I am going to check on what is supposed to be a .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, nickeled, in 95% shape. Grips sound to be incorrect, has been back to factory at one point (seller says there is a star after the serial # on the bottom of the barrel.)

Stampings are said to be strong and clear.

Besides the usual checks and comparisons to info from the 'bible', and checking under the grips for stampings to indicate when it went back, what do I look for? Seller says the hammer is nickeled, which throws up a flag but the ejector star is blue.

Should the back of the cylinder be stamped with an N? If it is not but there is a stamp that shows R-N, it would indicate a factory nickel job, correct?

Any tough guestimates az to value on a) it being originally shipped nickel or b) it going back to factory and being done there?

Thanks for any help.

With nickel hammer and a star marking, you can bet it is refinished. Look for the N on the back of the cylinder, but not all were so stamped. R-N is a factory renickel. Depends on condition, but it probably a $700 gun ... maybe higher if you REALLY like it

Charlie

99% of the time, a nickel hammer and/or trigger indicate a non-factory refinish.

Stars and dates under the grips, stamped on the gripframe, are evidence of a return to the factory.

Hope it turns out to be a good one!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

You might also look inside the barrel shroud; there might be a B or and N to indicate finish. A tight, refinished (even blue refinished in non factory nickel) otherwise 3rd is worth more than 700 IMHO. I have a blue, turned nickel, 4" Wolf & Klar that I wouldn't even consider taking a grand for. BTW, the 4" brings a bit more. Good luck. You don't find those every day. Also consider that if it was handled by W&K... they did a lot of nickeling and engraving on their own.

Attached Images

100_4479.jpg (230.0 KB, 425 views)

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Randy
Provenance nerd

The factory never nickeled a hammer or trigger. That was only done by aftermarket re-finishers.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I reckon what he meant to say was the factory never nickeled a hammer as a refinish---------and I don't know how that would be known.

The factory did nickel a hammer (and trigger) on (at least) five Registered Magnums----as original finish. And if they did those, it pretty much stands to reason they did the same to other guns we don't know near as much about----not a lot of them I grant you.

Ralph Tremaine

There is NO way I would gamble that a nickeled hammer and trigger where done by the Factory,99% of the time you will lose.Even a re nickeled 3rd Model .44 is worth a grand,No problem.

Ok. On the under side of the barrel, ahead of the serial #, is a b.
Under the grips is an R-N factory marking, but no date stamp. Nickel finish is 98%. Markings are crisp. Lock up good, etc. But price way too high. The search continues. Thanks for the feedback!

What was the asking price?

There shouldn't be an underside to the barrel... there should be a shroud for the ejector rod. However, if the barrel is marked "b" and the framer is "RN" I question whether the 2 originally came together. It sounds like a possible rebarrel. If no shroud, it sounds like a 2nd model. ???

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Marked at $1295.

It has a shroud. The serial # is stamped on the barrel flat that is seen when you open the cylinder. I think if was originally blues and then nickeled, but the nickeled hammer and trigger is wrong. Serial # on butt, cylinder and barrel match.

Is it a 4" or 5" Barrel? If it's a 4" I don't think $1,300 is too crazy for a nice Factory refinished Gun.That is less that 1/2 of what an original Gun would sell for.

I erred. It does not have a shroud. I also looked at several other Smiths and must have been thinking of them. When I went back and took some photos I must have had a brain fart. 05 caught my error when I sent him a photo. It is a second model, not a third. Thanks for the feedback, especially 05's!

Of course you can "never say never" with S&W collecting but that one is very close!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

No problem,Always glad to help out another S&W Collector.