Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961
o

Notices

S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-15-2023, 04:39 PM
Kansasgunner Kansasgunner is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 13,919
Liked 6,396 Times in 964 Posts
Default Another .44 Special conversion

I saw this one on GB and it intrigued me. Pinned front sight blade, non-factory caliber marks, chamfered front edge of cylinder and Jim Stroh’s shop mark on the grip frame. It had the number 8 factory stamped on the right side grip frame, so I was pretty sure it started life as a 38/44 Heavy Duty. Today Dr. Jinks has confirmed it left S&W in October 1956 as a Heavy Duty.
Not sure when Mr. Stroh (Alpha Precision) did the conversion but the late Roy Fishpaw made the sheep horn grips in 2006. I haven’t had a chance to shoot it yet, but I anticipate it being a good one. Very happy to have found this one.



__________________
Tim
SWCA #2697
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-15-2023, 04:45 PM
Kansasgunner Kansasgunner is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 13,919
Liked 6,396 Times in 964 Posts
Default

More photos of the grips, smoothed trigger and modified sight trough. I have read that Mr. Stroh used Turnbull for case coloring, strong vivid case coloring on trigger and hammer. A repair was noted on the left grip.




__________________
Tim
SWCA #2697
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-15-2023, 05:12 PM
S&W ucla's Avatar
S&W ucla S&W ucla is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: upper corner lower alabam
Posts: 2,509
Likes: 0
Liked 5,275 Times in 1,510 Posts
Default

You have a knack for finding great ones! Mr. Stroh did several jobs for me and was a master craftsman. I know he retired several years ago as his health was declining. I wish I knew an active smith as talented and nice as he was.
__________________
PTLAPTA!
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #4  
Old 05-15-2023, 05:36 PM
gdogs's Avatar
gdogs gdogs is offline
Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 969
Likes: 1,651
Liked 1,734 Times in 495 Posts
Default

You paid a pretty penny for it, but the grips alone make it worth it in my opinion. Fishpaw grips don't show up very often, much less in sheep horn.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #5  
Old 05-15-2023, 06:04 PM
loc n load loc n load is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: S/W Indiana
Posts: 1,500
Likes: 1,923
Liked 2,458 Times in 876 Posts
Default

Very nice combo. I have no doubts that it will be a shooter.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #6  
Old 05-15-2023, 06:07 PM
moosedog moosedog is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 7,851
Likes: 11,782
Liked 13,762 Times in 3,346 Posts
Default

I saw that one. You did very well. Top quality piece right there.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #7  
Old 05-15-2023, 06:17 PM
raljr1 raljr1 is online now
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Northeast FL
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 7,411
Liked 15,075 Times in 3,596 Posts
Default

Well, now you don't need the nickel 38/44 you bought at last year's symposium, so I'll bring a case to take it home.

Very nice find
__________________
Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #8  
Old 05-15-2023, 06:46 PM
LPD256's Avatar
LPD256 LPD256 is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Kansas
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 20,161
Liked 6,275 Times in 1,563 Posts
Default

That one is a beauty Tim and even better in the hand. Congrats on another great one. Can’t wait to see it in action.

Jim
__________________
SWCA 3255 SWHF 615
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #9  
Old 05-15-2023, 07:47 PM
quinn's Avatar
quinn quinn is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 11,064
Liked 12,074 Times in 1,920 Posts
Default

Tim: This is just waaaay toooo cooooL! Quick, wipe the drool off, sorry.
__________________
Randy
Provenance nerd
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
  #10  
Old 05-15-2023, 08:58 PM
Flygas's Avatar
Flygas Flygas is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 305
Likes: 408
Liked 957 Times in 174 Posts
Default

Great gun! I’d buy ANYTHING with Fishpaw grips.
__________________
SWHF #691
Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
  #11  
Old 05-16-2023, 09:05 AM
Retired W4's Avatar
Retired W4 Retired W4 is online now
US Veteran
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Atlanta area
Posts: 8,801
Likes: 15,779
Liked 19,356 Times in 4,351 Posts
Default

Great job on that one. Made me think of the HD in 357, which is a much easier conversion, I think. HP cylinder on a HD. I think that's how it was done
Attached Images
File Type: jpg HD finished 001.jpg (241.2 KB, 58 views)
File Type: jpg HD 357 cylinder 001.jpg (182.6 KB, 48 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #12  
Old 05-16-2023, 10:06 AM
Marshal tom Marshal tom is offline
Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cedaredge Co.
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 11
Liked 2,729 Times in 969 Posts
Default

Tim, i like that a bunch! I love .44sp and love Roy Fishpaw sheep horn grips. I once had him make a set for a .45 Colt SA. I sold the gun with the grips on it because he told me that he fits them so precisely that they probably would not fit another gun properly. Wish I still had both the gun and the grips. I also purchased a set of S&W sheep horns that he made. I sold them because I could not get them to fit the gun I purchased them for.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #13  
Old 05-16-2023, 10:16 AM
Green Frog Green Frog is offline
Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central VA
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 1,551
Liked 9,320 Times in 4,181 Posts
Default

Roy was quite the craftsman. He lived relatively close to me and over the years I had several examples of his work. My niece has a set of his wooden grips on. model 30-1 and I have a set of his ram’s horn on a little Hungarian Femaru. I sure do miss seeing and talking with him.
Froggie
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #14  
Old 05-20-2023, 06:13 PM
Kansasgunner Kansasgunner is offline
SWCA Member
Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion Another .44 Special conversion  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 13,919
Liked 6,396 Times in 964 Posts
Default

Finally made time to get this one to the range. Grips feel like they were made for me and Mr. Stroh certainly knows his way around a S&W. The double action on this old .44 is so smooth. I’m very happy with this one.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Tim
SWCA #2697
Reply With Quote
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
  #15  
Old 05-23-2023, 11:46 PM
Marksman Marksman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Indiana USA
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 3
Liked 186 Times in 100 Posts
Default

I had Jim Stroh convert a 5" M/27-2 for me several years ago, top notch work and he was a real gentleman and a pleasure to do business with.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
.44 Special conversion D1911 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 15 01-28-2017 04:41 PM
Conversion to 44 Special? WaMike S&W-Smithing 26 07-18-2013 08:54 AM
M28 to .44 Special conversion Muley Gil S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 1 04-25-2013 08:48 PM
.38 special model 37 to 9mm conversion MINI SSS S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 4 01-10-2013 12:56 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:52 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)