might be a little low on his top values. If it were an original blue gun it could bring at least $2500 to $3000 if not more. If it is an original nickel one, that number could well be doubled. If it is refinished, $1500 sounds about right.

Bob

22hipower,

Think of your gun as a Heavy Duty with a big hole in the barrel. If you like the .38-44 Heavy Duty (and who doesn't?), you are going to love the .44. The Heavy Duty was described as a ".38 on a .44 frame". Yours is a ".44 on a .44 frame".

Bob

The barrel pin looks flattened slightly from the last picture. Still, the refinish was done very well as the side plate and screws don't appear dished. Cool gun regardless.

That, and the 'CTG' in the caliber rollmark is buffed a little more than what we usually see. But that in itself wouldn't necessarily be conclusive. Especially on a shorter barreled gun, it would be easier to blur that part of the rollmark during the polishing & buffing.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

beautiful piece. i've got S142691 which shipped in Feb of 55 so your's probably shipped plus of minus a month or three as they didn't ship in order of manufacture. thanks for sharing. all you need now is a nice tooled rig to tote it in and you can go to any BBQ in Texas. lee

In about 1965 at a gunshop in north hollywood california I almost bought a identical one new in the box. At the time I assumed it was in production. Now I wonder if I passed up a deal of my lifetime. I am positive it was 4", fixed sight .44 special nickle and new in the box. Is it possible it was laying in the factory for 10 years? I have no idea what they wanted for it anymore but at the time it didnt sound outrageous. Whatever it was I didnt have the money for it. I have thought about that gun many times through the years but wasnt aware it was rare back then.

but sold it to a Forum member as things got tough around here

I NEVER TOLD rBurg.

Anyway, I'd letter it as it may have an interesting past and would help should you decided to sell it. Awsome gun, but I prefer ones with target sights on them....

They are great shooters, really great as a matter of fact. I shoot one target on the way home years back and put it up.

Can't find target but here's the gun:



Refinish at S&W

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

i kind of wish mine was nickeled and not chrome plated but here is my close relative...looks like serial numbered within a few hundred of OP's. Mine also where grips from another gun.

sn# S 1428xx

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Bill Bates

Looks great Bill! Makes me wonder why folks had these re-finished and then didn't use them, at least didn't carry them much given the condition they're in now. Did you letter this one?

I haven't letter this one. I've got a few that I need to letter one of these days. It is just one of those things I need to put in the budget.

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Bill Bates

Bill- Yours will always look like that.
Nickel...not so much.

Dan

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

That is an absolutel holy grail gun for me! Refinished or not if I saw that in a gun shop for $1,500 I would snag it in a minute! You have a great gun.
Mike

Great Examples. Never tire of looking at these.

Here is mine. All matching. Made in 47.

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

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Twogunnes
John 3:16

So, sent in for a letter and it arrived today. As suspected, original finish was blue. There are some 1099 others so I'll keep looking for one with original finish. There was an interesting bit of history though as the letter confirmed the gun was shipped to the John Jovino Gun Shop in NYC in 1955. Supposedly the oldest gun shop in the US having opened in 1911 and is still doing business although likely not nearly on the scale it had in 1955.



Jeff
SWCA #1457

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Well, I am still waiting for the letter to come back on my 5" pre 21 that I picked up recently. I'm doubting it shipped with these "Coke" grips, though, it would be neat if it lettered that way. Jovino adds some interesting history to your gun. I was fortunate to find and letter a Jovino modified M25. Here's my 1950 Military.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Well, I HAD a 5" blued one. I was detailed to Chicago in January of '65 (damn, it's cold there in January!). I was on the lookout for a nice 1917 when I saw this other N frame next to it. It turned out to be a .44 Military. The 1917, which was minty, was $45 and the .44, also minty, was $50. I took the .44.

A couple of years later I sold it to a deputy sheriff in Marysville CA before going overseas. It's probably floating around there someplace today. NOT one of my best moves, but that's the kind of stuff you do when you're young and stupid.

"My name is Alexis Zorba. I have other names, if you are interested."

If I had been smart I would have bought both and made out like a bandit.

22HP - That's a nice shiny 1950 .44HE. Even though it's refinished it's a keeper!

I have a pair of 4" blue 1950 Model .44HE Militarys, both in gold boxes with tools and helpful hints. Obviously not shipped in serial number sequence.

S142950 2/25/55 Western Hoegee Co., Los Angeles, CA.
S142499 3/7/55 Williams Gun Sight Co., Davidson, MI.

S142499 w box docs tools.jpg S142499 w box.jpg S142950 box docs tools.jpg S142950 profile right.jpg S142950 profile left.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

here's mine:

Neat gun.
You have a 3rd Model.
The 1950 is the 4th Model.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Ok, here's my Pre21 stash...The nearly new one belonged to a Virginia State Trooper and shipped in 1953. The shooter with the modded front sight is a '55 gun.

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NRA Cert. Inst. RSO

Gila Bender, well, you've got two beauties there. So, crossing yours and a couple others I know about off the list. . . .I'm now looking for the remaining 1090 or so. Wonder how many of them are still floating around?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Right, but Twogunnes started it.

Some truly nice guns and pics,learn a little more every day. Thanks all.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

How did I miss this thread?

Dick, I guess I really should reel that box in... especially if you are going to continue to try and peddle it to every Smith guy that comes down the pike..... does Hugh still have it? Will he take grandchildren as a down payment?

Here's my 4" Nickel Pre-21. I got it about 10 years ago from my dear friend and brother, BruceHMX.





Here shown with a favorite cousin a .44 HE3rd.



As far as I know it is the only one left that is still origional. I remember thinking at the time that it was expensive, but it's turned out to be a very good investment.

While we are on the subject, here'a another from my stable... a post war, pre 1950, .44 HE3rd in the S70,000's.

Bruce sold you that? And here I thought he was a friend. Hugh doesn't own it, Jim Rogers still has it (aka Pizza Man). I'll probably see him this weekend at the OGCA show in Wilmington. I'll ask. Those things don't grow on trees you know.

A few months ago I picked up a pair of gold 44 boxes, but I forget what they're for. Probably those lousy target models given my luck.

And another revelation. Whilst look through my junk pile I came across another 4th model target. I have no idea when or where I got it. No record of buying it, or how much. Its got a little wear on it. Probably came out as a longer barrel, but it looks like a factory crown to me. I hate it when that happens.

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Dick Burg

OK, adult beverages or not, I now can't find the 4" M1950. Doesn't matter.

The two boxes I have that are uninhabited are M1926 gold boxes with stickers that say M1950 on them. One is for a 4" and the other for a 5". My 4" 1950 Military is in a correct box, correct for it, not original to it. Good enough for a 'po boy from the sticks.

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Dick Burg