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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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Old 04-04-2018, 12:37 AM
Shotguncoach Shotguncoach is online now
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Default Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill

Just got home from an auction. This revolver came from the estate of J. Perry Francis, Coconino County Sheriff from 1941-1954. It was listed as a 1950 Military, but based on the serial number and other features I think it may be a 3rd Model H.E.

I'll send off for a letter and do some research into Sheriff Francis. From what little I've found so far he sounds like a colorful fellow.

These pictures are from the auction listing. Right now the poor old guy is covered in fingerprints and dust. I'll clean it up and post more pics later this week. Serial numbers match between the butt, cylinder, and inside the ejector housing. The "soft" numbers on the crane and frame match also. The grips are obviously not original but they add character and feel good in the hand.

What's the group opinion? 1950 Military? Or 3rd H.E.?

Oh yeah.....the A.W. Brill holster came with it.
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Old 04-04-2018, 12:40 AM
Shotguncoach Shotguncoach is online now
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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More pictures....
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Old 04-04-2018, 12:41 AM
Shotguncoach Shotguncoach is online now
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Holster...
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Old 04-04-2018, 07:05 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Home Run!
It is a 44-3rd.
Good for you.

Data to remember-
ALL Post-War N and K frames have a letter prefix.
ALL Mod 1950 guns are short action. Hammers are shaped differently on short actions and long actions, so learn the different profiles.
A long action with a letter prefix is a Transition gun.
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Old 04-04-2018, 09:08 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Definitely a 3rd model HE, here's a picture of mine only difference is it's nickel.
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Old 04-04-2018, 09:46 AM
Shotguncoach Shotguncoach is online now
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Thank you for the positive ID gentlemen.

This is my first long action N frame. I have a Victory model K frame, but all my N frames are post war. The hammer profile and lack of a serial number prefix were the key points that I could identify on short notice.

I broke my own 'rules for auctions' on this one. I've refurnished my entire house with items from estate sales and I'm normally quite dispassionate about it. I've walked away from some very nice pieces because they went for $5 more than I wanted to pay. What went wrong this time is that I went in with the intention of buying. I did check the blue book to get an idea of the price range by condition, but after I had a chance to hold the gun and check the timing/trigger/etc, my thoughts went from "That would be a nice addition to the collection" to "I'm going home with this one."

That's usually not a good way to do it. This time it worked out.

It's sitting in the safe between the Victory model and my 1950 Target .44 spl.....I imagine the stories those three are telling each other are fascinating.
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Old 04-04-2018, 09:53 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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That is a great find. I hope to see some of the history come out and get shared here.
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Old 04-04-2018, 09:54 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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A few news articles about the original owner that I've been able to find in the archives of the Arizona Daily Sun, the Flagstaff/Coconino County newspaper:



December 1936

A young fawn killed by a motorist on Wednesday was picked up by Deputies Ernest Yost and Perry Francis and taken to the County Hospital, where it is being turned into mincemeat.



December 1941

Sheriff Perry Francis announced late Thursday that the Sheriff’s office will take responsibility for guarding the bridges on Routes 66 and 89 to guard against damage that will interfere with war effort transportation.



January 1943

Crime has slipped to such a low ebb in Flagstaff that on Tuesday, Sheriff Perry Francis swiped Rev. George Gooderham‘s bicycle. It is believed that Sheriff Francis wanted the bicycle because of the “C“ gas ration card recently issued to Rev. Gooderham by the local gas rationing board. When Rev. Gooderham missed his bicycle he rushed into the Sheriff’s Office to report the loss. After the local officers had led him on for a while about his loss they returned his bicycle.



I'll post more as I find it.....
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Old 04-04-2018, 11:15 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shotguncoach View Post
....The grips are obviously not original but they add character and feel good in the hand.
Those grips look pretty good, but they actually appear to be closer to K frame size to me.

Mark
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Old 04-04-2018, 11:36 AM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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That is outstanding! I am covetous... The research should be interesting.Congratulations.
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Old 04-04-2018, 01:23 PM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector View Post
Home Run!
It is a 44-3rd.
Good for you.

Data to remember-
ALL Post-War N and K frames have a letter prefix.
ALL Mod 1950 guns are short action. Hammers are shaped differently on short actions and long actions, so learn the different profiles.
A long action with a letter prefix is a Transition gun.
Lee, I thought some of the post WW II 1917s didn't have the "S" prefix.
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Old 04-04-2018, 11:37 PM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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It don't get much better that that. I have collected LEO carried S&W and Colts for years and this is a prime example. The slobber factor is HIGH!! Please post any research info you uncover.
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Old 04-04-2018, 11:49 PM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Nice pick-up! I don't know what you paid, but to me getting a gun with LEO history is a plus, getting a nice pair of sambar stag grips is a plus, and getting a Brill holster is a plus-plus-plus. Brill's are bringing quite a premium these days and just makes the package complete!
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Old 04-05-2018, 01:29 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Great find.

Post war serial numbers on the butt will read right side up with muzzle pointed to the left, all pre war guns read with muzzle to the right.

Also to pin down production of your gun a little, the large logo on side plate indicates production after the beginning of 1936.
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Old 04-05-2018, 01:30 AM
Hondo44 Hondo44 is offline
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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A couple of tidbits for future reference to ID Transitional models:

1) The hammer will have a notch cut below the firing pin (hammer nose) for the post war sliding bar hammer block safety.

2) Post war serial numbers on the butt will read right side up with muzzle pointed to the left, all pre war guns read with muzzle to the right.

3) Target models have a barrel rib and Micro click rear sight (this is different from other Post War Transitional Models such as the I frames).
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Old 04-05-2018, 07:32 PM
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Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill Gonna have to get a letter...maybe 3rd Model H.E. + Brill  
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Congratulations ! Both are Beautiful . Don't let it spend too much time in that safe , a set like that deserves plenty of hip and range time .

Eddie
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