Recently purchased the pictured .44 Special Model 1926 HE SN# 284XX.

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

The revolver had birdseye maple target stocks when purchased. I installed the carved red stage stocks. At some point, the revolver was returned to S&W for work. The cylinder, and inside the ejector rod shroud are stamped with a five pointed star. Both trigger, and hammer have faint traces of case color, the ejector/ratchet is blued. The revolver is mechanically sound. With 200 grain XTP offering by High Desert Cartridge Company the revolver shoots amazingly accurate. I’ll be requesting a letter for the gun in the near future. I was told, “the revolver belonged to a sheriff in the Tyler, Texas area”, but I’m investigating that further. I do plan on carrying, and shooting the gun regularly. The gun was acquired by trade, a couple of S&W revolvers went to the previous owner. The lettering, numbers, and markings are sharp, and crisp. I’ll order a period correct design holster from Doc Barranti here in Texas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, and comments.

bigggbbruce · Jul 13, 2026

The star could mean a factory refinish. They do it the best. Any date stamp under the left stock on the frame.

nyeti · Jul 13, 2026

Love the stocks!!!!!!

Wiregrassguy · Jul 13, 2026

Beautiful!

Gun Relics · Jul 13, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
The revolver had birdseye maple target stocks when purchased. I installed the carved red stage stocks. At some point, the revolver was returned to S&W for work. The cylinder, and inside the ejector rod shroud are stamped with a five pointed star. Both trigger, and hammer have faint traces of case color, the ejector/ratchet is blued. The revolver is mechanically sound. With 200 grain XTP offering by High Desert Cartridge Company the revolver shoots amazingly accurate. I’ll be requesting a letter for the gun in the near future. I was told, “the revolver belonged to a sheriff in the Tyler, Texas area”, but I’m investigating that further. I do plan on carrying, and shooting the gun regularly. The gun was acquired by trade, a couple of S&W revolvers went to the previous owner. The lettering, numbers, and markings are sharp, and crisp. I’ll order a period correct design holster from Doc Barranti here in Texas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, and comments.

View attachment 895265

Beautiful revolver! Does the barrel have a matching serial number?

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

bigggbbruce said:
The star could mean a factory refinish. They do it the best. Any date stamp under the left stock on the frame.

The stocks which came with the gun were not original, or the correct era.

Yes, I suspect the star is from a factory re nickel.

mchom · Jul 13, 2026

Pretty excited to hear if you confirm any LE connection. Regardless awesome gun snd congrats!

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

Yes, the barrel, cylinder, and frame all bear the same serial number. I haven’t put in too much research yet, but it appears to be a 1927 production.

If I’m to take the seller by his word, and I have reason to doubt him; he’s had it for 50 years. It will be interesting if it comes back as a W & K revolver.

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

nyeti said:
Love the stocks!!!!!!

I bought those from Sam’s Gun Grips before in found the 1926 HE, they were on a 4” 28-2 revolver. You can find Sam on Facebook. I’ve bought a few sets from Sam. They definitely look as though they belong on the HE.

handejector · Jul 13, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
It will be interesting if it comes back as a W & K revolver.

It will almost certainly letter to W&K with that low number. I have a lot of Mod 1926s, but I seldom letter them because they are so likely to say W&K. 6-1/2" versions are an exception that I always do letter.
Is the frame a round top or a flat top?

Casual Smith Nut · Jul 13, 2026

handejector said:
It will almost certainly letter to W&K with that low number. I have a lot of Mod 1926s, but I seldom letter them because they are so likely to say W&K. 6-1/2" versions are an exception that I always do letter.
Is the frame a round top or a flat top?

Lee,
When did the flat top with squared rear sight notch begin? I didn’t think there would be a round top by the time the 3rd model came about.

Cool sixgun there Stanley3smith!

handejector · Jul 13, 2026

Casual Smith Nut said:
Lee,
When did the flat top with squared rear sight notch begin? I didn’t think there would be a round top by the time the 3rd model came about.

The order to make the Mod 1926 is dated Oct 14, 1926.
The order for the "square top strap" is dated Oct 17, 1927.
So, with only a year between them, the majority of Mod 1926s are Flat Tops.

22hipower · Jul 13, 2026

Nice one, even if refinished. Love the stocks too. It will come back as W&K and is a first year gun. I have 28757 which shipped in April of 1927; first one shipped was 28358 so yours is a very early first year example.

Casual Smith Nut · Jul 13, 2026

handejector said:
The order to make the Mod 1926 is dated Oct 14, 1926.
The order for the "square top strap" is dated Oct 17, 1927.
So, with only a year between them, the majority of Mod 1926s are Flat Tops.

Right around same time as the change from mushroom ejector knob to the barrel shaped knob?

handejector · Jul 13, 2026

Casual Smith Nut said:
Right around same time as the change from mushroom ejector knob to the barrel shaped knob?

Knob order = Jan 22, 1927

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
The revolver had birdseye maple target stocks when purchased. I installed the carved red stage stocks. At some point, the revolver was returned to S&W for work. The cylinder, and inside the ejector rod shroud are stamped with a five pointed star. Both trigger, and hammer have faint traces of case color, the ejector/ratchet is blued. The revolver is mechanically sound. With 200 grain XTP offering by High Desert Cartridge Company the revolver shoots amazingly accurate. I’ll be requesting a letter for the gun in the near future. I was told, “the revolver belonged to a sheriff in the Tyler, Texas area”, but I’m investigating that further. I do plan on carrying, and shooting the gun regularly. The gun was acquired by trade, a couple of S&W revolvers went to the previous owner. The lettering, numbers, and markings are sharp, and crisp. I’ll order a period correct design holster from Doc Barranti here in Texas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, and comments.

View attachment 895265

This is the other side of the 1926, with the stocks that accompanied the revolver.

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

handejector said:
It will almost certainly letter to W&K with that low number. I have a lot of Mod 1926s, but I seldom letter them because they are so likely to say W&K. 6-1/2" versions are an exception that I always do letter.
Is the frame a round top or a flat top?

I’m away from the revolver for a week, I can’t recall the top of the frame. I’m trying to see the sight picture in my mind’s eye. Sadly i didn’t take a photo of the top of the revolver. I want to say flats are machined on the top of the frame, with a square bottom rear sight. I’ll look when we get back.

VM · Jul 13, 2026

Those maple stocks are quite valuable - your mailbox is going to blowup

FZ1Tom · Jul 13, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
The revolver had birdseye maple target stocks when purchased. I installed the carved red stage stocks. At some point, the revolver was returned to S&W for work. The cylinder, and inside the ejector rod shroud are stamped with a five pointed star. Both trigger, and hammer have faint traces of case color, the ejector/ratchet is blued. The revolver is mechanically sound. With 200 grain XTP offering by High Desert Cartridge Company the revolver shoots amazingly accurate. I’ll be requesting a letter for the gun in the near future. I was told, “the revolver belonged to a sheriff in the Tyler, Texas area”, but I’m investigating that further. I do plan on carrying, and shooting the gun regularly. The gun was acquired by trade, a couple of S&W revolvers went to the previous owner. The lettering, numbers, and markings are sharp, and crisp. I’ll order a period correct design holster from Doc Barranti here in Texas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, and comments.

View attachment 895265

This....now THIS, my friends, is what I said I was looking for when I wanted to get an 'entry level' pre-war S&W revolver for around 1k or so! I'm hooked like Pavlov's dog!

Only one small problem, though.....this isn't exactly 1k, is it? Not counting the grips that is(I already know about good old Sam

)

Tom

Stanley3Smith · Jul 13, 2026

FZ1Tom said:
This....now THIS, my friends, is what I said I was looking for when I wanted to get an 'entry level' pre-war S&W revolver for around 1k or so! I'm hooked like Pavlov's dog!

Only one small problem, though.....this isn't exactly 1k, is it? Not counting the grips that is(I already know about good old Sam )

Tom

The gentleman with whom I traded for this 1926 was asking 1750.00. Those red stag stocks were about $600.00 as I recall.

I’ve always wanted one of these particular.44s.

I traded a 5” model 10, a nickel SB 2” 37, and a Star PD .45 ACP.

I was into the three guns very low, and I have others, but I didn’t have a 1926.

quinn · Jul 13, 2026

3rd model 44s are way up there on my list! As others have said, thos stocks are to die for! I have a whole mess of pre war Ns that those would be stunning on...

FZ1Tom · Jul 14, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
The gentleman with whom I traded for this 1926 was asking 1750.00. Those red stag stocks were about $600.00 as I recall.

I’ve always wanted one of these particular.44s.

I traded a 5” model 10, a nickel SB 2” 37, and a Star PD .45 ACP.

I was into the three guns very low, and I have others, but I didn’t have a 1926.

A wee bit over my admittedly arbitrary budget, but a most worthy goal indeed. Perhaps by year’s end?

Tom

RKmesa · Jul 14, 2026

Both sets of stocks peg the cool meter!

Thanks for sharing,

Hawg Rider · Jul 14, 2026

I was fortunate to find 29803 several years ago at a local gun show. I only paid $900, and it was wearing later magna stocks and came in a much later mahogany Presentation case along with a letter from Mr. Jinx. It was part of one of the first shipments to W&K in May 1927. Unfortunately a previous owner replaced the original half moon front sight with a barrel rib and Baughman-style ramp sight, and then re-nickeled. He must have liked the look of the Registered Magnums! Still, it was nicely done and it is a 100-year old matching numbers W&K. And it's a fine shooter! I added the Pat Grashorn elk antler stocks, dyed to match my knife scales. Enjoy!

45NUTT · Jul 14, 2026

Beautiful revolver OP! I have number 28488 and I was thrilled beyond measure to add it to my pile!

JwesleyN · Jul 14, 2026

Stanley3Smith said:
The revolver had birdseye maple target stocks when purchased. I installed the carved red stage stocks. At some point, the revolver was returned to S&W for work. The cylinder, and inside the ejector rod shroud are stamped with a five pointed star. Both trigger, and hammer have faint traces of case color, the ejector/ratchet is blued. The revolver is mechanically sound. With 200 grain XTP offering by High Desert Cartridge Company the revolver shoots amazingly accurate. I’ll be requesting a letter for the gun in the near future. I was told, “the revolver belonged to a sheriff in the Tyler, Texas area”, but I’m investigating that further. I do plan on carrying, and shooting the gun regularly. The gun was acquired by trade, a couple of S&W revolvers went to the previous owner. The lettering, numbers, and markings are sharp, and crisp. I’ll order a period correct design holster from Doc Barranti here in Texas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, and comments.

View attachment 895265

Very old school cool! Nice score.

LouisianaJoe · Jul 14, 2026

I have Serial # 253XX also made in 1926. This is a 44 Hand Ejector. It has a B prefix under the barrel indicating that it was originally Blued. The Springfield stamp indicates that this was a left over 1917 frame that S&W used until the 1930's. You can see several differences with your model.

Xfuzz · Jul 14, 2026

Net old Smith 44sp....
Houston P.D. ordered these (300) 1926's around 1934/35 IIRC.
I think Lee owned this at one time. The finish bugs the snot outta me
but so far have left it alone. Old gun shoots great.

45NUTT · Jul 14, 2026

Fuzzy, that old ball gal has seen the elephant more than once! Nothing wrong with honest wear, she looks great! If you get tired looking at her, send her my way!

daveboy · Jul 15, 2026

Same year!

Recently purchased the pictured .44 Special Model 1926 HE SN# 284XX.

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