Has this S&W 44 special 3rd model been reblued?

[A10]

Nice gun, but not in the price range they will be asking. It would have been worth that range prior to the refinish, not now though. At least not to me.

 

[drcwks]

Get a serial number and lets see what range it falls in.

I call re-blue, but not a bad one.

The humpback hammer is special order, so the gun might have gone someplace interesting.

Best,
RM Vivas

I was told it was a police dept in Texas. Here’s a pic on the 2nd time back. Forgot to post

 

[RM Vivas]

I was told it was a police dept in Texas. Here’s a pic on the 2nd time back. Forgot to post View attachment 762365

It's a PD gun but not TX.

It's not a "Holy Cow!" gun, but it went to a good sized metro PD in 1940. It's hard to say if it's "letter-worthy" or not. If it wasn't refinished, I'd say letter it, but the refinish places it in the shooter realm and while I don't doubt that it'd be a dandy shooter, I'm not sure an already pricey shooter is worth another C-note for a letter.
BTW, the Hump Back Hammer is original to the gun.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[GregPaulman]

Hi,

I was hoping someone could tell me what to look for when a revolver has been reblued. I've only been collecting vintage S&W revolvers 3-4 years.

I have a chance to purchase this revolver once owner decides what to price it at. It hasn't been put on the market yet. When I first saw it I thought it was a 38/44.

I just wanted the knowledge in advance to help determine if the collectability is no longer if it has been reblued / refinished.

What little I know the side plate joints should be a smooth line that you hardly notice. There are voids on where side plate meets the frame in places. Plus I have read to inspect the screw holes being dished out.
Those areas to me look suspicious. The S/N is 58xxx so I think that's 1939-1940 vintage but the grips (relying on what I have learned appear to be earlier from 1911 to 1920.

The barrel length is 4 inches.

Sorry for the poor pictures. IT was a quick look and see since it wasn't for sale yet or I would have taken better pics. Just curious on rebluing and what this would be worth in this shape.
Also you can really see the swirl marks on the right side plate.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, and not the best job. Things that jumped right out, the letter stamping and symbol on the right side is lighter and not even. Not all factory stampings are as deep and sharp as others from model to model or year to year but they will look to have even depth in the stamping overall.
Second and blatant the rolled over lettering on the barrel from use of a buffing wheel. Just the reason I don't use buffing wheels with a very rare exception. I have had customer guns come that had been previously buffed and with hand polishing I can sharpen up those letter stampings. So although it looks like a 5th grader did it now, you can improve upon it and possibly even hide the fact it was put to a wheel. Just takes some care and fine emery cloth.
I also will in some cases send out items to be laser engraved to restore stampings but not always possible.

 

[drcwks]

Hi all,

I guess this revolver was on consignment. The gun shop owner finally called and told me the price and it was my original offer of $800.

So, I went ahead and purchased it this weekend. I KNOW it's a shooter but I didn’t have a 44 special. I like the 4-inch barrel. All my 3 Prewar and post war 38/44s HDs are 5 inch.

I looked it over much better when I got it home. The forward to aft motion of the cylinder is not TOO bad (end shake??)

It locks up tighter on some chambers than others.

I took the grips off and expected them to have a pencil marked serial number but NO stamps or pencil marks. Would have been interesting to see a serial number. I guess these grips could have been original to the 1st gen 44 HE??


All the serial numbers match. B for blued and S/N inside frame/ejector rod.

Aft face of cylinder. Butt. Back of ejector star and looking through chamber

Also, on Crane c/t cylinder.

I need to find a brass insert for my left-hand grip screw hole. That is missing.

I guess I was lucky it has the HBH option. I didn’t know that even existed. I’ll have to look my other revolvers over. May have one on another and didn’t even realize it.

So, I’m happy with my purchase. Now to find one in collector’s grade!

Thanks for all the help from everyone.

 

[dobegrant]

Congratulations on a nice shooter at a good price.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Hi all,

I guess this revolver was on consignment. The gun shop owner finally called and told me the price and it was my original offer of $800.

So, I went ahead and purchased it this weekend. I KNOW it's a shooter but I didn’t have a 44 special. I like the 4-inch barrel. All my 3 Prewar and post war 38/44s HDs are 5 inch.

...

So, I’m happy with my purchase. Now to find one in collector’s grade!

Thanks for all the help from everyone.

Congrats on the new addition, hope it shoots well for you!

 

[drcwks]

Congratulations on a nice shooter at a good price.

Thanks!

 

[drcwks]

Congrats on the new addition, hope it shoots well for you!

I’ll post results on how it shoots. I’ve never fired a 44 special. Hope to get to the range before the 4th
Thanks

 

[raljr1]

Not a damned thing wrong with that revolver at that price.

 

[22hipower]

Yes, at $800 it would have gone home with me too. Agree, those stocks were probably initially on a Triple Lock.

 

[iby]

SOUNDS LIKE THE HAMMER AND STOCKS ARE WORTH CLOSE TO WHAT YOU PAID