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11-28-2021, 05:20 PM
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Before the 1950 44 Target...
was the 44 Military Target. Click on the photos for a better look.
Bill
Last edited by Doc44; 11-28-2021 at 05:22 PM.
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11-28-2021, 06:45 PM
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Beautiful gun, Bill. I had never heard of a military target before. Always thought they came in one or the other. Thank you for showing me something I’ve never seen before.
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11-28-2021, 07:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huthike
Beautiful gun, Bill. I had never heard of a military target before. Always thought they came in one or the other. Thank you for showing me something I’ve never seen before.
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Count me ignorant as well...
Thanks, Bill!
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SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629
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11-28-2021, 07:59 PM
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Then what is mine?
44 Target Hand ejector that letters to 1923......
Wish it looked as good as that one! 
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11-28-2021, 09:19 PM
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What are the differences between the 1950 and the 44 Military Target?
Or maybe a better question is, what’s the difference between a 1926 Target and a Military Target?
Great Post!
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Last edited by THE PILGRIM; 11-28-2021 at 09:21 PM.
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11-28-2021, 09:43 PM
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It looks like the front and rear sights possibly are the pre war style and fitted type . ..and the later 1950 type 44 model uses the later next gen sight setiup
IE ..2 pin fr patridge setup and next gen 50s forward rear sight ..not sculpted into the top strap...as it appears w the 2 photos ...course Im usually wrong🤪
Randy..
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11-29-2021, 01:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STCM(SW)
Then what is mine?
44 Target Hand ejector that letters to 1923......
Wish it looked as good as that one! |
STCM.... Yours is the .44 HE Target 2nd model. They did not have the ejector rod shroud. That's one to be proud of, too!
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11-29-2021, 01:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STCM(SW)
Then what is mine?
44 Target Hand ejector that letters to 1923......
Wish it looked as good as that one! |
Yours is a .44 2nd (Note the absence of the ejector rod shroud)----came after the 1st (Triple Lock) and before the third, and just to keep things a bit on the confusing side was produced right along with the 3rd (Model of 1926)----up into 1940. Then for whatever reason, they apparently dumped their remaining inventory---39 2nd targets shipped to J.L.Galef Co. in New York City. I say apparently dumped because the 39 units were billed to Galef for what I reckon was the cost to produce the guns--------$17.00 each.
Ralph Tremaine
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11-29-2021, 01:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mh51
STCM.... Yours is the .44 HE Target 2nd model. They did not have the ejector rod shroud. That's one to be proud of, too!
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The stocks are not original though, but of recent manufacture.
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11-29-2021, 09:22 AM
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Very nice gun Bill.
Thanks for sharing,
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11-29-2021, 09:38 AM
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The model featured in this thread is best referred as the 1926 Model 44 Target. It is infrequently referred to as the 44 Military Target. I probably should have used that designation in the photos.
Bill
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11-29-2021, 09:49 AM
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Bill, you have just posted my Holy Grail gun. Not only that, it is within 10 days of my birth date. I have never found one to try to buy, but I doubt I could afford it if I did. That's a 5 star gun.
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11-29-2021, 11:14 AM
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I've heard several numbers mentioned as far as 1926 Targets produced. All were very low, but have we gotten closer with the S&WHF digitized records? Bill, that's about as fine an example as I've ever seen. Beautiful gun!
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11-29-2021, 11:27 AM
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I have never tried to determine how many 1926 44 Target revolvers were shipped by S&W as it would require looking at many years worth of records. I have heard the number 50, but I don't know if that is a good estimate or not. I do know you rarely see one.
Bill
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11-29-2021, 11:50 AM
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Well….that is beautiful, Doc. Call it whatever you want it doesn’t matter.
I have been staring at those two pictures so long my iPad needs charging. 😳
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11-29-2021, 12:05 PM
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Bill, and others
I had the opportunity to look up the difference between 'rare' and 'scarce' the other day. I noted your use of 'rare' in your statement " I do know you rarely see one.". This is, of course, the proper use of 'rare', according to what I found.
'Rare' refers to 'seldom seen'. 'Scarce' refers to 'demand outstriping supply'. 'Value' is not mentioned in either definition, although I know from personal experience that there is a relationship!
Regards, Mike Priwer
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11-29-2021, 06:44 PM
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Wow!
What a beautiful example of a fine weapon. Looks to have an almost perfect finish. A rarity for sure!
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11-29-2021, 07:26 PM
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The early S&Ws and Colt DAs are such fine workmanship beautifully fitted the stocks are immaculate
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11-29-2021, 08:45 PM
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I am probably wrong, but I have heard "Military Target" also referring to a revolver with a Patridge type front sight and a fixed (probably dovetailed) rear sight. The rear sight had to be non-adjustable to comply with the competition rules. Is this a bad memory?
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11-29-2021, 09:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tennexplorer
I am probably wrong, but I have heard "Military Target" also referring to a revolver with a Patridge type front sight and a fixed (probably dovetailed) rear sight. The rear sight had to be non-adjustable to comply with the competition rules. Is this a bad memory?
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The term "Half Target" comes to mind.
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11-29-2021, 10:34 PM
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If "non-adjustable" means what it says, then I'm not familiar those particular competition rules. If, per chance, you're referring the Bisley matches/rules (England), I believe those rules called for a "drift adjustable" rear sight-----and a dovetailed sight would seem to qualify.
There were, I believe, a few Triple Locks fitted with drift adjustable rears (albeit not dovetailed per se).
Ralph Tremaine
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11-30-2021, 04:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
was the 44 Military Target. Click on the photos for a better look.
Bill
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Thank you for a such incredible photos!!!
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11-30-2021, 12:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
The model featured in this thread is best referred as the 1926 Model 44 Target. It is infrequently referred to as the 44 Military Target. I probably should have used that designation in the photos.
Bill
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Well thank God for that-------I thought I had one of each, but I didn't have a Military Target. I went hunting for that in the books, but must have looked in the wrong books.
Ralph Tremaine
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11-30-2021, 04:02 PM
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I think , maybe I have seen the term ‘Military Target’ used in a Smith Catalog reprint.
Can’t find that Catalog!
Too much stuff!
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11-30-2021, 08:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rct269
If "non-adjustable" means what it says, then I'm not familiar those particular competition rules. If, per chance, you're referring the Bisley matches/rules (England), I believe those rules called for a "drift adjustable" rear sight-----and a dovetailed sight would seem to qualify.
There were, I believe, a few Triple Locks fitted with drift adjustable rears (albeit not dovetailed per se).
Ralph Tremaine
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Ralph, Yep, I should have called it drift adjustable. You are totally correct.
Gil, That's the term I was looking for - half-target. Thanks.
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12-01-2021, 07:58 PM
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This is a 3rd model 44 hand ejector target that would not letter as a target. Roy advised S&W was pushing multiple gun shipments to Wolf and Klar and the shipping department did not always state if the gun was a target. I took the gun to Columbus, Ohio S&W meeting and I took rear sight off. The guns serial number is stamped on the under sight and the sight track was blued, no rework number an no indication of re blue. Roy's opinion it was a factory target but he would only letter it as shipping records stated.
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12-02-2021, 02:56 PM
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Bill,
only one word
"great"
Best regards and take care
Your German collector friend
Paul
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12-02-2021, 09:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H Richard
Bill, you have just posted my Holy Grail gun. Not only that, it is within 10 days of my birth date. I have never found one to try to buy, but I doubt I could afford it if I did. That's a 5 star gun.
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Have one built. Way cheaper than a real one.
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