During development of the 44 Magnum cartridge, S&W realized the 1950 style target revolver was too light and recoil was severe when firing this model with the new magnum cartridge. In January 1955, the company built several prototypes. These guns featured a heavy barrel and were built in S&W's tool room. The guns were to be cased and featured S&W's small logo on the left side of the frame (this was later changed to the large logo on the side plate). Several of these guns were used for testing and the one shown below with serial number S121836 was used as a shown sample revolver. It was kept in the tool room collection for many years before being sold by S&W.

Those of you who have factory letters on a 44 Magnum know that Roy indicates in his background material that S121836 is "the first 44 Magnum".

Bill

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my goodness....thats an amazing Smith!

That is another great example from your collection, and I appreciate you sharing it with us! What history. If only that gun could talk.......

Bill,

Yesterday you showed us the "rarest" .44 Magnum. Today it's the "1st" 44 Magnum. I really hope this doesn't mean you're getting to the bottom of your safe!

Thanks for another beautiful gun and interesting post!

Jerry

Bill,
Other than the stocks, are there any differences between this .44 and the eventual ".44 Magnum" released to the public?
Is there any record of the number of "prototypes" made/ utilized?

Doc44, Have any of the "1950 style target revolvers" ever surfaced or their whereabouts determined?

Pre-64...The prototype revolver was the final design and there are no differences between it and the production guns except for the location of the S&W logo (noted above). It is unknown how many were made, but I believe they made five guns that were either prototype or experimental guns used to develop the 44 Magnum cartridge (probably three prototype, and two experimental, but that is a guess on my part).

S121839 was shipped to Remington Arms in 1954 and given to C. G. Peterson, Manager of Products Services, to develop the 44 Magnum cartridge. This gun was eventually given to his friend, Jack Behn. Jack owned the gun until it was stolen in 1972 and never recovered. Jack discussed this with me at the NRA meeting in 2001 and sent me a copy of the list of guns stolen. S121839 was described as a 1950 Target 44 with a 4-inch barrel and blue finish, chambered to fire the 44 Magnum. It and several other guns that are probably prototypes or experimental guns are open on S&W's records. This is to be expected since the guns were never sold and were made by the tool room staff.

It is interesting that Jack was a good friend of Bill Ruger and eventually worked for Ruger. Jack was given one of the few engraved Blackhawk .357s by Mr. Ruger, serial number 100. It was also stolen, but fortunately it was recovered.

Bill

Chuck, just to stir the pot a little bit here-

Wouldn't the 4 1/2" be the rarest still, since there were several prototypes, even though this is the first? Never mind, I think I just answered my own question.

The 4 1/2" is the rarest barrel length, while this one is the rarest .44, due to it being the first, and there's only one first.

Chuck..Rarest and the first... ...hard to beat that.

Bill

+100

Doc44, I'm assuming, I think most of us assume that your heart lies with the S&W .44 Magnum..but you've left hints in past posts that you may have a "Ruger" connection as well?

I find the stories/ histories/ developments of the on-going relationships between particularly the Ruger, Colt's, and S&W companies of that era (1954-1956) intriguing.

Pre-64...I have a parallel interest in the early Blackhawk .44 Magnum and the ones with a 7 1/2-inch or 10-inch barrel and the early Super Blackhawks. I also try and collect factory ivory grips (approximately 600 pairs made) and factory stag grips (approximately 6700 pairs made).

I consider John Dougan a good friend as well as Bill Hamm, who has the best collection of Ruger 44 Magnums there is.

Pictured below is a second month of production Blackhawk 44 Magnum, serial number 475, shipped in early December 1956. It is about new and one of my favorites.

Bill

I knew it! I knew it!

A Beautiful Flat top!

Bill,
Where's that beautiful 6 1/2" SBH at? That is an awesome looking Ruger!

Fantastic guns, Bill. I've run out of superlatives to described your unmatched collection.

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John

OK, Nice...but how do they shoot??

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE

Colts. I wanna know if he's got any Colts!

Oh God Arlo...I dont think I could take it.

Its bad enough when you ask around places for 44 mags....and the tell "Well we had one, but some guy name Bill come through and already bought it"

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C M Brier CPA, CIA, CFE

Bill,

I love your Pictorials

Dan

Onomea...I have six Colts...a 1911 reissue, my Dad's 1911A1 he carried in WWII, a Frontier Scout in nickel with case, a 1964 Python (great shooter), a third generation Class A-engraved SAA 44 Special with one piece ivory stocks, and a third generation SAA 44 Special that I shoot.

Really....I rarely have met a S&W, Ruger, Colt, or Sig that I didn't like. Browning is my rifle of choice and Benelli/Browning are my shotguns of choice.

Bill

Bill, was wondering what your take is on the three consecutive serial- numbered pre model 29s at auction at present by wimers in oregon. i suppose you are aware of the seemingly astronomical asking price.
thanks, pistolero

Doc44...coincidently...I have my Dad's Browning A-5 he purchased from the factory while stationed in Leige with the 76th General Hospital during the "Battle of the Bulge"..
He paid $29 and skipped the Gold Inlay for an additional $5 - too much at that time....

(Mr. Pistolero: Even Mr. Wimer couldn't put a price on it!)

Pistolero...The three 44 Magnums with consecutive serial numbers would be a nice set, but the guns were not shipped as a consecutive set and are overpriced in my opinion. I can't recall the price, but $15,000 would be tops unless a collector just had to have them. The guns have serial numbers in the S130000 range, but were not shipped particularly early. One was shipped in June 1956, if I remember correctly.

Bill

Pre-64...My Dad was a First Sergeant with the Coast Artillery and then transferred to the 28th Infantry Division. He served from 1941 through most of 1945. After the war ended in Europe, he was shipped back to the U.S. for redeployment to the pacific theatre, but before that happened, the Japanese surrendered and he was discharged. He joined the Army in early 1941 with the idea of serve your year and get out, but that year turned into almost five years.

Bill

Well, these guns sure look better today than does Colt Peacemaker No. 1!

Fantastic photos, too! Thanks for sharing!

T-Star

Bill, wimer's is asking $ 24995 for the set, incredibly enough. that may very well be the high water mark pricewise on a collectible gun (s)he has for sale , best i can recall.

wow.
just wow.
i cant think of anything else to say but, thanks for being at the front of the pack for this segment of S&W history that many people share with you. thanks for sharing and preserving the knowledge

I am proud to be a member of the S&WCA and this forum, and am always amazed at the quality of the things that members of the association and this forum share with the rest of us. Thank you for allowing us to share these beautiful guns with us!

Shawn McCarver

I bet the pictures in this thread were pretty nice a dozen years ago. This is why 3rd party photo hosting sucks. Looks like they were on fototime.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Reposted photo of "Prototype" 44 Magnum, S121836. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill

Thank you. Fantastic. I've been trolling the Notable Threads.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Back in the development days of the .44 Magnum I wonder if any of those involved could fathom the continued interest and fascination this gun would attract. Even 60 plus years later.