Am I “THE VILLAGE IDIOT” ...again?!

[gjamison]

To my somewhat educated eye it looks original and you’re definitely not an idiot.

That’s a great buy! Any S&W chambered in 44spl is climbing in value yearly!

 

[ms]

Pics? Hope I was wrong...

 

[sbrmike]

It is a nice gun. I can't comment as to a good buy or not as far as price, but I say it is reblued and I am pretty positive about that - your pics and Gun Broker pics.

 

[Modified]

Howdy Smith & Wesson Forum Members!

Did ALL Y’ALL take yesterday OFF?!

Or am I “THE VILLAGE IDIOT” ...again?!

Last night, GB auction for Item 1090629944 (Description below) INEXPLICABLY closed with ONLY 1-BID ... from me:

Description:
4” barrel S&W Hand Ejector 4th Model .44 Target Model of 1950 (pre model 24) revolver

Seller stated:

"Stamped on the inside of the right grip is 158 over 224

Grips are numbered, but do not match the revolver

Does not appear to have been re-blued

No rework date

This revolver belonged to an 83 yr old dealer who passed"​

I am at a loss to understand WHY I was the ONLY Bidder for this revolver!

Unless I’m MISSING something (which, unfortunately, is OFTEN the case!), this is a widely recognized SCARCE variant of the highly-esteemed S&W Hand Ejector 4th Model .44 Target Model of 1950 (pre model 24) revolver!

Reference pages 188 & 189 of "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" 4th Edition.

So I wonder WHY there were NO OTHER Bidders?!

Here I sit (CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC) thinking I got away with MURDER!

I’m just waiting for "the other shoe to drop" and KILL MY BUZZ!

Was I "THE VILLAGE IDIOT”...again?!

Or can "even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while”?!

I welcome your CANDID insights!

GO AHEAD!
LET ME HAVE IT!

Kind regards,

The ROOKIE Collector

Say When!​

The gun looks re-finished. Probably a high quality factory job though. The grips also don't fit it right, replacement?

 

[TheTinMan]

I would not have bid on that one. The GunBroker pics look to me like a refinish and the little chip at the top of the side plate would make me worry that Bubba went inside to “make it better”. However, I have been wrong before. It’s a very rare variant, so if original finish and functioning fine I think you stole it.

 

[Shotguncoach]

OP - don't let the naysayers get you down. If it does turn out to be a refinish, you have one of the best shooters that Smith & Wesson ever made. If you decide that you don't want it because it isn't heirloom/museum quality, there are several of us here who know what you have that will happily take it off your hands at a price that will leave you with a profit on the deal.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Batch-2 of pictures

You may well be the village idiot but I don't think the revolver had anything to do with it . Absolutely refinished.

 

[22hipower]

For those who think it is refinished, share with us the telltale signs you see please. The fuzzy logo in one picture would certainly suggest a refinish but the others of the logo in the actual GB post show it as crisp. The side plate seam is tight, there is no dishing of the screws. It might be a factory refinish, but Bubba didn't have his hands on it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[El Juero]

I had seen this and wathced it. I thought about bidding but was iffy on the finish as well. I was not sure so I did not bid. However, even at the price you got it that is still a good deal if it letters correctly.

 

[Modified]

For those who think it is refinished, share with us the telltale signs you see please. The fuzzy logo in one picture would certainly suggest a refinish but the others of the logo in the actual GB post show it as crisp. The side plate seam is tight, there is no dishing of the screws. It might be a factory refinish, but Bubba didn't have his hands on it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Batch Two Of Photos: Picture 1: That logo shows signs of dishing, its certainly been obscured. Looks very refinished in that picture.

Picture 5: Deep gouges behind the hammer, on the frame there, they are filled in with blue and appear to be somewhat rounded. Looks like damage from before the reblue that couldn't be polished out due to the depth.

I think it was a factory job, they did it right, but from those pictures it looks like it did have a tumble before the factory re-finished it.

 

[Grayfox]

Another vote for a refinish. Should be a great shooter though.

Dude, please cool it with the bright red letters of different sizes. You're giving me a headache just trying to read it.

 

[gwpercle]

If the Pointy Hat fits ... You got's to Wear It !

I can't tell you about the gun purchase but if You're Happy ...
... I'm Happy !

And that's all that counts ...
Having a nice 44 Special is ... SWEET !
So Be Happy !
Gary