Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...Again...

[Truckman]

This weekend was likely my last show with tables...I had 116 S&W's under glass (pics in my Lounge thread for those interested), and the only one I sold was to an old friend of 30 years acquaintance at a deep discount...I think he wanted the Ken Driskill caribou grips on it as much as the gun...

So I didn't even clear table money, but I made the mistake of bringing my checkbook today just in case...I've posted before about an old friend who died a couple of years ago (many here knew him but he was not a forum member), and his business partner has been rehoming all his guns for the widow...I've bought several already, but it's getting down now to the rare and exotic...

I did a thread some time back about a Model of 1950 Target in .44 Special, and I already knew SCSW4 says the 4" is a rarity, so I bought that one...This weekend two more 4" versions came with him, and astronomically high in price, one with wrong numbered but otherwise correct Magnas, the other with unrelieved target stocks, and both with boxes...Beautiful original bright blued finishes on both...

However, a mystery gun was parked with these two...The Roy Jinks letter that came with one of the two 4 inchers said that although 6 1/2" barrels were most common, others were shipped with 4", 5" and 5 1/2" barrels...The mystery gun has a 3 1/2" barrel...

I have no idea whether any guns other than .357's were ever shipped in 3 1/2" barrel length...But since I'm a taker of chances on occasion, I made the deal to buy all three of these 5 screw guns...All three have red ramp front sights with black rears...The pins on all three are proud...The caliber designation on the 3 1/2" is centered perfectly on the right side of the barrel...I suspect this one was a work gun for someone in law enforcement because there is holster wear on it, it's wearing an old trigger shoe which I'm going to leave as is, and it has an incredibly smooth action in both double and single...

Those characteristics tell me that a professional wanted to carry the absolute best tailored to his specifications...I will definitely letter this one along with my other two 4" Models of 1950 target .44's...I'll just have to wait until my next SS check arrives...In the meantime if anyone knows of the authenticity of the 3 1/2" barrel on this one, I'd love to hear facts, rumors, guesses, seances, whatever you've got...I took one crappy cell phone picture for speculative purposes before I start the cleanup......Ben

Edit: I almost forgot, S/N on the 3 1/2" incher is S97784...

 

[22hipower]

I'm certainly impressed with that haul, I've only seen one of the legit four inchers in the wild. Let us know what you find out about that 3.5 inch gun, hard to believe it is factory but sure hope it is. You might well have the only one. Nice buy!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Truckman]

There appears to be a date stamp on the left toe of the grip frame of the mystery gun, 3 56......Ben

 

[Retired W4]

10 Our Fathers and 10 Hail Marys should fix you up. I understand the temptation.

 

[Truckman]

A new observation on the mystery gun, the stocks (walnut magnas numbered to the frame) are also the plainclothes version with beveled bottom edges...This further supports my theory that the gun was tailored for the purposes of a professional lawman...The question remains was the tailor employed by S&W, or an independent...I don't remember seeing PC magnas on this early of a gun, but I was still in kneebritches when this was new...

They look exactly like PC magnas found on later N-frames, and they appear to have more wear on the starboard side indicating a right-handed shooter...Does anyone know when this style became prevalent?...I'll work on some better pics of the gun and the stocks a little later on before cleanup......Ben

 

[Hawg Rider]

Wow, that's a beautiful collection (I checked your pics in The Lounge)! Sorry that you didn't make back your table stakes, but summer doesn't seem like the best time to sell guns. People have spent their $ on vacations and getting kids back to school...and on their A/C electric bills! Looks like you Texicans are cornering the market on vintage S&Ws. And I'm thinking that if you had 116 guns under glass, you probably have the really nice ones at home resting in the safe! I'm sure that Father Nelson will forgive you once you confess your sins!

 

[handejector]

I believe one other 1950-44 with a 3-1/2" barrel turned up here a few years back. However, the date stamp would worry me.
Post some pics of the grips. I don't know of any N frame PC magnas that early. Maybe the owner modified them?

 

[Truckman]

I believe one other 1950-44 with a 3-1/2" barrel turned up here a few years back. However, the date stamp would worry me.
Post some pics of the grips. I don't know of any N frame PC magnas that early. Maybe the owner modified them?

At the big monkey's request D) I have new pics added below...The bottoms of the magnas look a little different from what I remember of others I've seen, but I don't have any N PC's in front of me now...Opinions are welcome - good, bad or indifferent...

I don't know why I didn't post this earlier (maybe I was just tired) but the inside of the ejector rod housing is stamped with the serial number S97784, and a diamond indicating service department work followed by what appears to be an O...O is also stamped above the assembly number in the yoke cavity...The cylinder and the back of the extractor star also carry the S/N...My eyes just aren't good enough to see the backside of the yoke...

If more pics are needed, tell me what you want, and I'll give it my best...I tried several times to get a good pic of the inside of the ejector rod housing, but what is below is the best I can do with what I have......Ben

 

[Truckman]

I'm just now logging in the newcomers, and I noticed the serial numbers on the two 4" .44's are within 6 digits of each other...Nearly sequential twins......Ben

 

[Truckman]

I'm just now logging in the newcomers, and I noticed the serial numbers on the two 4" .44's are within 6 digits of each other...Nearly sequential twins......Ben

I looked up the 4" I already had, its S/N is 29 digits away from the lowest S/N from the weekend putting all three 4 inchers 35 digits apart...One from this weekend came with a letter showing it shipped the day after my 8th birthday to NYC with 9 others just like it...I wonder what the odds are of all three shipping together...I'll order letters on everything and see......Ben

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Did you really commit a bad act, or were being used to keep all those guns together? I would be rather thankful I was placed in the position to do this. Great guns! Interesting the old grips number.

 

[raljr1]

I love that gun.

 

[Truckman]

Did you really commit a bad act, or were being used to keep all those guns together? I would be rather thankful I was placed in the position to do this. Great guns! Interesting the old grips number.

To quote Rocky Graziano, "Somebody up there likes me"......Ben

 

[handejector]

I believe the grips have been modified outside the Factory.
Cool gun. The question now is whether it shipped as a 3-1/2 or was cut later by S&W. I lean toward the latter (later).

 

[Truckman]

I believe the grips have been modified outside the Factory.
Cool gun. The question now is whether it shipped as a 3-1/2 or was cut later by S&W. I lean toward the latter (later).

I think you're right on both counts...It doesn't show in the pictures, but there's a noticeable flat spot on the bottoms of both grips which I don't remember seeing on factory PC's...But they are numbered to the frame...

The diamond (with a tiny B inside it) in the ejector rod housing means it was returned for some reason, likely in March '56 per the stamp on the grip frame...The O's may have been the mark of the service man who did the work...The action work done could have been the product of anyone, but it is certainly right...The owner must have liked the trigger shoe, and I'm leaving it on to keep the package intact...I'm still leaning toward it being the carry/work gun of some law enforcement professional; I'm hoping I can prove that...If anyone needs further photos on any details, say so...

I'll make out the letter requests with notes on everything to Don, and see what turns up...It's either a valuable collector's piece, or my new carry gun...Either way I'm happy...I'm also hoping the three 4" .44's with the close serial numbers turn out to be from the same shipment...That would ice the cake......Ben

 

[handejector]

The diamond (with a tiny B inside it) in the ejector rod housing means it was returned for some reason,

The diamond with a B in it is to tell the bluing dept to blue the barrel and return it to the Service Dept instead of the regular assembly area. I wondered if it was there because I can't see it in the pic.
You like to take pics, so you should buy a better camera.

 

[Truckman]

You like to take pics, so you should buy a better camera.

My Canon 5D is so old Canon won't even update the firmware anymore...And "somebody" keeps raiding my camera account to fund gun buys, so I'm probably stuck with it...However, I suspect the real problem lies in the fact that "somebody" sold my three really good Canon macro lenses and bought guns with the proceeds, so maybe I ought to just learn to take better photos with what I have while I still have it......Ben

 

[gmarshall99]

: ( I don't thing it's fair of you to hog all the 4 inch 44 specials. Give the rest of us a chance.


I'm only jealous of your haul.

 

[Truckman]

: ( I don't thing it's fair of you to hog all the 4 inch 44 specials. Give the rest of us a chance.

OK, OK!...See me at Tulsa and we can talk about it...Just don't try for the 3 1/2 incher, buddy, or there may be trouble......Ben