This is what I found in dads safe
- Thread starter illini24
- Start date
You first must get a S&W letter on it from Roy Jinks to affirm it left the factory with a 5" barrel on it when it was new. The 5" barrel is the key point of the value on this piece, and the stunning condition it is in.
You need to carefully take the grips of (use only the exact, correct width and length .... HOLLOW GROUND .... screwdriver bit).
Take pix of both sides of the grip frames (under the grips), especially the left side. If there is a date there ..... e.g. 10.60 (oct. 1960) or 1.59 (Jan 1959) that would indicate it went back to the factory for a repair and / or refinish, which is a major consideration in the value. Then there should be a stamped B or RB either alone or inside a diamond shape outline. B means blue, RB means refinished-blue.
If it is truly a 5" blue, 4 screw .44Magnum that is all in ORIGINAL condition you've got a $10K (minimum) piece there. I could not give you a more definitive value unless I examined it. Insure it for a bit more. I am a licensed Auction House in the State of Florida and a court approved firearms appraiser (State of Florida).
If you ever sell this you are much better off selling it to the Collector that wants to keep it in his own private collection [ like me
or a handful of other early .44 Magnum collectors here in the group ]. First, because of how you came to own it, it would comfort you to know it would be taken care of and cherished by a member or other serious collector. Second is the auction houses charges between 19% and 25% as sellers fee (deducted from the hammer price). You will have to wait about 4 months before it gets in a decent auction, and about another month to get paid, by check. A serious collector will purchase it from you today with money in your hand tomorrow. That's all for you to consider. There are several serious collectors in the S&W Collector Assn but Bill Cross ( as DOC44 a moderator on this forum and a good guy) has done extensive study and examination of early .44 Magnums over the past 20 years. If he ever writes a book, buy it. I tell you this, just in case this .44 Magnum appears "open" on the S&W Shipping records. This means you can never get a letter from Roy Jinks on it. I haven't seen Bill check in on this post yet but he probably will.
If it does letter ... it will have likely been shipped to HH Harris in Chicago as another post mentions.
Don't hesitate to email me if there is anything else I can help you with.
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Barbarian-CBX
Member
Uh Illini24, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that's not your real dad. He's actually my dad and he meant to give it to me. I'll pm my shipping address.
That is one beautiful package. Has dad ever considered adopting?????? 
r3captain
Member
That is Awesome! I'm excited for you!
YeshuaIsa53
Member
Your Dad has a big heart and excellent taste. Secure it well.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Awesome dad for sure.
My dad left bill collectors. I paid his bookie. Plus being a dead beat dad when I was little.
Consider yourself lucky to have a great dad.
My dad left bill collectors. I paid his bookie. Plus being a dead beat dad when I was little.
Consider yourself lucky to have a great dad.
Isn't it nice to have friends ? That is truly remarkable that it's a birth month & year gun for you but perhaps not so remarkable. When my twin boys were born I went on an intense search for consecutive numbered, collectible, S&Ws but I went for older vintage.
Good luck there.
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