Literature says butt swivel was discontinued on 1950 Target Model...pre-model 26. But my 1950 is tapped for swivel (smooth hole, not threaded) with adjacent pin tunnel. It looks factory since it is positioned between the "S" and the numeric serial number (S85712). Is this a common variation or a "military" variant?

It could have been a leftover 1917 frame. Think I read something about that. But I maybe wrong.

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George Jamison

I believe the run S&W made for the GHP had butt swivels. I have seen one that lettered with one after 1950. Good reason for a letter. Swivels can be found, I think gunpartscorp has them.

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PTLAPTA!

Thanks for the info. Am trying to find out cause the vet that gave it to me said he carried it in Korea. Any possibility this is true?

The military was somewhat lenient about the carrying of private sidearms at the time, so it is possible. Finding .45 ACP probably wasn't difficult at that time and place .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks. I was told that senior officers in Korea had a choice in their sidearms between the .45 AR/ACP revolver or the M1911. Sound factual?

I would think if they had a choice it would have been between the 1911 and the S&W or Colt Model 1917.I don't think the 1950 .45 Target would have been a choice.

I used to have a M1950 Target .44 Spl. (pre-24) that had a factory butt swivel and lettered as such.







So as they say, with Smith & Wesson almost anything is possible. Your gun probably came from the factory with the butt swivel, but only a letter will confirm it.

Curl

I believe back in that time frame you could special order just about any accessory, sight, etc. the factory had available. I know some police dept.'s had swivels on issue K frames.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Thanks for the input. I guess the only way I'll know is by a letter from S&W. Until then I'll just assume it's either a one-off model 1950 or a pre-26.

Any S&W revolver could be ordered with a butt swivel.
I have also had a 1950 Target 44 that lettered with a butt swivel.

Also-
It cannot be a leftover 1917 frame. They are very different from a 1950 frame.

Officers were seldom offered a "choice" of sidearms. They were issued what their unit had as TOE or possibly carried their own.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I think you may have hit on another angle with 'carried their own'. He was a competitive handgunner prior to Korea, so he might have taken his civilian model 1950 with him.