The earliest 4" 44 magnum

29aholic

29aholic

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Well actually the earliest known one extant. It has been common thought the earliest shipped 4" guns shipped in November of 1956. This one serial number S152574 shipped in September 1956. The actual earliest 4" gun shipped in February but its whereabouts is unknown. Included in the pics is an early letter that I had my doubts about, but I have gotten the nod from Roy that this gun is in fact legit. It was actually part of a shipment of 5 identical guns to Texas.

september56007.jpg


september56003-1.jpg


september56004.jpg


september56009.jpg


One thing that worried me about this gun was the lack of serial numbers where I would expect to see them. Typically on 5 screw guns you will find numbers in the ejector housing, the back of the cylinder, and the back of the yoke. This revolver has none of these, but all assembly numbers match. There is also a lack of markings on the grip frame. This leads me to believe that this gun was produced at the beginning of 4" production and the factory was under the wire to get guns shipped. My conversation with Roy supports this.

september56006.jpg


september56005.jpg


Sharp eyes will note the non original trigger in the gun. It also had a set of smooth non relieved target grips on it when I got it, but thanks to Jeremy Skipper it is wearing correct cokes. I'll have the trigger cured tomorrow.

Sometimes it pays to post your phone number on the forum;)
 
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Curtis...Great acquisition and addition to your collection of 44 Magnums. It does change our thinking about 4-inch guns and when we "thought" they began to ship in quantity.

I guess I will have to find one of the other four.

Bill
 
Curtis, I am glad some good luck came your way. Nice piece! Now sell the one we talked about and come visit me in colorado.
 
Tell us more!
Give the full story if you don't mind.
GREAT gun, and glad for ya.


BTW- were the smooth targets rosewood? If so, I would keep them close. The first 4 inch five screw I ever had shipped with smooth rosewoods.
 
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Congratulations, Curtis! Very interesting gun. Do you know anything about the context of the letter from the Sacramento Sheriff's Dept.? Was the gun stolen, or was Sgt. Price inquiring about the gun personally?

Jerry
 
thanks guys, its nice to have one the big guys dont have
Lee, the grips were GA and are on their way to Jeremy as we speak

Jerry, I have an idea that Sgt Price might have carried this as a duty gun. The gentleman I acquired it from was a 30 year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, and I kinda think Price had it changed for carry with the smaller profile smooth non relieved grips and the narrower smooth trigger. The gun has wear consistent with holster duty, but not with having been in and out. The pics dont show it, but there is the slight wear on the bbl and a tad on the high spots, but that's it. I plan to research how it got from Texas to CA.

BTW I failed to mention in my OP, but this is one of less than 12 4" guns we have actually seen that shipped in 56.
As some of you know I am recently unemployed. I sent the money for this gun about 4 days before my termination. It was kinda a bad week with the loss of my job. and then Fedex lost the package for about 3 days...folks these things aint cheap but sometimes they ARE worth hanging it out there.
This one will probably join a bigger and better collection out there some day, but I'll enjoy it for a while.
 
29aholic said:
thanks guys, its nice to have one the big guys dont have

BTW I failed to mention in my OP, but this is one of less than 12 4" guns we have actually seen that shipped in 56.
As some of you know I am recently unemployed. I sent the money for this gun about 4 days before my termination. It was kinda a bad week with the loss of my job. and then Fedex lost the package for about 3 days...folks these things aint cheap but sometimes they ARE worth hanging it out there.
This one will probably join a bigger and better collection out there some day, but I'll enjoy it for a while.
Click to expand...

Curtis
Great gun and it is nice to know some history on it. I am sorry about your job situation, glad your package finally showed up, and hope you are able to keep this fine gun in your collection for a long, long time. BTW what magazine is in the background of your original post?

.
 
boykinlp...I will answer the question about the magazine. In the spring of 2003, Bob Radaker (Rad29 on the forum) and I authored the S&WCA Journal that was dedicated to the 44 Magnum. It covers prototypes to the Model 29-9 that had just been released by S&W and was the first Journal to be published in color. It has 82 photos (mostly of 44 Magnums) and lots of information on early revolvers, those with rare barrel lengths, as well as great photos of the presentation cases used for this model. The photos were taken by Paul Goodwin, a well known firearms photographer. Unless a copy can be found on ebay or for sale elsewhere, S&WCA Journals are only available to members of the S&WCA.

Bill
 
Very sorry to hear about the loss of employment. Been there... more than once. You grit your teeth, do what you have to do and hang on until you can bounce back.

Very nice revolver. I once had a 4" 29-2 (nothing special) but I sold it without even shooting it. Been asking myself why ever since. A couple years ago I consoled myself with a 4" M57 that I like a lot. I find the 41 just barely tolerable while the 44 (at about 15% more intensity) just crosses the line into unpleasant to shoot.
 
Curtis, you did good my friend! Sorry about the job situation but I'm pretty sure with your credentials you'll find a new job a lot quicker than this early 4" 44 Magnum showed up. :)

Regards
Chuck
 
earliest 4 inch 5 screw 44 magnum

Today, I had the good fortune of examining this fine example of a 54 year old pre 29.It is truly stunning. I didnt think 3 pounds of metal could trip my trigger but it did!! And I also furnished a target trigger so Curtis' gun is now more correct. He installed the smooth combat trigger in my shooter grade 44 and he did a professional job of fitting it. All the kudos to Curtis for finding this fine example that rewrites Smith and Wesson history. I hope he doesnt part with it; I know that I wouldnt if I had it
 
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Lucky Dog You!!!

Ol' Amigo,

Curtis,

You know that is my only grail revolver don't ya...Ol' friend ~smile~

Good for you, as the old sayin' goes 'The sun can't shine on the same ol' dog eveyday.'

But, Man your sure doin' something right. I'm sure nuff proud for ya!

Best Regards,

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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Curtis... Your gun really caught my attention. I recently acquired one very similar to yours. And guess what, mine also lacked the serial numbers in all the usual places. In fact, the only place on the gun it was found is on the butt. Mine is also a Pre 29 4 inch barrel 5 screw specimen. My serial number is S1670XX and it was also shipped to a texas location. I'm away from home now and can't remember for sure but I think it was a "Schoenkopf" company. I almost didn't buy my gun due to the serial number situation but after reading all the other comments about it that is apparently not so out of the norm on these early birds. Of course I exhaled once I got my factory letter. I located a nice set of Cokes and have a really nice gun. My letter states it is a first year production Magnum. I think it was Nov 1956. I'll have to post some pics asap. I really like yours. I found mine right here in Memphis at a pawn shop. It sat there for over a month and I just had to take it home. Mine has the 10 grove backstrap and not the 6.
Thanks for posting pics.

Roger
 
Serial numbers

Memphis
If you are correct in your number it just goes to show how wacky Smith's numbers are. I have a 6 groove back strap gun #S161554 that shipped January of 1957
 
I have said it before, but when I lived near Salmon, Idaho, I handled and even fired Elmer Keith's 44 which had a four inch barrel. I was told it was of the first three made by Smith and Wesson. Later, stolen by some creep.
 
Ten grooves began around S166700 for the N-frame series and is independent of shipping date. I had S167025 that shipped in June 1956 and it has ten grooves. But, just to add to the confusion, I had a person describe a gun to me in the S168000 range that had six grooves (must have been an old frame that was "lost" and used later than normal).

Bill
 
Beautiful gun. I have one queston though. The letter states "Model 29"
Isn't this gun actually considered a "pre-29"?
Sorry to hear about your job. Where I work people have been jumping ship like rats after the last lay off. I'm worried enough that I am revising my own resume right now. This economy sucks!
 
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