S&W .45

[Spaxspore]

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its here!!!

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[Muley Gil]

Not sure exactly what you own. Model numbers weren't assigned until 1957. What became the Model 25 was the 1955 .45 Target Model. The previous .45 target revolver was the 1950 .45 Target Model. The 1950 had a light, tapered barrel, like a M27 or M28. The target shooters of the day wanted more weight out front and the 1955, which has a heavy, non-tapered barrel, like the M29 and M57, was introduced in 1955.

So, which do you have?

[Spaxspore]

i don't own it. I am looking at one.

edited OP for clarity sake.

[Muley Gil]

If that revolver is stamped "45 CAL MODEL 1950", you are looking at a .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950, which is a 1917 updated with the post WW II short action.

When model numbers were assigned in 1957, this became the Model 22.

I would put this one, in this condition, at $750 and up. Less than 4000 were built.

[Spaxspore]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

If that revolver is stamped "45 CAL MODEL 1950", you are looking at a .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950, which is a 1917 updated with the post WW II short action.

When model numbers were assigned in 1957, this became the Model 22.

I would put this one, in this condition, at $750 and up. Less than 4000 were built.

Thanks so much for the post. I really apprecaite it.

[H Richard]

I don't see any adjustable sights or front patridge sight. It looks possibly like a 1917 commercial with a target trigger & hammer??

[Spaxspore]

Auction is over.. i won it for 660

[davefromhere]

Originally Posted by Spaxspore

Auction is over.. i won it for 660

Item 1126738613 (Smith & Wesson Model 1950, .45 Acp cal. double action revolver, 5")

Nice gun ! I've recently bought a M1917 (well actually a 1937 Brazilian contract revolver) and they are sweet guns to shoot. It reconciled me with the 45 acp cartridge.

[quinn]

That looks remarkably like a Model of 1950 45 Military also referred to as a pre model 22. They are remarkably scarce as stated above. I paid almost twice that price for one in much poorer condition. Assuming that is the original finish you scored big time.

[Spaxspore]

thanks gentlemen. When she comes in I give her a proper photo shoot..

[DCWilson]

That's a great score, and as Quinn pointed out, worth way more than you paid for it. Congratulations!

[Spaxspore]

I am not too up on pre models.. so i assumed it was a model 25... glad i asked here before bidding. After 5% buyer's premium and shipping ill probably have 700-720 in it. Then need to find me a nice place holder grips. I like wood grips.

[iskra]

Congrats spaxspore! Looks like a great gun and a very nice price! For some reason even disproportionate to their small production numbers, these guns seem quite difficult to find... at least in the West! The pre & Mod 21 genre allegedly far fewer, but they yet seem to exit the woodwork considerably more often than these 1950 .45 ACP versions!

My pre Mod 22, SN S8 61xx, shown below. Blue is uniform - left side file pix washed out. With TH, TT, TG (unsure if grips are correct/original). I'd value this not-for-sale gun at least $800+.

Again congrats and... Please do return with photos!

My take

[Spaxspore]

beautiful example you have there. Wow

- quick question gentlemen.. I am a sucker for target grips for the N frame.. should i go with them? Or look for some magnas?

I know looking for the correct grip is not truly possible as they were serial numbered to the gun. Just curious on your guys take on it.

As for returning for photos.. Will do! Its a must with me.. some examples of my photos from other S&W model -29-2 / 686-3 as a teaser to what is to come.

[gmborkovic]

I believe the correct targets would have been no cut(football) grips from the early 1950s. I have one perfect set left. Good score on a great shooter.

[Jack Flash]

That one looks great. I would love to have one. Fixed sights forever!

One question:
The ad says it has a 5" barrel. They probably meant 5.5" but it looks even longer than that to me. So is it a 6" or are my eyes not calibrated right?

[Spaxspore]

Originally Posted by Jack Flash

That one looks great. I would love to have one. Fixed sights forever!

One question:
The ad says it has a 5" barrel. They probably meant 5.5" but it looks even longer than that to me. So is it a 6" or are my eyes not calibrated right?

i would concur.. 5.5 makes the most sense.

[davefromhere]

Originally Posted by Spaxspore

i would concur.. 5.5 makes the most sense.

I believe that the offsprings of M1917 ( i.e. Brazilian 1937, m1950 et all) would all be 5.5 inches barrels, at least the ones with fixed sights. Maybe some of the experts can chime in ?

My Brazilian one is 5.5

By the way, nice find Spaxspore !!!

[Muley Gil]

Diamond Magnas would be correct. For shooting, use whatever grip is most comfortable to YOU!

The 5 1/2" barrel was standard for this model and for all 1917s.

[Spaxspore]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Diamond Magnas would be correct. For shooting, use whatever grip is most comfortable to YOU!

The 5 1/2" barrel was standard for this model and for all 1917s.

yes thats what i was thinking.. the original grips are long gone.. target N frame grips look like the best bet.

[moosedog]

Congratulations. Good price for a pre 22. I'd get a nice pair of diamond magna grips as that's what it would have come with.
I see you are also "cross addicted" as we have talked before on another forum involved in German guns. You are not alone.

[Spaxspore]

Originally Posted by moosedog

Congratulations. Good price for a pre 22. I'd get a nice pair of diamond magna grips as that's what it would have come with.
I see you are also "cross addicted" as we have talked before on another forum involved in German guns. You are not alone.

if its 1980s on back i am everything addicted .. Other than shotguns.. never really got into shotguns.

[lawandorder]

............great price & you will enjoy shooting it.

Mine is one of my favorite shooters.

Check out Rimz moon clips.

[nutsforsmiths]

Here is the one I purchased many years ago. Made in 1952. They are nice shooters too.

[Muley Gil]

Back in the mid '80s, I saw one at a Birmingham, Alabama gun show. Price was $135. It was missing the cylinder release. I passed on it.

That sound you hear is me kicking myself.

[Spaxspore]

fine group of guns you guys are posting. Can't wait for mine. Got moon clips already.. now to find some decent grips without paying the moon for.

[quinn]

Spax: The correct target grips (which were an option at the time) would be the non-relieve diamond targets. That is... assuming the gun shipped sometime between 1952 and 1958 +/-. After 1958, the N frame target stocks had the 'football' cut out. By your S86k serial number, I would suspect that your gun shipped early in the production. My S109xxx shipped in Aug. 1954. I have the target version (pre-26) S96xxx which shipped in Sept. 1952. A factory letter would tell you when and where it shipped.

[Spaxspore]

I'll probably get some 1980s era targets as place holders. Any thing is an upgrade over what's on it currently

[Spaxspore]

its here!!!

[Spaxspore]

well i just got back from a business trip (my brother was kind enough to snap some pics of it while i was away)

It turns out it has a 686 -like target trigger, and a target hammer.

[S&WIowegan]

You have a very nice gun and you should shoot and enjoy it. I can assure you that the target trigger and hammer are not original to a 1950 military. They weren't original to 1950 Targets either. Any estimates of shipping date on the 1950 Military are highly speculative because the guns were very slow sellers. There were so many 1917s circulating that the new model was hard to move.

If you can find diamond checkered magnas and standard trigger and hammer it would be original looking.