Bought an old .44 spl today. Need some help verifying what I think it is.

[albanian]

Sorry but I'm not having any luck posting pics because I don't know how to resize them on my IPad.

What I bought was a little out of my wheelhouse. I'm normally a .38 spl or .357 guy and mostly buy K-frames with the occasional j-frame L-frame or less often a N-frame model 28 or 27. That's what I like to shoot and I'm not a collector.

I was at my local gunshop and spotted something I don't often see so I bought it. It's a blued .44spl with 5" bbl. I think it is the model of 1926 because the SN# is 28696 which seems to make sense from what I have read. It has the shrouded ejector rod and looks like the model of 1926 that I have seen.

Does anyone know what year it was made? Any other info would be greatly appreciated since I know almost nothing about this era and model and less about the variations.

The good news is I got it for what I consider a fair price. The bad news is it has been refinished and does not have original grips. Also there is some flame cutting on the top strap from hot loads. The refinish look professional at least and the yellowed faux stag grips suit the general look of the gun and are comfortable enough to use.

I know the collector value is probably nill but it will make a good shooter. The bore is good and the number on the frame and cylinder match. Inside the cylinder read 79619 and the yoke is 7961x. I can't make out the last digit without getting a magnifying glass.

It looks like someone spent some time and effort and probably money to restore it to be a solid working gun. Some of the screws look untouched and none are buggered. Little bit of end shake but certainly shootable and not what I would consider alarming but it is noticable.

 

[murphydog]

Correct, an N frame .44 Special with that high an SN would have to be a 3rd or 1926 model. It likely shipped in 1927, with the usual disclaimer that it may have sat on a shelf longer than expected.

Can't help you on the photos, but looking forward to them anyhow .

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Conrgats on a great find!

That number would put it in the 1926-27 time frame. It is also right near the beginning of the serial number range for the 1926 model. What makes you think it was refinished? Also, are you sure that is flame cutting and not a black powder relief scallop (not the correct term, but it's late and I'm tired LOL)?

 

[albanian]

Also, I know putting a value on it will be difficult but what is a low end value considering the flaws as stated? My buddy thought I was crazy for buying it but I think I did fine considering I can't remember ever seeing one for sale and there was just something about it that I simply liked.

As an aside, I was only there because he wanted to pick up his brand new S&W AR-15 that he ordered. It just so happened that we both walked out of there with S&Ws today. His was probably less than 8 weeks old and mine was probably over 80 years old! Kind of funny.

 

[Retired W4]

Nothing against S&W's AR-15's but I think you got the better gun on that trip. Pictures would be essential to estimate value. You will need to replace the grip panels.

 

[albanian]

Conrgats on a great find!

That number would put it in the 1926-27 time frame. It is also right near the beginning of the serial number range for the 1926 model. What makes you think it was refinished? Also, are you sure that is flame cutting and not a black powder relief scallop (not the correct term, but it's late and I'm tired LOL)?

I am certain it was refinished because the S&W logo is blurry and under the grip there is a lack of finish on the frame. Also inside the frame near the yoke is lacking blueing. The finish just looks too new as well. If you saw it, you would know instantly it was refinished. Looks pretty but it isn't right.

I just looked a little closer at the "flame cut" and it is a scalloped shape for certain. It is also not like any flame cutting I have ever seen. I never hear of a black powder relief scallop so I just assumed it was some sort of flame cut damage because that is what the shop keeper told me and the combo of my poor eye sight and ignorance it sounded correct. The power of suggestion I guess. I didn't know what I was looking at and the sales lady apparently didn't either.

I wasn't going to let my lack of knowledge stop me from buying it because I knew it would be gone if I thought about it and came back for it. Stuff in that that shop doesn't sit around. You sleep on it and you just missed our chance.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

The scallop was an area for black powder fouling to collect so that it didn't bind up the cylinder. I have your guns older brother, a Triple Lock, that can be seen here-

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/337960-happy-birthday-tl.html


It has it too. If I had been in that shop when you were, we would have had to wrestle for it LOL

 

[Muley Gil]

"That number would put it in the 1926-27 time frame. It is also right near the beginning of the serial number range for the 1926 model."

I have a 5" nickel 1926 .44, #28363. It was in the FIRST shipment of 1926 .44s to Wolf & Klar and has sent out on January 27th, 1927. All of them were 5" nickel. Your .44 would have shipped soon after.

"Correct, an N frame .44 Special with that high an SN would have to be a 3rd or 1926 model."

No, the 2nd model .44 was still being sold, along side of the 3rd model (1926) .44, well into the 1930s.

 

[albanian]

Do you think my gun was originally nickel plated? Again sorry for the lack of pics. I'm trying to figure out how to post them but the new Apple update has set me back to square one. I can't resize my pics to fit them in the post. I might be able to link to them.

 

[murphydog]

"Correct, an N frame .44 Special with that high an SN would have to be a 3rd or 1926 model."

No, the 2nd model .44 was still being sold, along side of the 3rd model (1926) .44, well into the 1930s.

He did write "shrouded ejector rod"

 

[murphydog]

Do you think my gun was originally nickel plated? Again sorry for the lack of pics. I'm trying to figure out how to post them but the new Apple update has set me back to square one. I can't resize my pics to fit them in the post. I might be able to link to them.

Hard to say without photos or seeing it in person. Also, many of these (blue and nickel) were heavily used, and from the ones I've seen were mostly refinished in nickel. A factory letter would tell you for sure.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I have a 5" nickel 1926 .44, #28363. It was in the FIRST shipment of 1926 .44s to Wof & Klar and has sent out on January 27th, 1927. All of them were 5" nickel. Your .44 would have shipped soon after.

.

Way cool. That puts it at #5 from the start of that serial range.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Hard to say without photos or seeing it in person. Also, many of these (blue and nickel) were heavily used, and from the ones I've seen were mostly refinished in nickel. A factory letter would tell you for sure.

... what the original finish was, not if it were refinished, even if done at the factory.

OP- Take a look at the left side of the grip frame without the grips on it. Is there a R-N, or a diamond with a N or anything like that? those would indicate a factory re-finish. I have that on mt TL along with the date of service.

 

[lebomm]

FWIW, that recess in the topstrap is called the "fouling cup". It is, as you've surmised, a carryover from black powder days.

Larry

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

FWIW, that recess in the topstrap is called the "fouling cup". It is, as you've surmised, a carryover from black powder days.

Larry

Thanks, I was drawing a blank last night.

 

[beagleye]

The way I resize pictures is just email them to myself. The mail program asks how big do I want to send the file. Other email programs shrink it without asking.

 

[ralph7]

Also, I know putting a value on it will be difficult but what is a low end value considering the flaws as stated? My buddy thought I was crazy for buying it but I think I did fine considering I can't remember ever seeing one for sale and there was just something about it that I simply liked.

As an aside, I was only there because he wanted to pick up his brand new S&W AR-15 that he ordered. It just so happened that we both walked out of there with S&Ws today. His was probably less than 8 weeks old and mine was probably over 80 years old! Kind of funny.

I would think it is about a $300 gun on a real good day since it has been buffed pretty heavily by the sound of it.

 

[albanian]

I would think it is about a $300 gun on a real good day since it has been buffed pretty heavily by the sound of it.

$300? You have to let me know where I can buy more of them for $300. I would buy everyone I saw for that price!

 

[murphydog]

"Do you think my gun was originally nickel plated?"

"A factory letter would tell you for sure."

Did I miss something here?

 

[Muley Gil]

He did write "shrouded ejector rod"

Yes, that is true and that fact IDs it as a 3rd model. However, the serial number doesn't necessarily make it a 3rd model. The 2nd models continued in the catalog well into the 1930s and were shipped right along with the 3rd models. The 3rd model wasn't cataloged for many years.