wiredgeorge
Member
Pistol belongs to a friend of my wife who wants to sell. He knows NOTHING about firearms and that is where I came into the picture... I am a firearms enthusiast but know nothing about vintage S&W revolvers; my weapons are modern and some vintage Russian stuff. Anyway, I wanted to ID and find the value for a S&W revolver and googled valuations and was directed to another site and they directed me here because of the depth of expertise (according to the folks on the other site).
My camera is horrible at taking close pictures so the images I will post are bad. The finish is chrome I think and is pretty good. The camera makes it look streaked because of the glare but there are few flaws and those are noted in my write up:
Based on ident from elsewhere, I believe I have a 3rd Model (Prewar)
aka Model 1926 Hand Ejector, Prewar or Wolf & Klar Model.
It was likely sold to Houston PD by the Wolf & Klar company.
Here is MY description I sent to the board and I will attach
a couple of poor pictures. Unfortunately, my camera is
miserable for close-in shots.:
-------------------
It is 6 shot and appears to be chrome plated. The finish of
the chrome has very few imperfections with little or no
wear. There are some discolorations on the front of the
barrel and 3 small nicks at the barrel end; each about 1mm
area and these are what make me think the pistol is chromed
but I am no expert. There is a bit of holster wear from
trigger to hammer.
The pistol has what appear to be plastic grips which may
have been intended to look like stag horn and have
checkering under your last 3 fingers. There is only one
screw holding the grips on from the sides and it is loose.
The grips appear to be warped as they appear to be what came
on the gun but bow out some at the top and bottom.
There is only one screw holding the grips in place and it is
very loose. There is another screw on the front of the frame
in front of the grips and three other screws on the frame;
two above the trigger and one in front of the hammer.
The barrel is 5" from cylinder to end. On the left side of
the revolver and on the barrel are the words "SMITH &
WESSON" and the company logo is stamped under the cylinder
release. On the right side under the cylinder and to the
front is MADE IN U.S.A. and on the barrel is a design mark
then the words, "44 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG and another design
mark. On top: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A
PATENTED FEB 6, 06, SEPT. 14, 09, DEC 29 14
Behind and on the hammer in VERY small letters is stamped:
Reg U.S. Pat. Of - can't read anymore as the letter
disappear into the frame.
The backstrap and all the frame around the grip is smooth.
There is one flat head screw in the front of the grip
through the metal. On the bottom is the serial 43886 and on
the back is H.P.D. 309.
The revolver has been in the family of the current owner for
a couple generations and the owner is over 60 years old I
would judge. I believe he knows the history and H.P.D.
stands for Houston Police Department.
A trigger lock was installed at some time in the past and it
is installed. The owner has the key but will have to look
for it. The weapon has been fired with some evidence of
carbon on the front of the cylinder and barrel end. The
cylinder appear tight and the trigger and hammer appear
almost new.
--------
Do you agree with the ident of this revolver and what is it worth?
If I wanted to sell it, what would be the best way to do that to
reach the target audience for this type weapon? Thanks-
George Lesho Mico TX
My camera is horrible at taking close pictures so the images I will post are bad. The finish is chrome I think and is pretty good. The camera makes it look streaked because of the glare but there are few flaws and those are noted in my write up:
Based on ident from elsewhere, I believe I have a 3rd Model (Prewar)
aka Model 1926 Hand Ejector, Prewar or Wolf & Klar Model.
It was likely sold to Houston PD by the Wolf & Klar company.
Here is MY description I sent to the board and I will attach
a couple of poor pictures. Unfortunately, my camera is
miserable for close-in shots.:
-------------------
It is 6 shot and appears to be chrome plated. The finish of
the chrome has very few imperfections with little or no
wear. There are some discolorations on the front of the
barrel and 3 small nicks at the barrel end; each about 1mm
area and these are what make me think the pistol is chromed
but I am no expert. There is a bit of holster wear from
trigger to hammer.
The pistol has what appear to be plastic grips which may
have been intended to look like stag horn and have
checkering under your last 3 fingers. There is only one
screw holding the grips on from the sides and it is loose.
The grips appear to be warped as they appear to be what came
on the gun but bow out some at the top and bottom.
There is only one screw holding the grips in place and it is
very loose. There is another screw on the front of the frame
in front of the grips and three other screws on the frame;
two above the trigger and one in front of the hammer.
The barrel is 5" from cylinder to end. On the left side of
the revolver and on the barrel are the words "SMITH &
WESSON" and the company logo is stamped under the cylinder
release. On the right side under the cylinder and to the
front is MADE IN U.S.A. and on the barrel is a design mark
then the words, "44 S.&W. SPECIAL CTG and another design
mark. On top: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A
PATENTED FEB 6, 06, SEPT. 14, 09, DEC 29 14
Behind and on the hammer in VERY small letters is stamped:
Reg U.S. Pat. Of - can't read anymore as the letter
disappear into the frame.
The backstrap and all the frame around the grip is smooth.
There is one flat head screw in the front of the grip
through the metal. On the bottom is the serial 43886 and on
the back is H.P.D. 309.
The revolver has been in the family of the current owner for
a couple generations and the owner is over 60 years old I
would judge. I believe he knows the history and H.P.D.
stands for Houston Police Department.
A trigger lock was installed at some time in the past and it
is installed. The owner has the key but will have to look
for it. The weapon has been fired with some evidence of
carbon on the front of the cylinder and barrel end. The
cylinder appear tight and the trigger and hammer appear
almost new.
--------
Do you agree with the ident of this revolver and what is it worth?
If I wanted to sell it, what would be the best way to do that to
reach the target audience for this type weapon? Thanks-
George Lesho Mico TX
)
