I have seen conflicting #'s regarding the amount of 44 DA First Models produced. I need help to identify where the cut off is for it being antique and how many guns produced as I see #'s between 53000 ish and 55000 ish thanks for your help Ron
First Model 44 DA Production Dates
- Thread starter rjf1963
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deadin
US Veteran
I believe that all 44DA Top-Breaks are considered antiques. Even though they were cataloged up to around 1913, all frames were completed before 1899.
deadin is correct - it is my understanding that all frames for this revolver were manufactured prior to 1899, so all qualify as antiques.
The Pre-1899 Antique Guns FAQ, by James Wesley, Rawles is a very accurate source for S&W antique classification. His comments on the 44 DA are as follows.
S&W DA First Model revolver, all are pre-1899
S&W DA "Frontier" revolvers, all are pre-1899
The Pre-1899 Antique Guns FAQ, by James Wesley, Rawles is a very accurate source for S&W antique classification. His comments on the 44 DA are as follows.
S&W DA First Model revolver, all are pre-1899
S&W DA "Frontier" revolvers, all are pre-1899
I second the motion---believing all the applicable frames were made prior to the cutoff date----also believing S&W (Jinks) received dispensation from ATF to that effect----which is to say the frame is the firearm---never mind when it may have been assembled into a complete, functioning gun.
Ralph Tremaine
Ralph Tremaine
There were two 44 caliber DAs. Do you have a 44 Russian or 44-40 caliber revolver?
deadin
US Veteran
Measure the cylinder length. With that serial number is it is 1 7/16ths it is .44 Russian, if it is 1 9/16ths it is a 44/40.
44 russian44russian cal. 5inch barrel nickel finish
This would be the case with ALL firearms, and not just these early Smith & Wessons. If one has an antique action and builds a new firearm around it, even in a modern calibre, it is still considered an antique. However, 'sometimes' if the round is modern, the seller might require paperwork on it.
The low serial number would indicate the manufacture would have been in the first year of production, 1881, but it may not have shipped in that year. S&W did not ship by serial number, so shipment could have been 1881 or 1882.
jw mathews
Member
When the factory changed to the 1-9/16'" cylinder length to be able to offer the 44-40 chambering (mid-1880s, I believe), did they not also continue to chamber the 44 Russian in the longer cylinder? I believe the books state that both chamberings were offered in the 1-9/16" cylinder length (after S&W ran out of/stopped making the shorter cylinders).
My point is you cannot tell by cylinder length if the revolver will accept 44-40 or only 44 Russian. If the longer case won't fit, then you know it's 44 Russian. Even if the bbl has a caliber marking, it may be that the cylinder has been swapped.
I have one of these which I originally thought was 44 Russian (caliber not marked on bbl) & that round chambers & shoots fine. Within the past few years I measured the cylinder as the longer type, and learned that it chambers the 44-40 round. Guess I need to send for a factory letter to get the correct shipping date, as its s/n would belong in the separate group of the approx 15,000 44WCF versions rather than the larger 44 Russian s/n range. The thing I learned from my previous lack of knowledge is that there is no harm in shooting the 44 Russian in a 44-40 chamber--similar to shooting 22 short in a 22LR chamber.
My point is you cannot tell by cylinder length if the revolver will accept 44-40 or only 44 Russian. If the longer case won't fit, then you know it's 44 Russian. Even if the bbl has a caliber marking, it may be that the cylinder has been swapped.
I have one of these which I originally thought was 44 Russian (caliber not marked on bbl) & that round chambers & shoots fine. Within the past few years I measured the cylinder as the longer type, and learned that it chambers the 44-40 round. Guess I need to send for a factory letter to get the correct shipping date, as its s/n would belong in the separate group of the approx 15,000 44WCF versions rather than the larger 44 Russian s/n range. The thing I learned from my previous lack of knowledge is that there is no harm in shooting the 44 Russian in a 44-40 chamber--similar to shooting 22 short in a 22LR chamber.
