my first named model part 1

guskody · #1 01-18-2017, 10:23 PM

went to a couple of nearby gun shows last weekend, hoping to find something interesting. have been looking for my new favorite revolver chambered in .45 colt, but was open to anything that caught my eye.

found this one at the second show. satisfied both of my needs. made the purchase.

not really sure what to even call it. I don't have any knowledge of Smith revolvers from the 1950's, other than a few bits of info I've picked up over the last 72 hours. the serial number seems to date it prior to the production of the "the 1955 .45 target model".

other than the designation on the barrel, it seems to have more in common with "the 1950 .45 target model"

chambered in .45 colt

6.5 inch barrel

serial number S 1242xx circa 1954-55 per the standard catalog

checkered top strap

the gentleman who sold it to me was a retired Chicago cop. he purchased this in the mid 70's from another Chicago cop. the seller mentioned something about the "custom shop" in that the previous owner liked fancy things. not sure if the checkered top strap or the .45 colt chambering would support that idea or if there are other features that indicate this is something other than the standard model issue.

so a couple of questions:

what is it officially called?

i would like to put some period & model correct grips on this. checkered magna type diamond walnut stocks?

i seem to have CRS at the moment and can't post any more than 5 images at a time. will make a second post with a few other images next.

thanks in advance for your knowledge.

Muley Gil · #2 01-18-2017, 10:28 PM

You have a .357 Magnum (pre Model 27) that has been converted to .45 Colt. The checkered top strap is only found on the pre and post WW II N frame .357s. The barrel has been replaced and the cylinder has been rechambered to .45 Colt. Normally, non-magnum cartridges such as the .45 Colt would not be found with a recessed cylinder. The factory barrel was tapered and had checkering on it as well. Note that your barrel is grooved on top.

I have a M27-2 that has been rechambered to .44 Special. It also has the recessed cylinder, which a factory chambered .44 Special would not have.

guskody · #3 01-18-2017, 10:29 PM

here are a few other pics.

thanks for letting me share.

guskody · #4 01-18-2017, 10:40 PM

thanks Muley.

i appreciate your knowledge. it sounds like i won't be able to read up on this one since it truly seems to be a custom assembly at one point in time.

so would this likely have left the factory as a pre model 27 chambered in .357 magnum and then the owner would have sent it back to the factory to be altered to his specifications? or altered by another gunsmith?

Muley Gil · #5 01-18-2017, 11:10 PM

Yes, it was built as a .357 Magnum. It is doubtful that it was converted by Smith & Wesson, as they would have marked the frame with a date stamp.

The factory stopped making large non-magnum revolvers in the mid 1960s and they had made very few revolvers chambered in .45 Colt. The only way to get a .44 Special or a .45 Colt was to convert another N frame S&W. Gunwriter Skeeter Skelton wrote a number of articles where he took mostly M28 S&Ws or mid frame Rugers and converted them. That's how I got my M27 to .44 Special in 1976.

raljr1 · #6 01-19-2017, 09:50 AM

I like that revolver!

Alk8944 · #7 01-19-2017, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guskody

.... it sounds like i won't be able to read up on this one since it truly seems to be a custom assembly at one point in time.

Nothing derogatory about this, but this is commonly referred to as a "Frankengun", post-factory mixing of parts that wouldn't normally be associated with each other in a single gun. This can be either mixing and/or modifying of factory parts, or simply a mix of non-serial number matching parts from the same model.

Muley Gil summed your gun as precisely as it can be described, he is exactly correct in his assessment, for the precise reasons he gives.

Nice gun BTW. I would like it better in .44 Special, but you wanted a .45 Colt, nothing wrong with that.

H Richard · #8 01-19-2017, 11:49 AM

The original owner was evidently died in the wool "gun nut", like a lot of us, and wanted something the factory didn't produce so he had it made. That's not completely unusual. Watch these pages and you will see more over time. You are lucky to have a custom one of a kind S&W.

Muley Gil · #9 01-19-2017, 01:47 PM

"Muley Gil summed your gun as precisely as it can be described, he is exactly correct in his assessment, for the precise reasons he gives."

Aw shucks.

guskody · #10 01-19-2017, 11:05 PM

thanks guys. normally i would much prefer to have purchased a factory original model, but i really do like this "Frankengun".

looking forward to some range time with it and hope this is the .45 Colt i've been searching for.

i did not notice when taking these photos, but now looking back thru the images from my original post, i see the serial number is stamped in to the cylinder in-between the chambers.

was this common for revolvers of this era, or do you think that was something that was done in the custom process considering the cylinder was re-chambered for .45 Colt?

even though its a "Frankengun", I'd still like to find some period correct factory grips. what do you suggest?

got the goodyears off while it sits in the safe. not friendly to that beautiful nickel finish.

thanks again. i appreciate it.

Muley Gil · #11 01-19-2017, 11:35 PM

"i did not notice when taking these photos, but now looking back thru the images from my original post, i see the serial number is stamped in to the cylinder in-between the chambers.

was this common for revolvers of this era, or do you think that was something that was done in the custom process considering the cylinder was re-chambered for .45 Colt?"

Yes, cylinders, barrels and other parts were stamped with the SN back then.

guskody · #12 01-19-2017, 11:45 PM

thanks again Muley.