2nd Model 44 Appreciation Thread--Show 'em!

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I have two.

This one shipped in February of 1921.

This one is a bit more interesting.

Flash back a bunch of years ago. I was pretty new to collecting N frame Smiths. I couldn't afford a Triple Lock, so I thought the next best thing would be a 44 HE 2nd Model.

One day I found this one at a show. It was marked as a 44 HE 2nd Model. So I bought it.

The dealer told me this one had gone to Canada, and showed me the Canadian Broad Arrow stamped on the frame.

But the more I thought about it, something was not quite right. The barrel was marked for 44 Special.

But there was no corresponding SN on the underside of the barrel, just this diamond mark.

And there was no SN stamped on the rim of the cylinder, just this 25 under the extractor, with the same 25 on the underside of the extractor star.

So I finally sent a request for a letter to Roy along with a whole bunch of photos. Turns out it is actually a 455 Mark II Hand Ejector. Turns out since the 455 cartridge was not very popular here, a bunch of these were converted to 44 Special when they showed up back in the US.

I wasn't really surprised, I had figured out as much. And I wasn't really disappointed either. Although when I told the dealer, he did not have any comment to make. He probably thought I was going to demand my money back.

 

[Texas Star]

Good topic!

Does anyone KNOW the exact caliber of Sasha Siemel's S&W .44 (s)? A photo shows what looks like a holster for a 6.5-inch barrel.

He also had a short barreled Winchester M-92 .44-40 and may have gotten his sixgun in that caliber. Remember, he was in Brazil and the majority of .44-40 S&W's did go to S. America.

His books just referred to S&W .44's. No model or exact .44 ctg. I am, of course, referring to his early guns, not to the M-29 sent to him in the 1950's.

He did spear many jaguars, but also shot some. And his S&W's were also for personal defense against men, in a frontier area where the law rode in your holster. And he no doubt was concerned with the many venomous snakes, etc.

If you haven't read his books, like Tigrero!, do. Fascinating! Born in Latvia or Estonia, he spoke not just Brazilian Portuguese fluently; he was also fluent in English and made lecture tours here as well as authoring books. He met his much younger wife at a lecture in PA.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Here's one. A cherry 6.5" 2nd Model .44HE that came from Lee a few years ago. Serial #57764 shipped 12/17/39 to Von Lengerke & Antoine Co., Chicago. Dig those beautiful prewar magnas!




And another, serial #23403 shipped 5/4/25 to Shapleigh Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO. This one belonged to Detective Sergeant Gay E. Dusenberry, Peoria, IL. "Dusey" had an impressive career busting auto-theft gangs throughout the 1930's, and was involved in a shoot-out at Larson's Barbershop on November 13, 1933. The engraving itself is clearly "pawnshop" quality. Not great, but not terrible either. The right sideplate is engraved with the Masonic "G" with compass and square, and Odd Fellows "F L T" linked chain symbol (Friendship, Love, Truth). A period-correct trigger has since been installed...and it works great.



The ceremonial badge was presented to Sgt. Dusenberry by the Chief of Police on Christmas Day 1933.


Here we see Peoria County Chief Deputy Sheriff Dusenberry, with .44 holstered, escorting a guest of the county sometime in the mid 1940's.

 

[bigolddave]

Peoria, IL must have been a fertile field for Second Models; mine and the next serial number that has been on the forum were shipped to Peoria. Maybe Dusey's exploits inspired others.

 

[BRush]

 

[Glashaus]

I just joined the 2nd Model HE group! I saw this .44 Special 2nd in the marketplace and it was just what I was looking for, a nice condition shooter. It is the same revolver that is in post 3 of this thread. It arrived today and is a great pistol. I am looking forward to taking it to the range and to carrying it out on the hunt lease!

 

[quinn]

Glashaus, welcome to the 2nd Model 44 fan club. Let's hear a range report.

 

[Texas Star]

Is that FMJ .44 Special ammo? Didn't realize they made it.

Many in the old days thought it was good for defense against large animals. Wonder if that'd penetrate a crocodile. Some probably carried M-1917 .45's to get a powerful handgun with jacketed bullets.

 

[BUFF]

I can't tell if it is metal jacketed or just copper washed, but the cropped-out box seems to say "...L PATCH." I'm guessing jacketed from that. I have never seen anything but round nose lead from pre-1975. I have read about full wadcutter loads, Skeeter Skelton mentioned them but I can't remember if he ever shot any.

Maybe we can persuade BRush to post a photo or two of the ammo box.

Nice photos of a nice sixgun there, BRush!

 

[Texas Star]

I can't tell if it is metal jacketed or just copper washed, but the cropped-out box seems to say "...L PATCH." I'm guessing jacketed from that. I have never seen anything but round nose lead from pre-1975. I have read about full wadcutter loads, Skeeter Skelton mentioned them but I can't remember if he ever shot any.

Maybe we can persuade BRush to post a photo or two of the ammo box.

Nice photos of a nice sixgun there, BRush!

I think it does say Full Patch. Means jacketed. Never saw it mentioned by Keith, Skelton, other .44 Special fans.

Most interesting. John Taylor mentioned liking jacketed bullets in case a lion had him down and he could use a revolver.

A HS chum's dad had a prewar Colt .38 Super; bought it when he was concerned about bears. Thought the high velocity FMJ would penetrate to vital organs.

 

[Hoppe's no.10]

I can't tell if it is metal jacketed or just copper washed, but the cropped-out box seems to say "...L PATCH." I'm guessing jacketed from that. I have never seen anything but round nose lead from pre-1975. I have read about full wadcutter loads, Skeeter Skelton mentioned them but I can't remember if he ever shot any.

Maybe we can persuade BRush to post a photo or two of the ammo box.

Nice photos of a nice sixgun there, BRush!

I think it does say Full Patch. Means jacketed. Never saw it mentioned by Keith, Skelton, other .44 Special fans.

This is from Stoeger's "Arms, Ammunition and Shooting Accessories" Catalog no. 18 (1932 ?):

.

Note that four styles of bullets are offered in the various .44 cartridges- Lead, MP, SP and MC. The manufacturers are not given.

Ruger 1

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Here's the only .44 HE 2nd I have. It shipped in July 1924.

 

[Texas Star]

This is from Stoeger's "Arms, Ammunition and Shooting Accessories" Catalog no. 18 (1932 ?):

.

Note that four styles of bullets are offered in the various .44 cartridges- Lead, MP, SP and MC. The manufacturers are not given.

Ruger 1

Also shows a 200 grain lead! Wonder if it was faster than the 246 grain one?

 

[BUFF]

Just a W.A.G. but I bet the 200 grain lead load was the wadcutter load.

 

[rubiranch]

Your pardon is only temporary... we need PICTURES!

Sorry for the delay and poor pictures but here you go.

 

[Kinman]

Currently my only 2nd Model H.E. 44 special. It was sent back to the factory twice in one year, once for later model target sight installation and again for a refinish.

 

[Mbrgr1]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

As long as you keep asking!


My one and only. Jan 1924

 

[LLOYD17]

Toledo PD 5" 2nd Model. Still all numbers matching.

This was dug up from beneath a cabin floor just outside of Goldfield, NV. I'm guessing it was in the previous cabin when the cabin burned down and a new cabin was just built over the top of the ashes.

 

[merl67]

My first one, or any 44 special for that matter. I can easily see what the appeal is man is it accurate!

 

[raljr1]

My only 2nd model. Came with the cokes.