1950 44 Target 5 inch, authenticity letter arrived!

[22hipower]

Yes, better hope the 4 inch part was in a previous template and they meant to make it 5 inch or just fat fingered the 5 to a 4. Seems likely, hope so. And you'll need some GA checkered diamond target stocks too although that would appear to be in error as well as your magnas have the correct SN stamped if I'm making it out correctly.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[moosedog]

Beautiful. Five inch is the perfect length for a revolver in my world.

 

[Nightowl]

Whether or not it will letter, it looks righteous! Actually, if it were mine, I don't think I would worry about it much, as it looks great and it's a 5 inch barrel, .44 Special!! To me, the front sight looks factory, the pins are polished flat and blued, does not look refinished. Find a good load and shoot it a lot!!

As much as it looks original, I would take the records, whichever ones are finally settled on, with a grain of salt!! Wouldn't be the first time the records fail to match the gun!

 

[RON K.]

C.S.N. NO MATTER WHAT THE LETTER MAY SAY. You have a classic piece of Smith &Wesson history there, i have collected and bought and sold guns for over 50 years. now.and had a few historic guns. St Valentines Day Massacre.. DILLINGER BANK ROBBERY.Mason city. iowa March 1934.and a few movie guns.all great stuff. so when you get something like that Cherish it for the workmanship and the history.

and that you made a wise decision to purchase i. i hope you get to enjoy it for many many years ahead. RON K.

 

[Shotguncoach]

59 left out in the wild....I think I have a new life goal now.

When do we get a range report?

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

It's in really good shape. Can't say that it hasn't been fired but it sure doesn't look like much if it had. It's been cycled some since I can attest to that. This is going to be one of those tough ones to decide what to do with it. In the past I've had a hard time keeping something that I don't shoot regularly. In this case I'm also going to have a hard time shooting something potentially quite valuable. I know guns are meant to be shot, and I usually take a more practical view towards them…thus try not to "collect." It's a hard position to maintain LOL. I've owned some scarce guns in the past but usually passed them on to another collector and let him decide if he wants to shoot or keep a safe queen. We'll see how this one goes. The 5 inch balance has definitely grown on me some and has reminded me how much I like shooting my post war 5 inch 38 m&p. Long winded answer to the range report question.

 

[raljr1]

It has a turn line, albeit faint. Shoot it to your hearts content. They way you maintain your guns, it wont lose any real value. It is still a scarce piece and will always be collectible. IMHO.


Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

 

[mchom]

Exciting and beautiful revolver. I'm anxiously awaiting to hear.

 

[RON K.]

Let me add this for you in regards to the letter.Herb Harris on State St. was a Cook County Sheriffs police and Chicago Police Dept DISB for those Depts. AND WAS VERY WELL KNOW.And somehow related to the family by Marriage to someone at S&W, AND HAD GOTTEN IN MANY HANDGUNS. That had been near impossible to get. so was told by a police buddy go see him.Since when Dirty Harry was on the big screen i wanted a mod 29 6.5. blue. went to his shop introduced myself.And said i need one he goes into a massive safe. checks some sheet pulls out a shipping box. opens and puts on the counter in presentation box a new mod 29 4 inch Nickel. i say darn not a blue 6.5 he says if you want to wait a few weeks might get a few more in. I say no way i will take this one.
he proceeds to take out another a model 27. 3.5 barrel in Presentation case. i get both. Proud as a peacock.

i kept in touch over the years. sometime around 1980 i get one from a sheriffs deputy. and another fully engraved 6.5. blue also. As the decades
fly buy they get sold off. but great memories of that shop and Herb. LATER IT BECAMES ANNEXED TO THE FAMOUS TOMMY GUNS GARAGE. and i became friends with the owner Cindy.
and we had our monthly gangster meeting there. in the basement the hidden door was opened into the old shops basement test range many did not know it was ever there.

I travelled in some wild circles. when i was there.and had a number of companies.it was all great fun.and made many a connection to film industry. and a number of other businesses.so yes the H.Harris gun shop had a great history and following, maybe not as great as the V.L.&A SHOP OR PETER VON FRANZIUS.

BUT WELL KNOWN.THAT HISTORIC LETTER MEANS SOMETHING.RON K.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

The letter finally arrived! It was a long wait but the 5 inch barrel configuration with magna stocks is confirmed. The long wait between the first letter and the correction letter gave me time to think over what I'm going to do with the gun. I've stated on this thread and others that it's hard for me to justify keeping a gun I don't shoot much. This one definitely falls in that category since i don't foresee shooting it due to collector value. I've passed on others before this one though none as collectible as this one. I'll likely be putting it in classifieds but wanted to bring this thread to a close with the letter arrival.

 

[mchom]

Wow!!!
Congratulations again. Amazing gun !!!

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Thanks Mchom!

 

[Retired W4]

Congratulations. Fine rare configuration.

Unfortunately I have to visit my chiropractor to have my neck straightened out.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Yeah I'm still scratching my head on how the photo sometimes shows up sideways when posting from phone pic to the forum. Maybe if I did it off of computer it wouldn't do that?

 

[Kinman]

Congrats all the way around, well done.

 

[mchom]

A trick I learned here …

Yeah I'm still scratching my head on how the photo sometimes shows up sideways when posting from phone pic to the forum. Maybe if I did it off of computer it wouldn't do that?

After taking a pic I always make a minor edit (usually crop it)
Just very minor adjustments. Of course Make certain it's right side up on phone …if not use crop feature again to turn until it's right

By doing this process every time pics always end up right side up. I have no idea why this seems to work.

 

[RKmesa]

The letter finally arrived! It was a long wait but the 5 inch barrel configuration with magna stocks is confirmed. The long wait between the first letter and the correction letter gave me time to think over what I'm going to do with the gun. I've stated on this thread and others that it's hard for me to justify keeping a gun I don't shoot much. This one definitely falls in that category since i don't foresee shooting it due to collector value. I've passed on others before this one though none as collectible as this one. I'll likely be putting it in classifieds but wanted to bring this thread to a close with the letter arrival.

Rotating the Letter. The letter also references the invoice - we would love to see a copy of that as well, please.

Congrats!!!

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Here's the invoice. Interesting how the heavy barrel 1955 model 45 cost more than the 1950 model 44 at the time.

 

[Doc44]

1955 45 Target has a heavy barrel, TH, TT, and target stocks as standard features. That is why it was more expensive than the 1950 44/45 Target.

Bill

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Makes sense. There's more to the 1955 than the 1950 from production standpoint. I was thinking in terms of hindsight but that's true of a lot of guns that become more desirable after the fact.