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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 06-25-2017, 07:33 PM
gunnut75 gunnut75 is offline
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Default 2nd Model HE in 44-40

I found a 44-40 with a 5" barrel serial number 30,1xx. According to the catalog there were 32 made if I'm reading it right. All references say rarity precludes a price. Any idea at about 75% with some typical flaking in the blue and a little sweaty surface corrosion? Can't post pics but I want to make an offer. Anyone seen one before?
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:21 PM
Troystat Troystat is offline
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Are you sure it started out as a 44-40, as you say they are rare. No idea about value but if it started out as a 44 special and somebody bored out the cylinder to 44-40 it would not be so desirable.
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:33 PM
gunnut75 gunnut75 is offline
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It very clearly is stamped 44-40 on right side of barrel and barrel is serial numbered to gun.
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:50 PM
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All I can say is that if the seller doesn't have any provenance or research documents, but wants a high price.....I'd have to walk away from it. It tells me that he has already done the research and can't document it as being correct.
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:53 PM
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Is it fixed or target sighted? Any ballpark what $ they are asking? Saw a triple-lock in 44-40 but not a 2nd. S&W made model 544 5"bbl N-frame 44-40 for commemorative some years back. Pics SURE would help.
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Old 06-25-2017, 10:30 PM
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Back in 1968 I bought a .44-40 Second model .44HE with a 5" barrel in unfired condition for $60. I never fired it and sold it for a profit of 10-15 dollars in 1969 when I went to VN. I believe that something over 200 in that caliber were built. I have always regretted selling that gun!
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Old 06-25-2017, 10:59 PM
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Quote:
It very clearly is stamped 44-40 on right side of barrel
44/40 , 44 WCF or 44 Winchester??
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Old 06-25-2017, 11:18 PM
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Are you sure of barrel length ?
This is how barrel markings should look. Mine is serial 30096 with 6 1/2 inc barrel.



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Old 06-25-2017, 11:33 PM
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I showed one to Roy and Jim Fisher at the Ohio S&WCA meeting and quoted a figure from the S&W catalog of 500 or so. Roy quickly pointed out the number was more like 50-100, and Jim agreed.

Charlie
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Old 06-25-2017, 11:48 PM
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I had a conversion with Ray Brazelle about 44/40 S&W 2nd models.
Ray told me he travelled the south west for 40 years and had only seen a hand full, thought most went to Mexico to go with Winchester rifles.
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Old 06-25-2017, 11:58 PM
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Here are a few pics. Its definitely a 5" barrel. 44-40. Like I was saying before, the S&W catalog mentions these guns and that are all in a very small serial range and there are only 32 according to them. This one is in that range. Don't know a number. Looks better in person without camera flash. Thanks guys.
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File Type: jpg IMG_4587.JPG (121.6 KB, 224 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4588.JPG (120.6 KB, 201 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_4598.JPG (73.6 KB, 193 views)
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Old 06-26-2017, 12:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gunnut75 View Post
I found a 44-40 with a 5" barrel serial number 30,1xx. According to the catalog there were 32 made if I'm reading it right. All references say rarity precludes a price. Any idea at about 75% with some typical flaking in the blue and a little sweaty surface corrosion? Can't post pics but I want to make an offer. Anyone seen one before?
Does the serial # on the cyl match?

Quick test for an original 44-40 cyl as opposed to a 44 Spl cyl reamed to 44-40:

A 44 Spl will not completely chamber.
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Old 06-26-2017, 08:37 AM
gunnut75 gunnut75 is offline
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All numbers match. Its NOT a 44 Spl.
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Old 06-26-2017, 10:24 AM
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Very nice... offer as much as you can for it knowing that you still need a letter to confirm.
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Old 06-26-2017, 10:25 AM
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You have found a great one! Good luck and thanks for posting it. As to value, it's out of my league, whatever someone's willing to pay. If you get it, give us a range report!
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Old 06-26-2017, 10:42 AM
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that's the real deal. Marked like mine was, and in the same serial number range. At 75%, I would think $1500 would be a good price.

Charlie

Last edited by crsides; 08-15-2017 at 12:44 AM.
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Old 06-26-2017, 07:05 PM
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I have a theory that Sasha Siemel's S&W .44 was a .44-40, to share ammo with his Winchester M-92 .44 carbine. And most S&W .44-40's did go to South America.

Anyone know how much .44 Special ammo was sold in Brazil from about 1917-1960? But .44 Winchesters were pretty common and are still copied there by Rossi.

Siemel may have had several .44 S&W revolvers, in both calibers.
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Old 06-26-2017, 09:33 PM
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I have a 2nd. model .44 non target, 6 1/2 inch in about 90% condition in 44/40 cal.(on barrel and factory letter) that DC said was worth about $3000. Hope that helps. What any gun is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it.

Richard
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Old 07-11-2018, 11:41 AM
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Hi Everyone, HAVEN'T POSTED FOR A WHILE.. JUST PICKED UP A 2ND MODEL HE 44-40 SERIAL 30137!

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Old 07-11-2018, 11:51 AM
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that's right in the serial number range of other 44-40's. Congrats on a nice find. I couldn't see the pics ???
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Old 07-11-2018, 05:11 PM
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Quote:
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Hi Everyone, HVENT POSTED FOR A WHILE.. JUST PICKED UP A 2ND MODEL HD 44-40 SERIAL 30137!
That's an awesome find. You start a new thread so members don't have to read thru this old thread.

I presume you meant to type HE 44-40.
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Old 07-11-2018, 10:29 PM
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Hi again Everyone! I willl take a few pictures and start a new thread.. I am over a year and 1/2 behind on pictures. Lots to catchup on..
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Old 07-12-2018, 09:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gunnut75 View Post
Here are a few pics. Its definitely a 5" barrel. 44-40. Like I was saying before, the S&W catalog mentions these guns and that are all in a very small serial range and there are only 32 according to them. This one is in that range. Don't know a number. Looks better in person without camera flash. Thanks guys.
Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that looks like a 6.5" barrel. Are you measuring from the face of the cylinder out?
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Old 07-12-2018, 11:53 AM
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Attached are letters written to S&W by original owner of the 44/40 I currently own. Note the date was 1930 and this may shed some light on the scarcity of the 44/40 revolver.




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Old 07-12-2018, 11:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigl1911 View Post
Hi again Everyone! I willl take a few pictures and start a new thread.. I am over a year and 1/2 behind on pictures. Lots to catchup on..
Welcome back! Thought you had gone to the dark side of collecting, like (insert other brand here) . Looking forward to the updates.
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Old 07-12-2018, 12:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quinn View Post
Unless my eyes are deceiving me, that looks like a 6.5" barrel. Are you measuring from the face of the cylinder out?
gunnut75 has a 5". See post # 11. The other revolver (post # 8) belongs to Toyman and has a 6 1/2" barrel.
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