.44 3rd Model Transitional Target

[gripper]

We as collectors believe there were some where around 25-50 .44 3rd Model Transitional Target guns manufactured. I believe around 10-12 of these guns can be accounted for today....I think Jim Fisher has the list. It is my belief most of these guns were shot and used by shooters that where much anticipating the long awaited and new post war production from the S&W factory. There is a good chance this one fell into the hands of a collector that never intended on shooting the gun. This gun shipped to Sloan Sporting Goods New York, NY on November 7th 1947. The kicker is that this gun ended up at Star Sporting Goods in San Francisco, CA and then purchased by a M.A. Hughes Jr. of Los Angeles, CA. From the correspondence it seems to me Mr. Hughes liked some of the finest and most popular guns of the day and was actively seeking them out. Now, Sloan Sporting Goods was owned by the Walzer family who also owned the renowned Charles Daly company at the time. I'm sure Sloan's had enough pull to get one of the new and hard to come by .44 target guns from S&W. I have a feeling when Mr. Hughes showed his interest in buying one of these guns Star Sporting Goods went on the hunt. Maybe after a letter to the factory and many letters to large retailers, they found this gun, bought it, and then sold it to Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes then put it in his collection unfired and that's how it remains today. It's a guess on my part, but I think a good one.

Chad Gripp

 

[Göring's S&W]

There's a dream gun...

 

[66Park]

That is just exceptional, Chad. Wow!

 

[JayCeeNC]

Magnificent piece, Chad!
I think I've seen more stunning guns shown on here in the last week than I have all summer.

 

[bmg60]

Chad
Here is the list of the known 44 Transition guns.

S-71074 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
S-71263 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Condition 95%
S-71337 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71348 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
S-71393 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue 85%
S-71498 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 1947 San Francisco Chad Gripp
S-71567 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71670 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue dick burg 4 inch
S-71719 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
S-71903 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 9/1946
S-71912 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
S-71913 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Massachusetts
S-71916 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71950 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/1947 Cut to 4 inch non Orginal
S-71970 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-72015 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Built 1947 in Factory display case until 1965 Shipped

 

[gripper]

Chad
Here is the list of the known 44 Transition guns.

S-71074 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
S-71263 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Condition 95%
S-71337 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71348 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
S-71393 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue 85%
S-71498 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 1947 San Francisco Chad Gripp
S-71567 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71670 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue dick burg 4 inch
S-71719 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
S-71903 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 9/1946
S-71912 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
S-71913 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Massachusetts
S-71916 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-71950 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/1947 Cut to 4 inch non Orginal
S-71970 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
S-72015 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Built 1947 in Factory display case until 1965 Shipped

Thanks, Jim!

 

[Jaymo]

Is it bad that I'd shoot that one?

 

[rburg]

Makes me feel good to see my name there. Well, except to see the gun as 6 1/2 when we know its 4" and even says so after my name. Go figure.

 

[illini24]

Jim you can add my revolver sn#71268 one of the six shipped to R-S Marshall Lima Oh

 

[bmg60]

New list updated.
Jim Fisher
Dick I corrected yours I need a ship location for yours.

Post War Transition 44 special. S-71074 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71263 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Condition 95%
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71268 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71337 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71348 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/27/1947 sutcliffe hardware louisville Ky.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71393 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue 85%
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71498 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 1948 San Francisco (Chad Gripp)
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71567 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71670 44 Special 4 Blue dick burg 4 inch
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71719 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71903 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 9/1946
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71912 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 to Smith Bros Gun Shop Rochester PA
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71913 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Massachusetts
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71916 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71950 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue shipped 6/1947 Cut to 4 inch non Orginal
Post War Transition 44 special. S-71970 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Shipped 6/12/1947 6 guns in shippment to R>S Marshalls C0. Lima OH.
Post War Transition 44 special. S-72015 44 Special 6 1/2 Blue Built 1947 in Factory display case until 1965 Shipped

 

[rburg]

Sorry, Jim, I never bothered to letter it. I bought it as a shooter. Its seen a lifetime of honest use and some care. The only thing I can find really wrong with it is the heavy turn line on the cylinder. The blue is a bit grey these days.

Right after I found it I was wandering the aisles of the Louisville show and found another one. Same exact configuration, including the 4" barrel and the front sight. Now I know I should have bought it, too. Next time you're coming to OGCA or Louisville, let me know and I'll bring it along.

 

[OldDominion]

Be still my aching heart. Tis a wonderful thing to behold the beauty of what man creates with the gifts from the Creator.

 

[bmg60]

Dick
If I had to guess I would say its a single shipment
If I get a chance I will talk to roy and try and get a ship date and who it was shipped to.
Jim
You need to come to the annual Meeting in columbus and bring your two four inch guns and I will bring mine for a single gun display or related pair plus one.
Jim

 

[COYOTEHUNTER]

Chad,

That is a great one there and a documented story, Priceless.
Congratulations!

 

[1950jcb]

.44 HE 3rd Transitional Target

I've got one of those--not near as nice as Chad's, and no box (I got a box with it, but it was incorrect), but the rest of it is all there. I haven't seen it in a while--I should look for it. If I find it, I may take a picture and post it here.

 

[SDH]

***, That's one my uncle let get away...
I did inherit this one though...

P.S. If you want a good story, hire a novelist. I'm working on mine... ;>)
Steve Hughes

 

[illini24]

Jim is the list of all transitional 44 specials or just the targets?

 

[gripper]

The list is just for the 3rd Model Transitional target guns.

Chad

 

[DCWilson]

In my entire life I have never expressed a weaker or less proportionate response to a stimulus than when I hit the "like" button on that gun. Can't we have a secret multiple key-press code that lets a "Like" be counted as a Megalike or even Gigalike?

Holy Cow. Now I have something else to keep my eyes open for. The list is getting longer while the memory is getting less reliable. Don't seem hardly fair.

Spectacular, Chad. I'm beyond envy on that one. I'm just glad to have seen it.

 

[1950jcb]

.44HE 3rd Transitional Target

Found it (It wasn't really lost, just buried)-- S71912, shipped 06/12/47 to Smith Bros. Gun Shop, Rochester, PA.