S153155, shipped on November 13, 1956 to Holt's Sporting Goods, Lubbock, TX. One of five known with a 5-screw frame and nickel finish. All of the 5-screw, nickel 44 Magnums known have a 6 1/2-inch barrel (still looking for a 4-inch with an original nickel finish and 5-screw frame!!!). There is a small N stamped in the ejector rod shroud and on the lower left corner of the grip frame; nothing stamped on the cylinder.

Bill

With a blue front sight. I guess with only 5 made the sights didn't get a nickel finish.
A stunner with great wood.

GF

GF, the blue front sight was typical on nickel guns up to the point where Smith quit pinning the front sight ramp to the barrel. You will also notice the exposed ramp pins as the front sight (obviously) was placed after the nickel was done.

Bill,
You're killing me...probably wont be picking this one up in Tulsa huh?

beautiful

Curtis...this one stays in my collection. GF...the front sight and ramp were blue until sometime in 1967 (approximately) when S&W changed their manufacturing process and the sight and ramp were nickel plated along with the barrel, etc.

Bill

Just beautiful DOC!! Don

__________________
"Don't worry be happy"

That is an eye catcher for sure and just stunning

Does it sound weird when you say BEAUTIFUL when speaking about a firearm?-- Anyways, I quess they didn't ship in numerical order, as my Pre-M29, 5-Screw, Ser. # S 153950 was shipped July 11, 1956, but it is a Blue-- 6 1/2"

rusty...As far as early 44 Magnum are concerned, S&W shipped them in anything but serial number order. For example, S130705 (lowest serial number documented for a production 44 Magnum) was shipped on July 26, 1956 and S166065 was shipped on April 2, 1956.

Quite a few 44s with serial numbers you would normally associate with 1956 were actually shipped in 1957.

Bill

Doc, that is an absolutely stunning 53 year old piece of craftsmanship and fantastic photography. The aesthetic balance of the 6.5 inch 44 Magnum is just perfect in my book.

-Eric

great looking 44 mag!!

My goodness Bill, I am not a fan of nickle, but that is an awesome gun! Very beautiful.

How about a picture or two of it with its case?


Tim

Bill; I usually prefer a blued gun as well, but this one is magnificient. A real beauty.

Rod

Well, I just drooled all over my keyboard. What an absolutely beautiful piece of craftsmanship! Nice photo work also. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful gun.
I can't say what the practice was on nickle guns but typically longer barrels had partridge fron sights.
It may be that the front sight was changed at some time. I had the partridge front replaced with a ramp in my 25-2 at the S&W SC years ago. I was told that the exact right tap with a mallot shears the pins (which had previously been invisible). A new sight is installed and drilled for a new pin. The original part was returned to me & is still with the gun.
Russ

Russ...44 and 41 Magnums (Models 29 and 57) featured the red ramp front sight blade on all barrel lengths. The .357 Magnum (Model 27), the 1950 Targets (Models 24 and 26) and the 1955 Target (Model 25) usually featured the Patridge front sight blade on barrel lengths longer than five inches.

Bill