just picked up a .45 model of 1950 target, it has the 5 1/2 inch barrel and a smooth back strap ser#92XXX can't find anything on it in the standard catalog of smith & wesson any idea of how rare it is or value would be appreciated

According to my book, yours should have been serialized in 1953 (only a ship date request, or letter will say for sure when it shipped), and should have a 6.5" barrel IF, it is a target model. I don't really know enough about these guns to say positively that the target model didn't come with a 5.5" barrel though.

BTW, you may want to fix your title to read .45 cal, instead of .54 cal.

thanks, the gun is pristine i also noticed it dose not have a shrouded extractor rod

That sounds like a 1950 military. It should have a half round front blade and square notch in the top of the frame for the rear sight. Magna style grips. 5.5" barrel would be correct for it.

it has the partridge front sight and adjustable rear sight and appears to be unaltered( could it be a custom order )

Are you measuring it from the forcing cone to the muzzle?

Yes, as I said the gun appears to be unaltered, I looked it over very carefully no barrel shroud and smooth front and back strap

The standard catalog of smith& wesson lists a 5" and a 4" version but they would have the grooved back strap and are rare

It's hard without pictures. I'll have to agree with Gun 4 Fun.

It may be a Model 26 (check inside the yolk/crane). There would be no model change indicator (like 26-1). It would have a thin ribbed barrel and adj. sights.

According to Blue Book of Gun Values, its value anywhere between $1000 and $4500.

The smooth gripframe is the dead giveaway. The gun started life as a 45 hand ejector Model of 1950. And has been modified.
In the last 56 years some wizard has done his magic and turned this into a target gun. It was done all the time by Pachmayr anf Kings gun works ,and a dozen other gun smiths throughout the country.

Get some pictures of it ,and it can be confirmed/ or denied.

Good luck ,, Allen Frame

__________________
NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

A model 26 will have the enclosed ejector rod.

I agree that someone has re-worked it, or swapped barrels. Target sights, and exposed ejector rods don't go together on the 1950 target/1950 military.

thanks for all the help, I pick it up this afternoon and will take a closer look at everything

I have to act quick on this one and need some advice. I am in negotiations for a 6" 45acp Model of 1950. I have not seen the gun or pics yet. It is factory engraved, lightly, not the entire gun and has factory bone stocks. Seller is absolutely sure the engraving and stocks are factory. Have any of you seen factory engraving or bone stocks for this period. I don't have time for a letter. Seller says condition is excellent, price is $800.

A word of caution: Beware of "You-gotta-buy-this-one-pretty-soon-or-else" deals, especially when the seller is "absolutely sure" everything is factory. Take your time and ascertain the facts before you drop nearly a grand on a gun you haven't even seen yet.

Good luck,
Larry

I'm with lebomm. I'm leery of any "gotta move quick" deals.

I have recently searched the Internet top to Google-bottom researching the Model of 1950 before making the buy.

Not a whole lot of info nor many for sale. I never saw mention of bone stocks and the only non 6.5" barrels were modified. They supposedly only made 2,768 of 'em. This one's mine.

Disclaimer: I'm still a S&W n00b. I'm just sayin' I searched a LOT & saw nothing like you describe.

The seller and I are both LEO in adjoining jurisdictions, I trust him completely. The rush is in the fact that the gun is advertised through work and I want to have the first go at a possibly very rare revo.

That is a very low price for any S&W N frame with factory engraving, let alone a nice 1950 Target.

If he truly believes it left S&W that way, buy it with a guarantee that, if it doesn't 'letter' that way, he will refund your money.

I don't doubt his word, he may have been told that when he bought it. A letter from Roy Jinks about that individual gun is the only way to know.

Hold on here.
You don't say it is a Target.
They made both 45 Targets and 45 Military in the 1950 series. Trouble is, SIX inch does not fit either- the Targ is 6-1/2, and the military is 5-1/2. So, which are we talking about?
Factory bone?-- I doubt it, but have not seen everything, though I have seen most of the elephants.

Engraved- Can you judge engraving? Is it good?
Frankly, if it is merely GOOD engraving, factory or not, and on a Targ or Mil 1950, for $800, I'd be ALL over it, and he'd be wondering what happened.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Ding-ding-ding!
The most likely winner........

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

It should be a target model, it does have an adjustable rear sight. I will see the gun tomorrow morning. He calls it 6", only a tape will tell. He seems to know his Smith's. He is also selling a 23, a 48, and has already sold a 651.

Maybe he does, and maybe he don't. Too many guys don't know the correct way to measure a revo barrel, and do so from the front of the frame instead of correctly from the face of the cylinder. That will turn a 6.5" gun into a 6" gun.

Revo- face of cylinder to end of muzzle

Auto- rear of chamber hood/face of standing breech to muzzle