New to the group and looking for help about information regarding my 44 Special
Not looking to sell but history and approx value would be most appreciated
Thanks

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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I make the serial number from the back of the right grip panel as 49403. That would put it shipping in 1937 or 38. It is an N frame, 2nd model, .44 Hand Ejector. The grips on it are pre-war magnas and I presume number to the serial number on the butt of the gun. They are worth at least $500 these days all by themselves. The target grips are much newer...post 1968. I don't have a good feel for what the .44's are selling for these days but I would expect it to sell for over $2000. An expert will be along shortly and give you better information.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

thank you!

Target stocks are post 1982. Gun is either in fantastic condition or has been refinished. Cool the ring is still there.

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No life story has happy end.

Well, I profess a complete lack of understanding why anybody would even bother making a gun without adjustable sights, but I'd stop to look that one over simply out of respect and admiration------and a bit of wonder.

Ralph Tremaine

Is that patent information on the arch of the hammer?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Many, if not most of my revolvers have fixed sights. Each cartridge has a standard weight bullet and velocity. Most fixed sights are regulated for that standard. I always maintain loads that approximate the standard so have no need for adjustable sights that can slip out of adjustment or break.

Adjustable sights are okay if you insist on playing with different loadings and such. Played that game in my youth, it is now out of my system.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Nice.......looks like it's been refinished by a professional.

Very nice looking revolver. More pictures will help the group approximate a value for you.
Importantly: Welcome to the Forum from Pennsylvania!

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NRA Endowment Member

Bill, welcome!!
That appears to be a very nice refinish on your 2nd Model.
Please post additional pictures showing more views.


Yes, that's what you're seeing Kevin.

...On Mine:

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

I started in law enforcement in 1976, retiring in 2001. Almost all of my duty revolvers had adjustable sights, as I tend to shoot better with them. However, the 1911 pattern semi-auto I carried had high visibility fixed sights and I shot fine with it.

Looking at the high, spindly front sights that were common pre WW II, I doubt I would have opted for a revolver with adjustable sights back then. The Registered Magnums were the only revolvers equipped with barrel ribs and Baughman front sights, as far as I know. And most folks couldn't afford a RM.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Welcome from Western Massachusetts. That is a beautiful revolver!

Considering the historical usage of a revolver, it's not hard to figure out. The revolver went in a bib pocket of an overall, it went into glove box, under a car or tractor seat, in the over-coat pocket, and sometimes (only sometimes) into a holster. A police officer might have carried a revolver his whole life and never fired it, just brandished it, hammered loose nails or noggins with it, and tossed it on the table after work every night.

Making a tool like a revolver more complicated by adding an adjustable sight guarantees that the sight will ALWAYS be out of adjustment.

It's only hobbyists or competitors that needs an adjustable sight on a revolver. Maybe too those who can carry in a fine-tuned holster. Certainly not the average vest-pocket-carry citizen that historically carried it concealed but close at hand, in case of the need for belly to belly contact.

I have at least 10 (probably more like twenty) pocket revolvers and Model 10s and pre-10s, that don't have adjustable sights and that's the way they should be. (IMHO). They never get knocked out of alignment, and I don't them shoot competitively.

Ralph, I thought the same way for many years, then I bought a fixed sight 44 second model and shot this target.

Ok, I guess adjustable sights might have allowed me to dial this in a bit.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

Having trouble getting pictures posted
Sorry
Can get them uploaded and them some show and some don't
Is this an admin question?

Thanks working on getting my pictures posted
Arggg

Gents, I think it is bad form to suggest a gun is refinished without clear indicators that it is. That gun looks righteous to me, particularly if it is in the 49000 range.
Do the grips number to it?


I don't know why you are having trouble with pics. Perhaps they are too large. I'd love to see some more.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett