I am looking at a 5 screw, nickle, 5" barrel, fixed sight,
full lug. I thought it might have been a triple lock but it does not have the ball detent. It is a good 75% finish, no flaking only some dirty looking pitting where the thumb would contact above the noncorrect grips.
Locks up good. Good feeling trigger in double and single action.
SSN is around 41xxx. All parts match except the grips.
I think I might be able to get it at around 700.00, and I'm wondering if it's the deal I'm hopping it is, or if maybe I should try to get it down a little lower.
Sorry, no pics at this time.
Thanks in advance for any helpfull comments.

Buy it. That's less than a new model 10.

At that SN, it is not a TL. It would be a third model, probably ca. 1932-33.

Yes, it's a deal, especially if the nickel is the original finish, and the barrel is an original 5".

If the serial number in the barrel lug has a B in front of it, the gun was originally blue.

To confirm all parts are original, one can check for the 6 matching serial # locations for fixed sight pre war Hand Ejectors and all post war Hand Ejectors thru ~1956 and a few as much as 3 years later.
NOTE: Observing serial #s for accuracy or even existence, especially on penciled stocks, requires magnification, bright light, and an attitude that it is there!

1. Gun butt - or fore strap on I frames/single shots with grips that cover the butt

2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud

3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight

4. Extractor star - backside

5. Cylinder - rear face

6. Right stock only - on back; stamped, scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material. (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required.)

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have a .44 HE --3rd, same configuration as yours, # 41425 that shipped to W&K on October 3, 1932 in a batch of 50. -- Good chance yours shipped there also, possibly in the same shipment.

Like I said, all parts do match, except the stocks.
The number in the lug does not have a B.
They are nice but from a later model.
I'm thinking I'll get this and see if I can hunt down some MOP Steerheads for it.
If I get it I'll see if I can remember how to put pics on here, it's been a while.
Many Thanks for the info.

I just thought of another question;
in the top strap, just above the forcing cone, it is scalloped out a little.
At first I thought it was from flame cutting, but after looking a little closer it appears to have been made that way.
Would that be the case or has some one been blasting away with magnum level black powder loads?
It really looks like it was made that way.

It was made that way.

For $700, I'd be all over that one.

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The usual percentage of blue versus nickel production does not apply to 44-3rds. I daresay it is probably 50%-50% with 44-3rds. The western dudes liked 'em shiny!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I saw photos while reading about the Young Brothers Massacre in Missouri in 1932 several law enforcement officers from Missouri and Oklahoma carried 5" nickle S&W 44 Specials.

Hey Lee, in all those years have you ever seen a 6 1/2 in nickel?

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Dick Burg

I have not seen a 6-1/2 in nickel.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

So did the law dawgs in Alabamy!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Sorry, the time I don't ask when it doesn't say all '6' matching #'s is the time someone didn't know there are 6 locations to check.

The milled out area is factory made. That is known as a black powder fouling cut out, a remnant of models sold when black powder cartridges were still in common use. It's not uncommon for .44 2nd and 3rd models and even 38/40s to be built on surplus 1917 frames which have the cut out.

It may also have a military inspector stamp in the yoke.

The lack of a B for blue indicates that gun was originally nickel; an N stamp or lack of any stamp indicates an originally nickeled gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

New production with no front locking bolt will have a yoke ball detent. TLs had an additional locking bolt at the yoke. It's a U shape double locking bolt in the barrel shroud, top bolt for the front lock and bottom bolt for the middle lock:




Photos thx to Sebago Son

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hey Guys,
I thought I would revive this cold post to say that I just now bought this .44 that I started this post about. I have been watching this particular
pistol for several years, it was part of the original inventory at the Tuscaloosa Gander Mountain. With Gander Mt. going under everything has been being marked down, but with their already exorbitant prices they were just getting down to maybe market average. This .44 started out close to 900 back several years ago, then got repriced to 849.99, where it stayed until the ship started sinking. When it got down around 700 I started watching it closer, Today I walked in and it was marked 559.99. I asked if they could get me out the door under 600. They said no, but it'll get marked down again on Thursday. I said, Ok I'll come back Friday. The clerk said wait a minute, and then, well 599.00 dollars later I got me what I understand to be .44HE Third model.
As soon as I can remember how to post pics I'll do so

Your patience and the purchase is outstanding! I paid the aforementioned $900 for my W&K 3rd and don't regret it. It came with the MOP service grips, which have been stashed and replaced.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

I'm having all sorts of trouble with photobucket, maybe because my PC is a dinasaur

Can you post some better pictures of those grips

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I'll try. It took me 30 minutes just to get that one upside down.
I'm just about to pull them off and see what's under 'em


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Notice; almost all of the nickle is gone from the side plate

I don't know why those photos posted upside down, oh well,
This old girl has seen some rougher days, holster wear and maybe improperly stored but she locks up tight and seems to be solid mechanically

Good job on getting the photos up! Could those grips be c.1950 rosewood smooth targets?

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Looks about right for that


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Would c.1950 grips be relieved? Just trying to learn here. BTW, nice revolver!

I guess I am officially a collector now, since I had absolutely no definable need for this pistol. However for at least the past three years I have made it a point to drift over to the used gun case any time I was in the store, just to see if it was still there. I have handled it and inspected it so many times before yesterday. A friend of mine's son works there, and he rearranged the case one time just to throw me off and make me think it had sold. My daughter was with me when I purchased it and as we were leaving with it, she said that I had the biggest grin on...

OR.....Full lug.......

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S&W Accumulator

Great deal and it has "character". While shows it had been used, likely a LEO gun, it seems well taken care of. Most collectors need pristine 97%+ condition. While I like the high condition, too, I would not have passed that deal you just made.

Now you can shoot it, too, and not worry about shooting off a few condition points.

One of my favorite oldies is a 5" RM that was LEO gun, sent new to a Sheriff in Louisiana. It was used as a LEO gun, barrel missing about as much blue as yours is missing nickel, the rest of the gun shows only mild blue thinning but I let all my friends who want to try a RM, shoot that one. It still functions as sweet as the day it left the factory, which I feel certain yours will satisfy that curiosity, too.

Just imagine if you could expect 80 years of reliability and flawless function from all other products you've purchased. Amazing !

Once you go "pre-war" you can never go back to a post-war S&W with the same passion !!

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

They appear to be later Rosewood or Goncalo Alves Target stocks that may have started out checkered, also shortened to the length of the grip frame.

Nice .44 also .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I guess this means you've never fired a 44 Special, because if you had you would see the need for this pistol, the pleasure of firing such a fine caliber as 44 Special. I can't get over the patience you had one this gun. I would have been a buyer at $700. I paid $1000 for mine and I was glad to get it at that price. You'll enjoy shooting this one, I guarantee you that, especially if you reload. Mine came with W&K Pearl grips but I put them in the safe and added these Sambar stag which fill the hands nicely. You made a great purchase on that one!

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Get off my lawn!

That's a beaut there. Looks perfect for a BBQ gun


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Now I'm on the lookout for some appropriately aged leather


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Mine was found in this holster in a storage locker that had been locked since the 70's. It was wrapped up in a towel, found in Texas. Not a high quality holster. Since this picture was taken one of the thin leather strips has torn.

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Get off my lawn!

Collectors Firearms Archives - Home

If this one is original like they said it was, then it would be one. Back when it was still for sale, I called them about it, but the salesman I spoke to couldn't locate the barrel serial number, so I passed on it. After reading a few threads and asking a few questions on this forum though, I think the SN may have been tucked up behind the tip of the ejector rod like on a triple lock and not in the more prominent location found on most 3rd models. Interestingly it has the older style rounded rear sight groove, which I understand can be found on some of the earliest 3rd models.