What is this?

[CoronaGold111]

What is special about this revolver?

This revolver sold recently at a big auction house with a realized price of over $3000.

The item description: Professionally refinished S&W revolver. 45ACP. Serial Number S266666.

What is this? Is it really a $3000 gun?

I think it's pretty.

Thanks.

[DWalt]

It appears to be a Model 22 (1950 Army), ca. 1966-67. It appears to have a 3-1/2" barrel which is a little short, as it is cataloged as having a 5-1/2" barrel. The front sight appears non-standard, so it could have a chopped (or replaced) barrel, and if also refinished, $3K would be a very generous price to bring. To answer your question, I think not.

[k22fan]

It appears to me to be an early Model 58 that was converted to .45 ACP. Its hammer and trigger were swapped to Target Hammer and Triggers. The amount of barrel sticking out of the frame is less than it originally was because it had to be turned in further to meet up with a Model 25-2 .45 ACP cylinder. My guess is that it is still pretty close to 4" but my eyeballs are not calibrated that precisely. Also it lost the Model 58's PC stocks and got a flat bottom pair. That's a little more than "professionally refinished."

While $3,000 is too much for my wallet it would be lovely to have.

[s&wchad]

The serial number puts it around 1966 and it appears to have started life as a fixed sight N frame. It would have been model marked in the yoke cut, but apparently the didn’t mention it.

My guess, it’s a Model 58 that was re-chambered to .45 ACP, re-marked and refinished. It also looks like they shortened the barrel to 3-1/2” and added a target trigger and target hammer.

Whoever did the work did a great job. They were obviously a master. Hamilton Bowen comes to mind.

Edit to add: It also appears that the trigger guard was thinned. Hard to tell from the photos. Awesome combat revolver!

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by CoronaGold111

What is special about this revolver?

This revolver sold recently at a big auction house with a realized price of over $3000.

The item description: Professionally refinished S&W revolver. 45ACP. Serial Number S266666.

What is this? Is it really a $3000 gun?

I think it's pretty.

Thanks.

Without knowing more about the auction, it is hard to comment on what happened. It is hard to believe that one line is the entire auction description. Was thee no mention of model number?

This is a gun smith built firearm

I have no doubt that is a re-bored Model 58 barrel that has been cut and re-marked.

Who knows what the frame started out as

And as already mentioned it is equipped with target trigger and hammer

It is a nice conversion job, but you could go to Hamilton Bowen and have a duplicate made for less money right now

But folks do get caught up in an auction

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by s&wchad

It also appears that the trigger guard was thinned. Hard to tell from the photos. Awesome combat revolver!

I thought that too at first, but I think it may just be a trick of shadows and light

[flagman1776]

I agree converted M58. Probably a M25 Cylinder. M25 barrel has a enclosed ejector rod. Somebody spent a lot of bucks to get what they wanted.

[CoronaGold111]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

Without knowing more about the auction, it is hard to comment on what happened. It is hard to believe that one line is the entire auction description. Was thee no mention of model number?

Well, they did use a little more than one line but not much. And sadly there was no mention of the model. I was drawn to the heavy barrel and large frame. Bet it is nice to shoot.

This is a link to the RIA auction page for this revolver. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2032/646/

[rubiranch]

Don't drink and bid.

Sold a gun that we thought would sell for $2500-3000.

Two guys got in a bidding war and it sold for $5300.

Please, if you're bidding on one of mine drink doubles.