I bought these transitional magnas a couple weeks ago from Hoosier45. He said in the ad the serial numbers were in the 71,000 range on the grips. I put them on the gun today before a trip to the range. Perfect fit and the grips are 71737, my gun is 71753 only 16 numbers apart. Pure luck!
I’ve shown the gun before. It started out as a transitional 38/44 Outdoorsman with 6.5” barrel. The 44 Special conversion and all the other custom work was done by John Gallagher. And it shoots awesome!

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Tim
SWCA #2697

That is one cool revolver. I remember when you first posted about it I believe.

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Possum—The other white meat!

That circular stud below the thumb button left side; Is that where S&W got the idea for the internal lock look? Just funnin'

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

if I'd be you I'd run out and buy a loto ticket!

About as close as you could get makes you wonder if the same person worked on both guns on the line.

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Randy

There oughta be a fine holster for that gun somewhere.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

That's a real stunner!

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

The only holster I currently have for a 3.5” N frame is this El Paso Saddlery 1920 Threepersons. The magnas actually feel better to me than the target stocks that came on it.

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Tim
SWCA #2697

very nice , these target stocks. Beautiful pattern of the checkering, and a lot of lines per inch. Who is the gripmaker, please?

The stocks started life as S&W unrelieved smooth targets, so early 1950s. I do not know who did the checkering. Whoever did it is a fine craftsman tho!

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Tim
SWCA #2697

I really like those targets!

WILDPIG

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I ain't from around here.

Love that .44! I have five Ruger SAs that Gallagher worked over for me. So sorry to have lost him. A fine pistolsmith that I was able to name as a friend.

The El Paso Saddlery Three Persons holster is my absolute favorite. Just cain't beat it.

Very nice revolver. Thanks for sharing it.

Don't think we're alone, but Magnas feel better in my hands for anything other than 6+" K or N frames.

(even though the Targets displayed here are pretty awesome)

Based on my study of the .22/32 HFT's I would say probably not. Since those guns have both a serial number and an assembly order number imprinted into the left stock bottom, it gives the outsider a good view of how S&W built/assembled their guns. A group of frames was given to an assembler in no serial number order and then those frames were worked on and completed. Another assembler sitting next to him had another batch to complete.

Based on the randomness of the .22/32 HFT serial numbers and assembly order numbers, I would say that the likely hood of the same person working on two guns 13 numbers apart is a 50-50 shot.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Pantannojack, that is the hammer stud. All the transition Outdoorsman have the same characteristics-Large Ejector Rod Knob, One line address, pre war style hammer and trigger. On the Heavy Duty, these began to change on the 4" around serial number s68000 and continued to change until the 1950 style came out. The 5" transition Heavy Duty did the same, all I have seen have a large ejector rod knob.
Hope this helps,
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

I was digging thru a holster box and found this handmade Threepersons style for a 3.5”. I think it goes very well with the 44.

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Tim
SWCA #2697

"The only holster I currently have for a 3.5” N frame is this El Paso Saddlery 1920 Threepersons. The magnas actually feel better to me than the target stocks that came on it."

Very nice revolver, Sir! And IMO, a very nice holster! That EPS holster will be hard to beat, even without any tooling on it.

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So long ... Ken