Updated with photos

Purchased this one last night, a 6.5 inch barrel Post war transitional 44 HE. Serial number dates it to mid to late 1946. Well used, about 85% finish or more remains. Has numbered correct Magna stocks, quite worn. Mechanically sound... All parts have matching serial number. It has the butt swivel, and appears markings on the rear grip frame have been ground off, (almost certainly a Washington State Patrol issued gun) Only one I have ever seen! (except for the great photos posted by Forum members below! Thanks! Tim

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Tim
SWHF #395

Tim,

First we need to know to know what you mean by WSP markings that have not been ground off?

Is the serial # on the bottom of the grip frame?

If yes, is the butt swivel hole drilled thru the number?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks Jim.

Edited:

[B]There are no WSP markings. Appears they have been ground off the backstrap. The serial number is fully shown on the Butt, not concealed/damaged at all by swivel Hope to post pictures before this evening...

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Tim
SWHF #395

WSP: Wash state police?

6 1/2" barrel is scarce on the non-target sighted model which adds a premium, but 75% drops the value of course. Pictures will help a lot and I'd prefer to wait for them. But contingent on them, it's likely in the $2000 ball park. Opinions will vary and you'll get more.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

[QUOTE=Hondo44;139361010]WSP: Wash state police?

6 1/2" barrel is scarce on the non-target sighted model which adds a premium, but 75% drops the value of course. Pictures will help a lot and I'd prefer to wait for them. But contingent on them, it's likely in the $2000 ball park. Opinions will vary and you'll get more.[/QUOT

Thanks Jim!
Washington State Patrol did order several dozens of these guns in 1946. A good portion of the known examples have had the backstrap ground off to eliminate the lettering upon decommissioning...

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Tim
SWHF #395

Tim: IMHO, I think Jim is a little high on his estimate. Granted, all of my 3rd modes are pre war, but if the finish is original, but in 75% condition and without a letter giving interesting provenance, I would be thinking more in the 1$1500 range. I have been watching the GB auctions where several post war 3rd models have popped up recently. The sellers seem to be asking pretty high prices but the guns get relisted week after week. If the gun were in my hand and it lettered to the Texas Rangers I might go higher. You know what I mean.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Added photos

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Tim
SWHF #395

I would agree, the WSP was not ground off and left crude. But the backstrap was polished long ago. The area with no blue covered with light patina is not a natural wear pattern. It has a definitive edge at the top end. I'll bet is was marked and will letter to the WSP.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I would say $1500 to $2000 without a letter, since it is at least a post war trans 44 with a scarce barrel. If it letters WSP, maybe $2000 to $2500?

I think some people would say the back strap marking removal hurts the gun, but if all of them had that done, then its basically nature of the beast, so to speak....As for the condition, it would be hard to find a pristine WSP gun, assuming this gun will letter WSP, which is an assumption at this juncture...I don't mind the wear, as long as its provenance can be solidified...

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

Reminds me of mine. I am sure those fellows are right about value, but I wouldn't take 2 grand for this one. Mine was numbered a couple hundred downstream, 63 thousand range.

Looking good, Tim!

Has all the earmarks of a WSP gun. Of course, a letter will tell.

Should be a great shooter as well as collector.

That's a nice gun Tim.

It was apparently taken from inventory, either has an already numbered frame or completed gun to help fulfill the WSP order which required the lanyard swivel.

Hence the butt number was drilled thru and the s/n re-stamped on the left side of the grip frame as was the factory protocol in that situation, when the gun wasn't built from scratch for a particular order.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Wow, that's a nice gun. I sold one maybe 10 years ago and got about $1200 for it. Given the right market, it should go $2000 today. Long barrel 3rd models don't grow on trees. I don't care about condition, there's a good chance you'll never see another one for sale.

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Dick Burg

Yep, less than 1500 produced.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I bought one of these off of the classifieds on this forum a little over a year ago for $1200. It came with a letter that states it was shipped in October of 1946 to Schwabacher Hardware Company. It is my understanding that they supplied these revolvers to WSP.

It did not have the original grips or the swivel, but the condition was otherwise comparable to this one. It had pachmayr grips. I paid $1200 and felt like it was a reasonable price. Shortly thereafter, I saw a couple WSP models with the same rubber grips go for somwhere in the area of $1500 to $1750 on gunbroker.

Mine was drilled for a swivel through the serial number, which was restamped on the lower left side of the frame under the grip. It has the WSP markings on the backstrap ground off.

Thanks for all the responses!

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Tim
SWHF #395

That gun has a lot of character. I like it!

I picked my Washington State Patrol .44 Spl. in 2013. It was priced at $1600. It too has the Washington State Patrol ground off but you can still make out the first three letters WAS. It is sure a great shooter.

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Bill Bates

Jim - while you are technically correct, lets not forget that the number you refer to, "less than 1500" - 1473 to be exact - is the total production of the 1926 (44 3rd model) post war transitional. These post war model of 1926s were made in 4, 5 and 6.5in barrel lengths. The 6.5in is the rarest barrel length of the 3. One knowledgeable collector here on the forum estimated that he felt (approx.) that 900 were 5in, 300 were 4in with 200 being 6.5in. There is however a good possibility that less than 200 of these post war 1926 6.5in revolvers were made, IMO...

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~

Jim,

Thx for the numbers, I posted to the OP above the 6 1/2" is the scarcest, didn't know that scarce.

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Jim
S&WCA #819