Yeah, I know.
At this time, it is the lowest serial numbered surviving 3rd model .44 Special, per the database maintained by the S&W Collectors Association.
Bought an old .44 spl today. Need some help verifying what I think it is.
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Yeah, I know.
At this time, it is the lowest serial numbered surviving 3rd model .44 Special, per the database maintained by the S&W Collectors Association.
Yeah, I know.
At this time, it is the lowest serial numbered surviving 3rd model .44 Special, per the database maintained by the S&W Collectors Association.
That's pretty cool. It looks like everyone of these guns must have quite a story to tell. Mine is 300 or so from the first one. Pretty early so I reckon it was in one of the early batches shipped to Wolf and Klar in Texas.
What's so cool about these are Elmer Keith was shooting them and working up hand loads during this time for the .44spl and with only 5000 or so of them ever being made, the chance that he or someone else of importance owned and carried one of the ones we now have is pretty decent.
Does anyone know if any military or police force carried this particular model? I seem to remember reading some highway patrol carried these but I'm not sure which force or which exact model/variation.
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I have read posts on this forum where a number of individual police officers throughout the country have carried these 3rd model .44 Specials. I personally know of four (4) 3rd models that were carried by police officers and sheriff's deputies in Bessemer, Alabama.
I believe the Washington State Police issued these as well.
BTW, in first first post, I misspelled the name of the gun dealer that placed the first order for the 3rd models. The correct spelling is "Wolf & Klar", not "Wof & Klar". I went back and fixed the spelling.
I'm pretty sure my gun is all matching numbers. The frame, barrel and cylinder all match and there is a different number on the inside of the frame that matches the crane. As there are two numbers stamped in the frame in different spots, I'm sure they are just other numbers S&W used to mark parts like on my other S&W revolvers.
There is a "P" stamped on the inside of the frame near where the model number is often marked. Does anyone know what the "P" means? There is no model number or other markings in that area besides the "P".
There is a "P" stamped on the inside of the frame near where the model number is often marked. Does anyone know what the "P" means? There is no model number or other markings in that area besides the "P".
I THINK that is just a fitter's mark, stamped there by an S&W workman. Usually, the "B" for blue is stamped on the underside of the barrel, near the serial number.
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Very nice, a 3rd model as mentioned.
gkitch
Member
Guns are assigned value based on their appeal to either shooters or collectors. The most valuable guns tend to appeal to both groups. Many of us are IN both groups.
Your gun is scarce and has a reputation of being a great belt gun in a great revolver caliber. The 5" barrel has its fans as well.While the reblue and the grips render it uninteresting to true collectors, it remains very interesting to shooters who favor solid S&W N-frames, 44 specials, and 5" holster guns.
I think somewhere around the $600-$750 price range would be fair, assuming a solid bore and action. Most reblued guns would not be worth near that, but many shooters would love to have that particular wheelgun.
Your gun is scarce and has a reputation of being a great belt gun in a great revolver caliber. The 5" barrel has its fans as well.While the reblue and the grips render it uninteresting to true collectors, it remains very interesting to shooters who favor solid S&W N-frames, 44 specials, and 5" holster guns.
I think somewhere around the $600-$750 price range would be fair, assuming a solid bore and action. Most reblued guns would not be worth near that, but many shooters would love to have that particular wheelgun.
handejector
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That may be a factory reblue. Hard to tell from the pics. Check under the left grip for markings.
OldDominion
Member
The Houston P.D. and the Providence Rhode Island P.D issued the 1926. I sold my Houston gun to another member. Here is #38928, one of 50 shipped to the Providence P.D. in 1931.
Looks like it should make a decent shooter, out west you don't see them very often, I can recall coming across one in the last 10 years, it was nickel, looked like it had been dragged behind a truck on a gravel road for a mile or two, probably had the original grips (what was left of them) someone bought it for $650, not me.
Yours has been refinished at least once, the give away is the beveled edges on the sideplate seem.
Yours has been refinished at least once, the give away is the beveled edges on the sideplate seem.
OldDominion
Member
Randy, if that aint' "original finish" I'll eat it. Lee
The re-blue doesn't bother me. I blew your picture up nice and large and don't really see over buffing around the sideplate seam. Maybe a tad, but not enough for me to shy away from buying it.
I like collectible guns as much as anyone, especially if they are older, but I really like a good shooter grade gun. Not only are they a piece of history (sometimes more than we ever know), but they are from a time when guns were built better and looked right. On top of that we can wear them in a holster, and shoot them and enjoy them for what they were built for in the first place.
I like collectible guns as much as anyone, especially if they are older, but I really like a good shooter grade gun. Not only are they a piece of history (sometimes more than we ever know), but they are from a time when guns were built better and looked right. On top of that we can wear them in a holster, and shoot them and enjoy them for what they were built for in the first place.
J. R. WEEMS
Member
She needs some REAL stag stocks
PM if you have the need as well. Still beatuiful as is. One of the reasons I like this gun is because of the flaws. The reblue hurts the value enough to make it affordable but the gun is mechanically sound and a good shooter. I suppose a reblue can be a big problem to some people but as I'm a shooter first and not a collector, the reblue actually is the best value hurting flaw it can have.
As for the grips, I'll have to find something that fits my hand better. I always like Hogue grips but I don't think that would look good or right on this gun. Am I correct to assume standard N-frame sq butt grips will work on this gun?
As for the grips, I'll have to find something that fits my hand better. I always like Hogue grips but I don't think that would look good or right on this gun. Am I correct to assume standard N-frame sq butt grips will work on this gun?
Modern N frame Magna grips are generally too short. Your best bet would be a set of Magnas made by fellow Forum member Kurac. These have the "Coke" profile and are very comfortable, as well as being beautiful. Thay can be had with S&W medallions as well.
The pair shown are on a commercial 1917.
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