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04-21-2014, 04:27 PM
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Mid-Winter Matches in 1956 and the 44 Magnum
In February 1956, S&W manufactured forty 44 Magnums (twenty-seven had been made previously). Six of these 44s were taken to the Mid-Winter Matches in Tampa, FL in early March as part of the factory display. Included were the gun shown below (S130853) and the first 44 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel, S130884. The factory display was sold to Jesse E. Harpe after the matches were completed.
Click on each photo for a better look.
Bill
Last edited by Doc44; 04-21-2014 at 04:30 PM.
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04-21-2014, 04:30 PM
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Magnificent about covers it. Thanks for sharing.
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04-21-2014, 04:31 PM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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40? Why not 44 guns? Wouldn't that make more sense from a marketing standpoint?
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04-21-2014, 05:00 PM
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Very interesting ,
Im guessing S130853 was one of the guns made prior to February 1956 ?
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04-21-2014, 05:26 PM
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S130853 was made in February 1956 (along with S130884, S130741, S130979, S147229, and S160041). As you can see, the serial numbers are "all over the place". The 44s were invoiced to Jesse Harpe in March 1956 after Mr. Hellstrom and the other S&W employees returned to Springfield from Tampa.
Bill
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04-21-2014, 05:44 PM
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Did Mr Harpe buy all the guns on display or just the .44 mags? If he bought them all it sure made it easy for the S&W guys going home not having to declare them and deal with the TSA shakedown at Tampa Int'l Airport.
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04-21-2014, 06:06 PM
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He bought the entire display.
Bill
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04-21-2014, 06:16 PM
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Thanks for opening that time capsule. Very cool.
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04-21-2014, 06:18 PM
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Interesting and thanks for posting
Beautiful .44 and very interesting info on early pieces. The photos show some solid and helpful research.
Well done and thanks.
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04-21-2014, 07:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
The factory display was sold to Jesse E. Harpe after the matches were completed. Bill
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I see that Jesse E. Harpe was a gunsmith, but was he someone "special"? I would think that being able to have a chance at that kind of history would only be available to someone "special". Fantastic gun, BTW!!!
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04-22-2014, 01:21 AM
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Any idea what Jesse E. Harpes shop address was ?
Maybe I can swing by and post a picture of what the store looks like today next time Im over that way.
I googled it but didnt find the address
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04-22-2014, 06:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy
Any idea what Jesse E. Harpes shop address was ?
Maybe I can swing by and post a picture of what the store looks like today next time Im over that way.
I googled it but didnt find the address
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The way Tampa has grown in the last 58 years you can just about be sure a little two by twice building like that is long gone and replaced by a shopping mall or hotel or something!
I'm thinking Harpes must have been one of those guys who moved a whole lot of guns, all out of proportion to the size of his shop, if he could swing buying the whole display at a whack... but you said they were "invoiced" to him, so maybe it was advantageous for the S&W guys to give him favorable terms just to avoid hauling all those guns "home."
Oh to be able to go back in time... "If I knew then what I know now..." (Of course I was only 7 years old then and still practicing my fast draw with a Nichols™ cap pistol! )
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04-22-2014, 07:09 AM
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Hi:
Jesse Harpe was the area Smith and Wesson Distributor/Dealer for many years. He sold Smith and Wesson to LEOs for if the Officer's had an signed affidavit from the Officer's Agency. When I started as a LEO in 1962 retail for a Model 10 blued was $65.00. With a affidavit the "Police Price was $48.80. IIRC Mr. Harpe was also a "Bulls eye Competitor" in three gun matches.
p.s. My first S&W M29 4" (Blued) I purchased from "Klein's Sporting Goods of Chicago, Ill for $140.00 in 1963. Klein's mailed it directly to me via U,S, Post Office
Last edited by jimmyj; 04-22-2014 at 07:16 AM.
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04-22-2014, 07:55 AM
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Great post, Bill!
Jesse Harpe was a notable gunsmith back in 1940! His name shows up in some correspondence I received from the S&W Historical Foundation while researching a 1940's Non-Registered Magnum. The original owner, who lived in Sarasota, Florida, had a timing problem with it and took it to Jesse Harpe. Jesse recommended that the gun be shipped back to S&W for adjustment and refinishing of the cylinder.
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04-22-2014, 08:12 AM
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Why not 44 4" 44 Magnums. Wouldn't that make more sense from a marketing standpoint?
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04-22-2014, 08:41 AM
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44 Magnums with a 4-inch barrel were not S&W's priority and less than forty shipped in 1956 (most near the end of the year). When Carl Hellstrom took these 44 Magnums to Tampa the new Magnum had only been announced about two months earlier and I believe he wanted the shooters in Tampa just to see the new revolver. The factory display was their marketing plan at that time.
Bill
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04-22-2014, 09:20 AM
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SP and Club Gun Fan, they were gonna take 4 44" barreled 44 magnums but they wouldn't fit in Carl's suitcase and the folks at S&W felt that they would probably be considered rifles and not revolvers. I read this on the internet I think.
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04-22-2014, 09:37 AM
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Bill
That's a great picture of Hellstrom and his crew. Where on earth did you find it?
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04-22-2014, 11:10 AM
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Found this interesting site has the Tampa shooting results and pics
from 1951 to 1972
National Mid-Winter Pistol Championships
1954 Smith & Wesson Trophy Match
l to r Winner, Huelet L. Benner; Expert, Wm W. McMillan, Jr.
Sharpshooter, Mario de Armas and Marksman, Alfredo Minguez
Used Google earth and looks like Jesse E Harpes shop address 913 N Tampa St Tampa, FL 33602 appears to be a parking lot
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04-22-2014, 01:59 PM
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Beautiful 44 magnum!
I bet that one doesn't get any range time does it?
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