So there I was minding my own business and this stumbled across my field of view.

I was not looking to add another caliber to my collection but Transitional N-frames generally do not grow on trees so I decided to act and made the purchase.

Once home, a thorough cleaning confirmed its estimated 50-60% finish (the flash makes it look worse than it is) and a shiny bore and chambers. Removal of the Pachmayr grips revealed a hole for a lanyard ring drilled through the serial number. The serial number itself had been stamped on the left side of the grip frame.

It appears to have been a Washington State Patrol gun, but I should know for sure when the letter arrives.

I look forward to taking to the range when I can find some ammo.

UPDATE: See post #9 for letter.

It it is a Washington State Patrol gun the Washington State Patrol stamp will be ground off the backstrap. On mine the serial number offset from the lanyard ring to allow the whole number to show.

WSP or not a 6 1/2 inch Transition .44 is one special gun...great score!

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Bill Bates

Bill,

That is interesting. There is nothing on the backstrap nor any evidence anything was ground off. Perhaps it was for another law enforcement agency? The serial number is in the S631XX range.

Once you shoot it, YOU will be ruined for life....that is what happened to me with a 2nd Model 44HE......Now I have several and have begun reloading for them.

Yours looks like a dandy specimen. Please, update us with a range report. I would bet that it shoots better than you do even with fixed sights

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On the Oak Savannah

Congrats! Great gun.

There have been a few threads on the Forum about these. Original stocks will be near impossible to find and expensive. Pre-War Magnas might work well and easier to find. Or some Keith Brown Pre-War Magnas.

Should be a great shooter.

On my list I have SN S636xx which shipped in 7/46. Original grips are not easily found. I think S&W still sells some new pre-war style round top grips for N frame revolvers. Product: N/G Sq Bt Walnut Heritage Classic Checkered Grip w/S&W Medallion

I took it to the range the other day and had a great time. I was leery about adding another caliber to my collection but am glad I bought it!

[QUOTE=DWalt;138504023]On my list I have SN S636xx which shipped in 7/46. Original grips are not easily found.

First thanks for, among others, your prior guidance.

My 6 1/2 Transitional 44 Spl is SN 633xx. Think it would be fair to extrapolate probably made in early-mid 1946? I do understand that that actual shipping dates were something of a mixmaster!

Also from your commentary, is there some reason that magna grips for these transition models would be different than any other N frame diamond grips? (Mine appear original!)
Thanks again!

It appears to have been shipped to Seattle. Maybe it was a Washington State Patrol gun after all.

Attached Images

photo 1 (1).jpg (93.3 KB, 126 views)

[quote=iskra;138530769]Yes, transitional N frames have what we call "long frames". That means that later post war N's have short or standard frames. When you put later grips on the transitional frames, they don't cover the frame. They come up about 1/8" short of what is needed.

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Dick Burg

I just like the very idea of a Law Enforcement agency actually issuing such a great gun as this. After the war, if one desired to well arm some officers beyond the common 38 Special there were few options. The 357 was very difficult to obtain at the time and a good 44 Special would make some sense.

It is a WSP gun.
All the WSPs went to Schwabacher.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett