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S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present All NON-PINNED Barrels, the L-Frames, and the New Era Revolvers


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  #1  
Old 01-19-2010, 06:43 PM
Dave T Dave T is offline
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Default Unusual 24-3

I am mostly a fan of older Smiths, and particularly the 5-screw N-frames. My taste also runs to 5" barrels and 44 Specials. When I came across this 5" barreled Model 24-3 I just had to bid on it and danged if I didn't win the bidding.

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/IMG_0010.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/IMG_0011.jpg

As you can see the barrel is a rather noticeable plumb color, hardly matching the frame or cylinder. Pretty obvious it is a re-barrel but I don't know by who.

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/IMG_0013.jpg

Looking closely the barrel looks to me to be a factory 5" rather than a cut down. The installation looks to be perfect too. I got this to be a shooter but I might just letter it, if only to satisfy my curiosity (LOL).

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/IMG_0014.jpg

Oh, and I just had to replace the 2X4 factory stocks with this set of Goncalo Alves a member here re-shaped to this more pleasing contour.

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Old 01-19-2010, 07:21 PM
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The bluing is noticeably different in the one close-up. I don't know what to make of it unless maybe it was rebarreled as you say.

Regardless, one thing I do know is that I like it. The new stocks are nice too.
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Old 01-19-2010, 07:30 PM
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dave...i only recently picked up my first 44 special...dont know how it eluded me before,but it did...mine is a 24-3 four inch from 1983...i couldn't be more pleased...congrats on your find!
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Old 01-19-2010, 08:00 PM
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According to the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson by Supica and Nahas, the 5" barrel was somewhat rare but legitimate. Sometimes the bluing doesn't match. I just bought a 24-3 with a 4" barrel. The finish on the barrel is brighter than the finish on the frame. This could be due to polishing differences. I wouldn't worry about it. It's nice looking. You may want to get a letter from S&W to find out if the barrel was original.
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Old 01-19-2010, 10:44 PM
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Two of you guys have 4" M24-3s. Wow! I have looked for one of those for years, just because I wanted a shooter to take every where and not worry so much about it. Never did find one when I had some gun money.

This 5" was such a surprise, and just plain luck to stumble on, I couldn't resist bidding on it. Fully expected to be out bid but much to my surprise I got the gun. Guess I better not buy any lottery tickets - my quotient of luck is used up. (LOL)

Oh, and the serial number indicates my frame was made in '83. I'll probably never know when it was re-barreled or who did the work. Looks good except for the color so I'm not complaining.

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Old 01-19-2010, 10:50 PM
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Dave,
I wouldn't necessarily assume that it was rebarreled. I've seen different degrees of variation related to finish on bone-factory-stock pieces. Good find!!
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Old 01-19-2010, 10:59 PM
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I had no idea they made any 5" 24-3's, what a great find! Were these for sure made by S&W, I have never read about them anywhere, learn something everyday i guess.
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Old 01-19-2010, 11:34 PM
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Make that 3 of us with 4" 24s-3. I also have noticed a higher shine blue on model 24 barrels. Definetly get that puppy lettered!

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Old 01-20-2010, 09:50 AM
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Just had to show my 24-3. I put on a pair of Executioner Elk Stag Grips. These are very well made and fit perfectly!
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Old 01-20-2010, 04:34 PM
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The gun may be legit, but the red insert was done afterwards. It is a bit longer, and shaped different from the standard factory inserts. Regardless, That is a fine gun and good for you on winning it. A 5" 24 is one of my grail guns.

Oh, and by the way,

Make it 4 of us with 24-3 4" guns-


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Old 01-20-2010, 04:44 PM
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That surely is a find! I love the stocks, also. Let's make it 5 of us that have the 4" guns:



And throw in a 6.5" for good measure!



That 5-incher really looks nice, and I think that 5 inches is about the ideal barrel length. Congrats again on that super find. I'd sure want to get Roy to letter that jewel!

John
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Old 01-20-2010, 08:31 PM
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I'm a little envious of all you guys with the 4" M24-3s. After years of looking I finally was able to scratch that itch with this:



That's a 1950 Target Model or sometimes called a 4th Model 44 Hand Ejector. The original owner chopped down the original 6-1/2" barrel badly to 3-1/4" and soldered a coin on for a front sight. His widow sold it to a gunsmith friend of mine and he said he'd put a 4" M24-3 barrel on it if I wanted to buy it. I did so he did. Guess you could say I at least got the barrel of the long sought after 24-3 4". (LOL)

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Old 01-20-2010, 08:38 PM
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I think you did quite well. Congrats.
It might not be a reblue. I have a 586 which has a color scheme like that and it's all original.
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Old 01-20-2010, 08:53 PM
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Dave T....
Mismatched coloured barrel and frame does not necessarily meen a rebarrel.
Here is a 29-3 that left the factory and turned plumb crazy purple.
There has been a bit of discussion on the board as to why some blue jobs do this.
Congrats on the new aquisition.
PS..Interestingly the new mountain gun in 44 mag has the same barrel contour..I think they look awesome.
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Old 01-20-2010, 11:30 PM
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Hey Dave,
Check out the photo's I've just posted regarding my newly acquired M24-3.
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File Type: jpg M24-3 018.jpg (80.8 KB, 68 views)
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Old 01-20-2010, 11:57 PM
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E49g, I'd pretty well accepted that it was a re-barrel. Now you've got me wondering (LOL).

mod, I saw your other thread. Your's is even a bigger mystery than mine. (smile)

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Old 01-21-2010, 01:09 AM
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Dave,
We'll see. My letter to Roy goes out in the morning. You ever notice what you find when you're NOT looking?
I had no intentions what-so-ever of coming home with a 3" .44spl when I got up this morning.
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Old 01-21-2010, 01:15 AM
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I guess I'll be number 6...


Tim
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Old 01-21-2010, 01:53 AM
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Here is a 1950 .44 special I have. It was shipped january 17th 1955 to union hardware in Los Angeles. Darn it, it had the original magnas that I took off and put these cokes on. I cant find them! I bought the gun I belive unfired, from a close collector friend back in about 1970 for I think, $200 or $250s. Its a safe queen that I probley put less than two boxs through. No box or papers though. I did letter it. What should it be worth now?

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Old 01-21-2010, 01:57 AM
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Be worth sending to me! It'd make a great " new father " present to me...I'd even let my little girl give it to me! How's double your money sound??
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Old 01-21-2010, 11:52 AM
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feralmerril,

There are many people better at evaluating these things than me but from the prices I've seen 5-screw 44 Specials offered for or selling for, that fine 1950 has to be worth 1K or more in today's market.

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Old 01-21-2010, 12:50 PM
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Default Another 4"

Here's my packin' 24-3.
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Old 01-21-2010, 07:31 PM
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LOL - I'm beginning to see why finding a 4" M24-3 was so hard for all those years. Bet it isn't getting any easier either. Guess I'll have to settle for this 5". (smiley face goes here)

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Old 01-21-2010, 07:44 PM
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My wierdo 24-3, pinned and square butt with 3" barrel.

Charlie

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Old 01-21-2010, 07:48 PM
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Well, I do have a hybred 5" .44 special. Many years ago I found the barrel to a model 21 at a gunshow. Then I found a old shooter HD, had a gunsmith friend swap the barrels and rechamber the clyinder. Didnt reblue it or anything else. Got probley $250 in the entire project. It shoots just fine.

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Old 01-21-2010, 11:03 PM
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feralmerril, what a great old gun. And those stocks aren't bad either.

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Old 01-22-2010, 08:43 PM
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OOp. Another 4"er. (A forum member reminded me to swap those screws around on it). And there's a long one, too. That 5" gun is something else.



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Old 01-22-2010, 09:51 PM
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While we are talking about model 24-3s, has anyone ever seen a pinned barrel, factory nickle (not engraved), or pinned front sights? I saw a 6 1/2 " that looks factory, but the Standard Catalog of S&W does not list any of those features on 24-3 models. Is this obviously a non-factory finish 24-3? How did it get a pinned barrel with a pinned red ramp front sight?

Your thoughts?

Thanks
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Old 01-22-2010, 10:08 PM
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Could be a refinished 1950?
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Old 01-22-2010, 10:29 PM
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The pinned barrel would make me think it was an earlier vintage too. If it's actually marked 24-3 under the yoke maybe someone who prefer's the earlier guns had a smith put a pin in there. Ya never know...

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Old 01-22-2010, 11:14 PM
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It is marked 24-3, the cylinders are not recessed, the cylinder has a black shell ejector. Inside the grips and the crane area look like normal rough nickle finish. It also has a triangle around the letter R under the right grip on the frame. It looks factory.

Last edited by bwade; 01-22-2010 at 11:18 PM.
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Old 01-22-2010, 11:25 PM
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The clyinder wouldnt be recessed on any model. Off the top of my head without looking, I dont know if my sight is pinned or not. Did you look hard at this gun, sounds like it might not be nickle at all but a stainless model 624.
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Old 01-22-2010, 11:32 PM
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bwade,
On the .44 specials the cylinders were not recessed. Only the .22 LR,
.22 WMR and the early .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, and the .44 Magnum
were recessed.
Larry
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Old 01-23-2010, 12:03 AM
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feralmerril,

I looked closely at it, I thought about the 624 possibility too, but it does not have the stainless or hard chrome look, or even a polished stainless, it looks nickle, it has 24-3 in the crane area, smooth s&w presentation grips, but the barrel pin looks normal. The barrel on its right side says "44 S&W special ctg" and the front sight has one pin holding the red ramp to the sight base. Also, this thing has a white outline rear sight. Very nice looking gun, and I am planning to go see the serial number to see if it is in the 24-3 early serial number range. Of course I am hoping this thing is original factory made in the very first serial number range when they made 25 nickle engraved models. The book says the pinned barrel was deleted with 24-3 and no nickles except for the first 25 engraved.
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Old 01-23-2010, 12:12 AM
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The problem with 24-3s is the darn things are addictive.

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Old 01-23-2010, 01:35 PM
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bwade,

All the info you are giving us makes it sound like you have a one of a kind. Like maybe the factory actually nickeled an extra one when they did those first 25? I can't help but wonder if it wouldn't be worth a letter from S&W. YMMV!

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Old 01-23-2010, 05:35 PM
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Dave T,

I would like to think it is a one of a kind, but I have learned that the serial number is in the ABZ3300 range. The book says they went from ABZ0000 - ABZ9999 and 7,500 were made. It looks original, but I don't think it can be. That pin in the barrel should not have happened, nor the factory looking nickle finish. If the thing was a ABZ0030, I could more easily believe the pin in the barrel, but not in the 3300 range. I am guessing the factory has worked on it or a very serious smith. If it is a re-do, I wonder how a factory looking job like that would hurt the value of it compared to a normal 24-3? It appears to be 97%+ gun.
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Old 01-23-2010, 10:14 PM
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Seems like M24's are a popular topic these days!
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