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03-29-2020, 10:33 AM
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Third Model .44 HE
This one is a work in progress. The serial number (556XX) looks to be 1938-1939 production.
When I found it it had a set of Hogue Monogrips which have been replaced with NC Ordnance ivory polymer for now. The fit could be better but they’re not bad.
It’s been refinished at least once in nickel. The ejector star and thumbpiece nut are still blue, while the trigger, hammer, and cylinder release all have faded gold wash. There’s what appears to be a factory rework diamond stamped inside the ejector shroud.
I haven’t been able to scrounge any .44 Special locally other than some 165 gr. Hornady JHPs.
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22/32 JDF, 22hipower, 38SPL HV, andy52, bigmtnman, BigMuddy, bigolddave, Bill Bates, bluongo, CScott, daddio202, delta-419, fdover, Glashaus, Hawg Rider, Joe Kent, Kansasgunner, Kinman, krsmith58, Lee Barner, LEO918, mclovinuga, Muley Gil, Pine_Worker, quinn, Russell Cottle, S&WIowegan, SAFireman, series guy, steve61, StrawHat, The Gila Bender, THE PILGRIM, Thinnes, tops, Zarr |
03-29-2020, 10:57 AM
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Definitely a grail gun for me. Thanks for sharing. Color me jealous.
Dan
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03-29-2020, 12:59 PM
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One of the favorites in my collection is this W&K 3rd model 4 inch.
The finish is original with genuine ivories, shipped 1931.
I know ammo is a little hard to come by right now and if you can't find any .44 Spl send me a PM and I'll ship you a 100 rds so you can shoot that 3rd model... 
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03-29-2020, 02:08 PM
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I have never seen a 4" 1926 in person. Every one has been a 5" barrel. Owned 2 of them. Still have one. Refinished but nickel is original per letter. Shipped in 1928 to W&K.
Saw these ivory stocks on Gunbroker a couple years ago. Seller didn't know what they fit. Said too big for K frame and a bit short for N frame. Said take a chance for $25. Wasn't taking a chance at all. I knew exactly what they fit. A pre war N frame with the tad shorter grip frame.
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03-29-2020, 02:15 PM
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Well I would say you stole those ivory stocks..... 
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03-29-2020, 02:45 PM
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Well if andy52 is going to show his I'm going to show mine. Some day I may even get around to shoot it.
Jeff
SWCA 1457
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03-29-2020, 02:58 PM
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Yes Jeff I'm a blatant show-off when it comes to my S&Ws....
Nice looking 3rd model by the way.
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03-29-2020, 03:37 PM
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Here's a couple of my W&Ks. The nickel 4" was carried by 2 different Kilgore, Texas, police officers in the 1930s oil boom. The 5" blue was issued to the Houston PD--shown with an original HPD badge.
Kilgore, TX, Officer McFall
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Randy
Provenance nerd
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03-29-2020, 04:00 PM
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Mine is in this thread. Unfortunately, photobucket has screwed with the pictures:
Let's see those 1926 .44 Specials!
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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
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03-29-2020, 09:12 PM
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Quinn,
Those are two beautiful .44s. Mine was found in a pawnshop just down the road from Kilgore in Longview.
Quote:
Originally Posted by quinn
Here's a couple of my W&Ks. The nickel 4" was carried by 2 different Kilgore, Texas, police officers in the 1930s oil boom. The 5" blue was issued to the Houston PD--shown with an original HPD badge.
Kilgore, TX, Officer McFall
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03-30-2020, 11:33 AM
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It's nice to see these .44's coming out of hiding. Here's my 4" W&K .44 3rd Model, shipped July 1938, wearing non-matching period-correct service stocks.
56527_prewar service stocks.jpg
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03-30-2020, 11:53 AM
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So, let's keep going. Here is a 5" nickel (all original) that was in the 2nd shipment to Wolf & Klar in early 1927. This gun was also "found" in Texas by another retired lawman who appears on this forum from time to time and wanted something I had worse than he wanted to keep this one.
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Randy
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03-30-2020, 03:32 PM
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Howdy
I stumbled on this one at a show, probably around 20 years ago. The story was it was carried by an officer during WWII. A very worn holster came along with it, that I have somewhere. I'm pretty sure it was Roy who told me it left the factory in 1929.
Yes, it has been refinished, and not too great a job. Notice the huge gap around the side plate and the nickel plated hammer and trigger. Yes, the grips are very worn, I put them aside and it is wearing some cheap plastic reproductions now. Not visible in these photos is the top strap has been stippled for some reason.
Would I part with it? Not in a million years. I love this funky old pistol.
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03-30-2020, 04:25 PM
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This is currently my only 44 3rd.
Still wearing its original nickel and a humpback hammer. Shipped in 1940, but I have not lettered it. I have the numbered magnas that it shipped with, but put these giraffe bone on it for now.
Tod Ramirez is building me a 5" 44 3rd Target out of a 44 2nd Target and a NOS pre-21 barrel.  
Regards,
Bruce
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Regards,
Bruce
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03-31-2020, 09:00 PM
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Great Guns everybody.
The 3rd model is the last Smith that is on my wish list.
I may have to stay away from the shotguns long enough to buy one.
They are all very nice.
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03-31-2020, 10:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bruce5781
Regards,
Bruce
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Bruce,
Who made your holster?
Kevin
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03-31-2020, 10:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StrawHat
Bruce,
Who made your holster?
Kevin
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Kevin,
It is an old S. D. Myres. I am probably as proud of that as I am the gun.
Regards,
Bruce
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Regards,
Bruce
Last edited by bruce5781; 03-31-2020 at 10:14 PM.
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04-01-2020, 06:13 AM
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Thanks for the information.
Kevin
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04-01-2020, 09:37 AM
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On the Oak Savannah
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04-01-2020, 11:32 AM
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My one and only .44 HE 3rd Model is a little different flavor than those shown above - a Transitional Target shipped in June 1947 - I’m currently awaiting the factory letter to find out where it was shipped. It came with non-matching later diamond Magna stocks so I put these KB Ropers on it for now.
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Last edited by lestert357; 04-04-2020 at 04:06 PM.
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04-01-2020, 11:33 AM
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I’ve posted this one before, shipped to Wolf & Klar January 1940. It was originally nickel and has been roughly polished and blued sometime in its life. I now have a correct hammer and trigger to install. Ugly, but a fine shooter! 
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Tim
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04-01-2020, 01:18 PM
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And, here is one that went' through the Wolf & Klar custom department. If you've seen these before--sorry, I just can't help myself. It is an addiction.
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Randy
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04-01-2020, 01:30 PM
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Don’t you wish that S&W would reintroduce this model in their classic line...I recall they offered the N frame 44 Spl in their classic line over 15 yrs ago. I looked at one at Cabelas outside Hartford, CT, years back and should had bought it.
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04-01-2020, 03:31 PM
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They offered the Model 21-4, but those were round butt frame and internal lock.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Tim
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04-03-2020, 09:30 PM
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Here is my refinished 3rd model, 
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
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Last edited by raljr1; 04-03-2020 at 09:35 PM.
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04-04-2020, 08:33 AM
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Another 4" Nickel 3rd Model- BBQ Gun
I have posted my .44 HE 3rd Model (W&K Model of 1926) in the past, but what the heck...who doesn't like to look at guns? Mine was part of the second shipment to W&K in May 1927- 80 guns of which 20 were 4" nickel. It's been re-nickeled, presumably after a previous owner decided to modify the revolver by adding a top rail and Baughman front sight. I bought it wearing some 70's magna stocks, so I had Pat Grashorn make some elk stag stocks for it. The holster is from Bob Mernickle. This package makes a great BBQ set!
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04-06-2020, 12:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lestert357
My one and only .44 HE 3rd Model is a little different flavor than those shown above - a Transitional Target shipped in June 1947 - I’m currently awaiting the factory letter to find out where it was shipped. It came with non-matching later diamond Magna stocks so I put these KB Ropers on it for now.
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Congrats on a beauty of a 3rd Transition Target! Is the finish original? Mine, original finish, SN S 712xx, w/correct Gold box unnumbered.
Sorry for Thread deviation, but couldn't resist on seeing 'another one'!
Best All & Keep Safe!
John
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04-06-2020, 08:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iskra
Congrats on a beauty of a 3rd Transition Target! Is the finish original? Mine, original finish, SN S 712xx, w/correct Gold box unnumbered.
Sorry for Thread deviation, but couldn't resist on seeing 'another one'!
Best All & Keep Safe!
John
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Thank you John. Factory satin blue correct for the period, no factory rework date or star, all markings crisp, all edges sharp.....so, yes, I believe the finish is original. I find all of the 1946 - 1949 Transitional N frame revolvers fascinating because of the combination of pre-war and post war parts. For some reason this one was apparently reworked by the service department PRIOR TO ORIGINAL SHIPMENT as evidenced by the extra S stamp in the shroud, and the S stamps on the left side grip strap and under the ejector star as pictured below.
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Last edited by lestert357; 04-06-2020 at 08:21 AM.
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