Model of 1929 Hand Ejector Third Model?

RaylanGivens · #1 07-13-2015, 09:02 AM

I have been offered this pistol in a trade. It appears to be a .44 magnum hand ejector Model of 1926 third model. It is nickel with a lot of wear. I only have picture, and have not seen the pistol. I am guessing this is factory nickel. The trigger and hammer are not nickeled. The blackstrap may be serrated, can't tell. I am not sure of barrel length. The edges of the stocks can be seen in one pic. Does this gun have any value monetarily?

sorry, title says 1929, should say 1926. I am not familiar with these older revolvers. Any help would be appreciated.

nyeti · #2 07-13-2015, 09:13 AM

Looking at the condition, I would venture it may need some work, and the finish is pretty beat. Check your P.M's for additional.

DWalt · #3 07-13-2015, 09:28 AM

Of course, it is probably .44 Special, not .44 Magnum. It looks like a 3rd Model. No way to tell if the plating is original from the picture. You might see if there are any N stamps (grip frame, rear face of cylinder). Stocks are definitely not original (appears to be Hogue rubber grips), and that hurts value considerably. What's the proposed deal on the trade? Could be good or bad, depends upon what you want to trade.

RaylanGivens · #4 07-13-2015, 10:21 AM

When I see it I will know more. Not sure what his trade ideas are. I have no idea what a revolver like this is worth. I hope to meet with him tonight and get a good look at it.

DWalt · #5 07-13-2015, 10:30 AM

If possible, don't do anything without taking some pictures and getting all the details first to do your due diligence, so you know exactly what you are getting. That is, unless it seems to be a REALLY good deal.

RaylanGivens · #6 07-13-2015, 10:31 AM

Thanks DWalt. What is a really good deal? 200? 300?

jmace57 · #7 07-13-2015, 10:49 AM

$2-$300 would be an outstanding deal, probably. Depending on the condition of the action, etc. It's tough to make a call just based on those pictures. I would think an absolute minimum value of $400. DWalt is a lot more knowledgeable, so I'll let him respond.

quinn · #8 07-13-2015, 10:51 AM

From the sideplate edges I would say it has been refinished one or more times. I would guess it likely shipped in blue, was a LEO gun, and as was common at the time, refinished in nickel (a long time ago). If the action is tight and indexes correctly, I would be thinking $300-400. g'luck

H Richard · #9 07-13-2015, 10:55 AM

That is definitely a non-factory re-finish. Somewhere in the $350 to $450 would probably be a decent deal (providing it is mechanically sound and the bore and chambers are clean). Without seeing the gun there is the possibility of so much being wrong with a gun of that vintage it is impossible to really state a value. Re-finished and wrong grips as well as the pitting showing hold that value down.

Xfuzz · #10 07-13-2015, 11:45 AM

This was a pawnshop find a few weeks back.
Forum members had to fill me in on the details.
All original except the stocks.
1928 vintage Wolf & Klar. $700.00 OTD

glowe · #11 07-13-2015, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaylanGivens

. . . What is a really good deal? 200? 300?

I think others are being a little hard on assessing the gun, and based on what I see, it is not in bad shape at all. Stampings look good, nickel finish is 85% plus, hammer and trigger are not plated, but it does need to lose those black rubber stocks and find a nice set of original walnut service stocks from the era. The markings from the stocks on the frame bother me, but am thinking they may clean off with a little work.

As for value, IF you find a set of correct stocks and IF the nickel plating is factory, it would be worth $700 or more. If replated, it should be valued at $500 plus since the N frame 44 Specials are in high demand. Check for completed auctions online for past sales.

. . . anyway that's just what I think . . .

RaylanGivens · #12 07-13-2015, 01:00 PM

I appreciate the input. I hope to get a better look at it this evening if I can make an appointment with the owner. I will let you know what I find. I'll be looking for the N stamped on the frame. I had not looked at the enlarged picture of the back of the grips. Yes, they must be Hogues. I think, if the picture is as it appears, that I can do a lot of good to the finish. That will make a big difference. Period stocks would be needed. Not much can be done about the nickel plating worn off the blackstrap. Thanks again.

DWalt · #13 07-13-2015, 02:06 PM

Period-correct stocks won't be cheap. Nothing N-frame is. Not in hand to examine, I'd say with a re-finish (assumed) and missing the original stocks and further assuming no mechanical problems or bore corrosion, $400 wouldn't turn me off. If all original, it would be worth at least double to triple that to me. Especially so if it was an actual W&K gun.

Hondo44 · #14 07-13-2015, 02:47 PM

Why did you think it was 44 magnum? If the chambers have been reamed to 44 Mag, you don't want that gun! Especially if it has ever been fired with 44 Mag, it could have damage. It was made 30 years before the 44 Mag was invented and definitely not strong enough.

tlay · #15 07-13-2015, 08:27 PM

I would bet by the peeling of the plating on the back strap and the wide side plate gap that it has been refinished. I would need to see better photos. Also it appears that the hammer and trigger are plated. I could be wrong but if they are, it definitely is not factory.

RaylanGivens · #16 07-13-2015, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

Why did you think it was 44 magnum? If the chambers have been reamed to 44 Mag, you don't want that gun! Especially if it has ever been fired with 44 Mag, it could have damage. It was made 30 years before the 44 Mag was invented and definitely not strong enough.

Jim, I did think it was a .44 magnum. The owner identified it as a model 1929 .44 magnum. I was unclear about that. I am not well versed on these older models, either. Thanks for the info related to caliber.

rburg · #17 07-13-2015, 09:06 PM

Just some guessing. Long barrel 3rd models don't grow on trees. I'm liking the estimate above of $700 at least. You'd be amazed at how nicely some of the guns clean up. Depending on the serial number, I'd guess it was a W&K. You want to look for the "N" in the ejector rod shroud someplace before the serial number. You only have 2 possibilities, either the "N" or "B". Lots of Texas Lawmen liked their big guns in shiny finish. I have no idea what you're trading it on, so who knows. I like big old 44s, so it would be really tempting. Besides, I'd love to have a 6". The pix don't look like a 5".

murphydog · #18 07-13-2015, 09:33 PM

It is also known as the model 1926, with the shrouded ejector rod. I think it is a 5" based on the one photo showing the muzzle. If it is mechanically sound with unpitted internals I would run like crazy after handing the owner $400, but that is just me.

jsfricks · #19 07-14-2015, 12:47 AM

I'm with some of the others, the gaps in the side plate definitely look like a refinish. And like Tom said, the hammer and trigger look nickeled too. But if it's cheap enough and locks up good........

tlay · #20 07-14-2015, 02:00 PM

I didn't mean to imply that because it has been refinished that I thought it to be a bad price. For $400 any N frame pre-war Smith that is OK mechanically is a deal! The hammer and trigger can be replaced for around $125.

Muley Gil · #21 07-15-2015, 07:20 AM

Will .44 Magnums chamber in this revolver? If so, I don't think I would want it. It will have been stressed quite a lot and may no longer be safe, even with standard .44 Special rounds.

handejector · #22 07-15-2015, 09:55 AM

To know for sure, I need better pics, but I seriously doubt that gun is refinished.

What you guys are calling a sideplate gap is actually the sharp edge standing proud. The gun has probably been disassembled somewhere along the line for a heavy cleaning. They left gunk under the sideplate on the shoulders it sits on.
The hammer and trigger are possibly just heavily cleaned and not plated.

The 1926 has a higher percentage of nickel guns in the production than any other HE I can think of. It probably approaches or even exceeds 50%.

That gun is a 5".

Alk8944 · #23 07-15-2015, 08:47 PM

I have to agree with Lee that this gun has most likely not been re-finished. Unfortunately the photos are too poor to really be sure, but areas that are usually "pulled" by incorrect polishing such as the screw holes, end of the flutes, cylinder stop notches, etc. are still sharp and square. Unless there are remnants of Nickel on the hammer and trigger I would agree that they simply have been cleaned to the point of removing the case-hardening colors Simply need better pictures from a DSLR instead of a cell phone!

RaylanGivens · #24 07-16-2015, 12:22 AM

I made the trade tonight and have the gun in my posession. I took pictures before I cleaned it so I will post those ASAP. Lee was right about the side plate. It was filled with grease and residue. When backing the screws out grease came out with the screws. It took over two hours to clean it. I have never seen such a mess. There is no N stamp on the frame. There is a lower case d. The nickel plating was done well. It looks smoothe and all of the lettering is still clear. There is a stamping above the right stock that is difficult to read but appears to be M 20 D. There may be more after the D. But the frame is worn in that spot. It has perfect timing, locks up well, and seems to be in great condition. Because the Hogue grips had been on for so long there is finish issues where they were. I was not able to clean those places as well as I like. I did not want to get too aggressive with the Fitz. I stopped to possibly attack it on another day. I will try to post the pictures. Thanks.

RaylanGivens · #25 07-16-2015, 12:34 AM

nyeti · #26 07-16-2015, 02:12 AM

That actually cleaned up much better than I expected. Great score.

lebomm · #27 07-16-2015, 04:43 AM

Sure looks like a replate to me - and it looks like somebody had a go at recheckering the hammer. Still a fine shooter, though, I bet.
Congratulations !

Larry

Muley Gil · #28 07-16-2015, 06:15 AM

Look at the serial number stamped inside of the barrel shroud. If there is a "B" stamped in front of the number, the revolver was shipped from the factory with a blued finish.

RaylanGivens · #29 07-16-2015, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyeti

That actually cleaned up much better than I expected. Great score.

These are the before pictures.

RaylanGivens · #30 07-16-2015, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Look at the serial number stamped inside of the barrel shroud. If there is a "B" stamped in front of the number, the revolver was shipped from the factory with a blued finish.

Muley,
The serial number in the shroud has no letter preceding it. By th way, the serial number is 327xx.

DWalt · #31 07-16-2015, 08:10 AM

327xx - ca. 1929. Wonder where those grips came from?

RaylanGivens · #32 07-16-2015, 08:13 AM

DWalt, I don't know about these stocks. There are no markings on them. I wa hoping you would know

DWalt · #33 07-16-2015, 08:23 AM

Aside from not being original, I have no idea. Possibly a pair of 1917 smooth stocks someone has checkered. I have seen similar checkered Victory stocks, also probably checkered smooth stocks. Anyone proficient with a checkering tool could do it.

murphydog · #34 07-16-2015, 08:31 AM

They may be checkered 1917 Army stocks, or (from 1929) they may be the originals similarly modified. A long shot, but check the inside of the stock panels for a penciled or stamped SN?

A large percentage of 3rd model .44s I've seen (at least for sale) have been refinished, usually in nickel, probably due to heavy use and a desire to preserve the metal better than bluing. Enjoy!

nyeti · #35 07-16-2015, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaylanGivens

These are the before pictures.

Well it looks better than the original pictures. I just got four guns recently that all had me scared from the pictures and were much better in person.

I can't wait to see how it comes out with a good cleaning and a little TLC. Keep the pictures coming of the progress.