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very nice indeed...i have some of the new one's with the IL...mine all shoot and handle great...like you i neutered em then plugged them up with the "plug"

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

ANY STEP AWAY FROM A TAURUS TO A SMITH IS A POSITIVE STEP. THOSE GRIPS ARE SWEET
...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Congratulations on making a great decision to purchase the Thunder Ranch 21-4!

My first .44 Special was the TR 21-4. Wonderful gun except for the gold TR logo. Shoots well with lead, plated or jacketed bullets. I have Hogue wood target grips on mine now. Covers part of the gold patch!

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Hi Mike, Back in the 60s, there were those who felt the .44Spl/M-21 combo was a better alternative than the .357 or .41 Mag. as an upgrade to the .38 Spl as a service cartridge. They may have been correct. Stay safe partner.

Alan AKA Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. No wonder I can't find anything decent out here. You're picking up everything back East!

I would be one of those that held that opinion also.....Having trained thousands of "boots" and qualified officers for over a decade with K frame 357's, I would much preferred a large bore mid range load.....and for five years I carried a M-58 when I was able....I ran my handloads in it with a 220 gr SWC around 1050fps.....I am also a big fan of the 44 spl and carry a 3" 24 routinely nowadays that I have retired.....you have a good gun in a great caliber.....and the IL issue is a "non issue" to me.....I have a few Smith's that have them and none of them are carry guns, if they were...I would do as you are doing....and your choice in leather is very good also....enjoy your new addition....good shooting....be safe.

I have some of those 21-4s including one of the TR guns. They sold so poorly with that logo that our dealers discounted them to clear the inventory.

If it's any consolation, Clint Smith didn't want the logo on the gun either. The geniuses at S&W wouldn't listen and went ahead. Eventually they made some in blue and nickel w/o any gold logo.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Been lusting after a 44 Special, not finding any in Kalifornia.

Stopped in LGS a few weeks ago, brand new 21-4 in the case. $1199.

Went back to car shaking my head. I am just a cheapskate after all.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

Great looking gun Mike. I told you all the revolvers were hiding up north! I just went to a huge gun show in Atl last weekend hoping to find a snubby 44 mag. Nothing! Plenty of Smith .357s though. Where are y'all hiding them?

Nice grab Mike, that one has some pretty wood.
It'll make a great woods gun, that's for sure.
Enjoy it and let us know how it shoots.

Mike,
Just wanted to let you know about an article on the 44's in the Nov. American Handgunner. Its written by Mr. Taffin and has some great photos. You may want to stay away from it. Looks like it may cost the DA 44 special fan some money.
Hehe

Go easy on that DX, especially if it might come up for sale.
Hehe

Has anyone tried, or heard of anyone trying, to remove that TR logo? Since it's on the side plate I wonder if you could send just it to someone skilled to have it stripped off and just the side plate re-finished?

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

This may be a stupid question, but I won't learn if I don't ask it. Is it possible to get a replacement side plate from S&W? Thanks for your patience, whoever answers!

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"Liberty or Death"

There's several on GA right now under $1k and you could probably find one on the forum.

Yes I regret not snapping up a TR when they were going for around $600, though the nickel-finished 21 classics seem to still be available for not too much $$$.

I remember them languishing on gunboards and on dealers shelves, not many wanted them, just like 696's . If I recall CDNN bought up a bunch and sold them at firesale prices. Like so many other guns, it's one I wish I had acquired.

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Sure you did

I have owned three of the 21-4s and still have one of them. Very nice guns in my opinion. They were finally discounted at Bud's for 569 shipped. One of the best bargains I have seen on a new N frame with the lifetime warranty. None of the ones I owned had the TR logo.

A friend has the TR gun and I have a nickel (non TR) model 21. They're both smooth as glass and shoot great. My friend hated the Bling, so he just used a black permanent marker to mask it. He said when it wears off he'll just cover it again. Together we've put many thousands of rounds through these great guns. The Stocks from Kim Ahrends are the best thing out there.

Nice buy.
But I waited and got this one.




Carry while hunting deer, elk & bear

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Not that I have anything against the 44 Special (I've owned a bunch of them and still do) but my favorite revolver cartridge these days is the 45 ACP. Wish Smith had offered the 22-4 with the same round butt the 21-4 comes in. Only explanation I can think of is that Clint Smith convinced them to do the RB on the TR specials.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

A friend has the 4" SB 45 ACP version and while I prefer the RB for snubs I prefer the SB frame with 4" barrel Smiths....I know I know a RB can be converted to a SB with grips but still wish my RB Mountain Guns were SB frames.

I wonder that Smith didn't drop the ball a bit with their 21-4. The original 21 and pre-21 of the 50s and 60s is one of the best looking guns around, IMHO. It just looks right and I love the SB on an N frame. For every Jack, there's a Jill.

The 21-4 has a RB frame, as do all of today's Ns, I understand, but the wooden grip looks odd, to say the least. The unavailable checkered RB Magnas, like those on the snub 19/66, would have looked more proper. The earlier 21-4s came with a 'dime' front sight blade that was too small for its base. Later ones, like mine, had a 'nickel' size blade that looks correct. Other posters do not like the TR logo, not present on my gun.

I like my 21-4, to be sure, but it doesn't have something the original 21 does. A certain 'Je ne sais quoi.'

Anybody?

kaaskop49,

Other than a magnum length cylinder, the IL (idiot lock?) that changes the contour of the frame and leaves an ugly key hole even after installing the Plug, and the modern blue finish that just doesn't look right, particularly if you've owned originals, what's not to like? (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Bruce, was that $1,200 for the Thunder Ranch version with the garish logo or the Plain Jane 21-4? I'm asking because I saw a NIB 21-4 for sale by the original owner for $669 at a gun show today and want to know if that's a good buy. Thanks.

Mike

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"Liberty or Death"

Mike, I am still shaking my head. Yes, $1199 on the price tag. But this LGS is known for higher prices (not the highest in the area but still very high).

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

That's quite a price spread, $1,199 in Sacto and $669 in San Diego! On the other hand, almost everything in the current Classic Series costs about $1,000.

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"Liberty or Death"

Actually, Clint convinced them to use the square butt on the 22-4 TR specials and no gold logos.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821