I really enjoy the beautiful pictures of the pristine revolvers that
the members here share with us. I would like to start a new
post of working guns, not really in the collector category anymore because of their used status but valued more than a
pristine 5 screw because of all the history there. Here is my
favorite working gun, a 4 screw, 4" pre-29 that I have owned
for 30 something years.
What do you have that is the to go to revolver?

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The model 60(no dash) was my BUG for over 30 years. I still carry it today now that I am retired as my CCW. The model 17-4 routinely goes to the range and along on camping trips. I have had the model 17 almost as long as the model 60. Both are true working guns and could tell many stories.

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This one was originally shipped to Mexico, then subsequently, re-imported to the US. Wish I knew the stories behind this well-worn .44.... It's even still wearing its factory original stocks.



Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

I have a few, all modified by owners to suit their purposes.

An 85 vintage 29-3 bought new and modified by me.


A 1950 Target 44spl modified and sporting a cutback 44 mag cylinder.


An early 70's 29-2 some previous owner had electric sights...unfortunately they dont work anymore.


Pics of the sights.
Front


Rear

I feel like a wimp showing working guns that got their experience in somebody else's work, but these came to me as you see them, and I respect the lives they lived that led them to look like this.

First, a 1934 Heavy Duty that reportedly once belonged to an Oklahoma lawman. Lore says it subsequently changed hands in a poker game sometime during the '50s. It came to me with franzite grips, but I put these old Grashorn stags on it. The lighting conceals the fact that the finish is pretty thin here and there.




The other gun is another Heavy Duty, 1932 this time. It still has its original wood. This one looks like it traveled a few more miles of road than the other one. There are dents, nicks and dings all over it.



Guns that get worn from neglect get my pity and as much care as I can give them, but guns that get worn from extended service get my respect. And these are two respectable guns. Both of them shoot pretty well for me, and I think I am about to promote one of them to home defense service and let a J-frame go back in the safe.

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David Wilson

These are pre 1950 K22 revolvers that belonged to my Father.
I learned to shoot with the magna stocked one, Dad would not
let me shoot the target stocked model.

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I have two that I actually use. First is an early 1905 forth change SN 291666 cut to 3 3/4 inches with modified target stocks stuffed into a Bucheimer Holster. Whoever owned this gun thought a lot of it. It has the sweetest single and double action you will ever want. It is my personal favorite. It's tight as a clock and shoots to point of aim with an FBI load.






This second gun is an early sixties heavy barrel M&P that I call my truck gun. It rattles and shakes, and has blood stains on it and I would trust it to fire every time. It doesn't spit and puts em on a five inch circle at ten yards.




Except for a three inch military sight 60-3 that I carry for dress up in a Tom Three Persons style holster these two guns are always by me.
DW

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"NUTS"

Nice pair of K-22's. If you inherited them I'm sorry about the loss of your father. My brother and I inherited our Dad's guns 2 years ago. We'd rather have him. He is missed at deer camp. How does the target stocked one shoot?

Louisiana State Police RM



5" MP



Combat Masterpiece

Here is my Wolf and Klar 44 shipped in April 1927. I got it from a dealer with a letter from Mr. Jinks and the stag grips on it. This is the most used and abused handgun I think I have ever owned. It did not have enough carry up. I tried to stretch the hand and broke it. Luckily a new oversize hand dropped in and corrected the carry up. The cylinder had been closed Hollywood style so much the recoil shield was damaged. I had to do some judicious filing on it to correct that. It has been refinished in nickel and is somewhat buffed out. I took it to the range and it shot terrible. I got to looking at it and the side of the barrel was worn down into the crown. I recrowned it and now it shoots great. One can tell this gun was carried and used a lot. Since handguns are the tools of my trade, guns carried and use lot have special meaning to me. I attempted to contact the person who lettered it and was told by his family that he had recently past away. When I told them the nature of my call I was told “Oh he could have told you all about that gun and would have loved to tell you about it”. Not getting to talk with him is my biggest regret in owning this gun.

I would absoultely kill for that LSP Registered gun.

Great slices of S&W history!

S&W 1905 Second Change.

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

You don't actually know where I live or anything.....do you?

I really enjoy looking at all these old favorites, if they could talk.
Can't resist adding this 5 screw, 5" pre 27 that my Father bought
new Billings Mont in 56 or 57, it is smooth as silk.

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My late grandfather's pistol. He was a small town constable and a CT State Police Aux.
Can anyone tell me a little about it? How do I find out the year of manufacture?

From about 1933...
I wish I could tell you more about this gun. Maybe Raymond Chandler knows the story.

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Mitch
SWCA 2438

Dakota:
Your Dad's Magnum is a beauty.
I'll bet it's a joy to shoot.

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Mitch
SWCA 2438

It is a K38 Combat Masterpiece. When the numbering system was instituted (about 1957) this model was called the Model 15. Collectors call this a 5-screw Pre-15. I call an honestly used cop's gun.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

Thanks for the info.

CJ, if you give us a partial serial number (like K125xxx) we can narrow down to a probable year of manufacture. Right now we know it's between 1956 (when the top sideplate screw went away) and late 1948 (when the company introduced the four-line address block in the frame in front of the sideplate). I'm guessing from the shoulder contour on the stocks that your grandfather's gun was manufactured in the latter half of that range. But that assumes that the stocks on the gun were shipped on the gun, which is not always the case. You might want to pull the stocks and see if the numerals impressed on the inside surface of the right panel match the serial number of the gun (omitting the K).

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David Wilson

A would say these WW vets maybe fall into the working gun catagory. The 1917 is British marked so may be two war Lend Lease return.


And this former Mississippi Highway Patrol Non Reg Mag was maybe carried a bit, been back to the factory 3 times. Letters to Dec. 1940.

Although retired from active service for many years now, this M&P earned working gun status during a distinguished career in law enforcement.

Shipped to the St. Louis Metro P.D. in January 1922, she obviously spent a great deal of time on the beat. The officer’s initials (either A.W. or W.A.) engraved on the side plate added to the personal pride and care given to this venerable sidearm.





Russ

No safe queen this:


1947 M&P

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Bill - SWCA #2327

That is nice pic w/the period coins and pocket knife, revolver
is nice also, I like snubbys

This was my Grandfathers 1905 Colt Army Special. Born around 1912, he bought it used sometime in the 1920's and used it for another 30 years to kill hogs & cows on his ranch. I still use it today and it is pretty accurate with 148 grain wadcutters. It even came with a holster of the time period but it won't fit me and was damaged long before I took possesion of the gun.

OK, it's not a Smith, but it's been around the block.

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OGCA Member.

1940 Magnum, sent from Smith to the St. Joseph, MO, PD, where it soldiered on until the early 90s, when it and several others were traded to J&G Rifle Ranch for some Glocks.

I lucked into it looking for a 3 1/2 inch Model 27. The guy on the phone said "We just got some old ones in" so I bit. I was actually a little disappointed because of what I thought was the odd placement of the front sight and the humpback hammer.

I have since learned I did alright. I put in on my personally owned weapons list and carried it for several years in the FBI. I'm pretty sure when I had it this revolver was the oldest gun on active duty in the Bureau.

No more revolvers are permitted for carry in today's Bureau, so this one is retired again. I will soon join it, and we'll once again sally forth together.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I bought this one new in '82 I believe. Shot a deer, several coyotes, and a lot of small game with it, and have carried it a lot over the years.




I beveled the edge of the cylinder, ground the hammer spur down to service size, and did a light polish inside. It's about perfect as a carry gun.

One of my friend's Grandfather carried this 32-20 when he was a deputy in Knoxville, TN in the 1930's. Has an obvious modification. Also, post war magnas on a pre war gun, but one of the coolest old working guns.
But the tragedy is, this gun has been stolen since the time of this picture.

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Now that's what I'm talking about, a working gun.

This is my "working" S&W. It's a restored, re-barrelled and re-finished Model of 1950 44 Target.



Malamute, I love the look of your 29-2. Now that's character! Hope I stick around long enough that my 44 Special will look like that some day. (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

A deputy sheriff put most of the blue wear on this fine revolver in the 1950s, but I am doing my bit today by carrying it in the mountains of New Mexico on almost a daily basis.
John

Can you give any more particulars? Did the revolver letter as being shipped to LSP HQ in Baton Rouge, or is it marked/engraved?

I can tell you that is a genuine first-issue badge from the late 30s-early 40s.

I retired from LSP a couple of years ago. Any additional info you have would be appreciated.

.

Here's a couple of reblued working guns. The four inch 1905 4th vintage 1940-41 with British grip's get's shot a lot and does very well. The five inch M&P vintage 1954 is a very good shooter and if I want to feel good about my shooting skill's this is one of a few I turn to. Since they are both reblue's I dont have any reservation's about useing them.

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Stay safe people!

I need to get it re-lettered. I don't have contact with the guy I bought it from, he was supposed to get me the letter to go with it (he had it lettered just a couple years ago) I was there when he got the letter and we talked about how the gun wandered around the southwest.

His grandfather was a Dallas PD Officer that retired as a Deputy Chief back in the 60's. It was his duty gun. I don't know how it came from Louisiana to Texas. I wonder if Roy would cut me a little slack on reprinting a letter on a gun that has already been researched? You may have given me the incentive to follow up on that.

Get back with me in a couple weeks, I will either get the original letter or get another.

I appreciate the confirmation on the badge, I actually am more of a badge collector than a gun collector, I just think its neat to put a badge and gun, of the same era, together. Sometimes is pretty tough. I have a Utah Highway Patrol RM. I know of more UHP RM's than badges of that era. I have seen one badge, and, I own it. Supposedly, the only other known badge is at the Utah HP museum.

And, no, there are no markings or Department inscriptions on the gun.

And that would be Roy Guilfor (aka "Gator")?

.

No, sorry, Roy Jinks, Smith & Wesson Historian.

.44HE 3rd Model


.38/44 Heavy Duty


Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

My grandfather, (long gone now) was kind of a rowdy kid, his mother couldnt handle him, so at 12 he was sent to work the ranches. His father, my great grandfather gave him this Smith Model 3 in 44 Russian.

He worked on ranches until he moved to prospecting, from Canada (where my father & uncle were born) to Central America ( where two of my aunts were born). He carried this revolver on his ventures until he got laid up with a stroke in the early 60s. Sometime in the past he wacked off the barrel a bit saying it wasn't too handy for a saddle gun.

The revolver was passed to my father until he passed on in '86. Another wild fellow that never was impressed that his son (me) ended up in LE. ( I think he told people I played piano in a whore house or something).

Anyway I got the revolver now and it will go to my oldest, and then his oldest son.


This one dosnt have the history the 44 Russian does, but it has a start, I was issued this Model 28 when I hired on APD in Mar '74. When I retired in '94 the Dept let me keep the revolver. It shows some holster wear from the Hoyt Holster, but its still sound. Heck of a shooter, even with the heaviest loads. Like most cops I wasnt involved in many shoot outs but this heavy pistol loaded with 357 LSWCs was handy dispatching several moose after Vehicle - Moose disputes.

Hope my boys keep it in the family a while after I cross over.

oh my goodness--wonder what the car looked like after tangling with that moose. It's always a little unnerving driving in certain parts of WA and OR because of the Elk that sometimes jump out on the highways.

K38 Masterpiece shipped 4/50. Barrel cut to 3 1/2". Dads gun he got from a Fed. agent.

My favorite Model 19. Dinged, pitted, scratched, and worn but still (almost) as tight as the day it left S&W.

Here is my old M & P .32-20 wearing a Wondersight. The aim of this gun is to take a ruffed grouse (already got a coyote last year).


My Smith 29-2, the ultimate backwoods carry gun. The picture makes the finish actually look a little better than it really is.


My latest is this old M & P that so far is one of the most accurate revolvers I have ever shot. I picked this up specifically for a NY Police & Fire Games service revolver match. (Has to be 4-inch and capable of shooting .38 Special). THe action was a bit tight and I found out the mainspring was nearly warped the wrong way. But this old timer, made in the late 1940's, absolutely just loves 158 grain SWC's and is now as smooth as silk internally. I took the old grips off (they are on that .32-20), these are a set of Audad's made by Grashorn Gunworks. They actually give me a little grip than the elk stags. Great for fast shooting with sweaty hands.

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Vaya con Dios

How about a 1952 K-22 Combat Masterpiece? It works!

This 5" RM started duty with the Evansville, IN., Board of Works & Public Safety in 1939. Originally a 4", it's been back to the factory 3 times between 1942 - 1952, once for a barrel. I've owned it the last 15 or so years. An outstanding shooter, smooth as glass.

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This 1st Model 44 HE shipped to Simmons Hardware in July 1917. It may have been produced as far back as 1912 according to the serial number, however. Wish it could talk, looks like its done a little work in its time.

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Okay. I asked because Roy Guilfoyle is a retired LSP lieutenant who works for Dallas PD these days; thought you might have run across him.

I ran the LSP FTU for many years. I also know the fellow who actually started the "official" FTU in the late 60s. To the best of our knowledge, the state didn't purchase ANY handguns until 1978, which was the first year that the State Police began issuing duty sidearms. I was in that first-issue cadet class, and I still have the four inch and 2.5" M-66s that each of us were issued; I bought them when I retired. I'd post pics here if I knew how. Come to think of it, a pal in Texas has posted pics of those two 66s in another thread here, some time back

That said... there was a mechanism in place where a trooper could buy a handgun THROUGH the state, via a payroll deduction plan. The state fronted the cash and acquired the pistol, the trooper took delivery, and then paid it off bi-weekly. This was to help ease the burden of making the guys buy their own gear, but remember that general issue of firearms to US police didn't really catch on until the 70s.

This system was still in place when I hired on. Some guys would buy another pistol as soon as they paid off the current one, and kept a running tab, so to speak. Like most good things, it eventually went away.

Anyway... I doubt that your revolver will letter to LSP, except possibly through the payroll deduction plan mentioned earlier. If you do end up with the letter info, and it points to Louisiana State Police, let me know. I still work here, at the Crime Lab, and therefore can do some digging without a lot of hassle. There is a possibility that the records of who bought what still exist here.

.

These get their share of packin' & pointin' - .22s are king of the cowboys...




Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"