Quote:
Originally Posted by aterry33
A couple 24 questions.
What is the difference between the 24-3 and 24-4? Is it just the yoke retention system?
How common was the 4" barrel? If I recall, there were no 4" barrels made until the 24-3, and only about 2500 were made in 24-3 configuration. Not sure about the 24-4.
p.s. I think a 4" 24 with a square butt and the tapered barrel is a much better "mountain gun" than any of these round-butt concoctions S&W has come out with lately... just another reason I love the 24
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No, the 24-4 has the entire 'endurance package' and larger cylinder stop notches introduced in 1990. When Smith claimed their “final and limited production run” of blue 44 Spls in the ‘80s, the 24-3s, it was before the “Endurance Package” was added to strengthen their N frame guns. The -4 of the 24-4 denotes that engineering change, and since these were made in 1990 it also has the longer cylinder stop notches, so in affect these 24-4s are the strongest 44 Spls ever made.
Lou Horton commissioned 5000 sets of twelve engraved revolvers in 1990 of different configurations, calibers and themes. The 44 Spl theme was “Through The Line”. They were 24-4s with a 6.5” barrel, came with standard hammer & trigger, Baughman ramp sight, target stocks with cut-outs on both sides so the engraving on the sideplate wasn't covered up, and the endurance package (see page 198 SCSW under Mod 29 24-3E and -4).
S&W usually makes a few extra of special editions in case some do not pass final inspection. If not needed for the original order these extra or ‘over run’ guns are then finished without the engraving or special markings and sold thru regular distributors w/o any explanation of what they are or why they are different from regular production. It falls to collectors to seek these out and identify them for the rare guns that they are. But the 'over-run' guns have standard target grips of the period.
Since few if any of the 24-4 engraved guns will probably ever be fired, the regular finish 'over-run' guns are the strongest ‘shootable’ example of a 44 Spl N frame.
Four inch barreled guns are scarce but they were made from 1950 to 1966 when the 24s were eliminated. However estimates suggest there were less made than the 2500 run of 24-3 4" guns.