UPDATE....Just received the letter from Roy Jinks. This gun shipped Sept. 8, 1954 to Rex Firearms in New York in the configuration shown.****************

I haven't had a lot of luck lately at gun shows locating good condition older revolvers....at least in the Houston area. My focus has been on 44 Magnums and 27's...so when I found this one, I didn't realize exactly what I had until I got it home and did some research. BTW...this was one of those shows that had more home crafts than guns. You just never know.

This gun was hiding on the back of a dealer's table partially hidden by a Glock. All I knew was that it was a 5 screw N frame in outstanding condition. It was also in a caliber that I had never owned. The barrel looked a bit lighter than what I am used to seeing on big bore revolvers but since the condition was so good, I figured I'd try to bring it home.

So....it's a 1950 Target Model (Light Barrel) in 45 Colt. Turns out that S&W made 2,768 1950 Targets but only 200 of them in 45 Colt; mostly during the 1953-54 time frame I understand. This one, Serial S 97766, shipped in Sept. of 1954.

When I bought it, it had some aftermarket stock so I immediately went on the search for some correct magnas. Our own VM had just what I needed with a fairly close serial stamping. And...even better...they fit like they were made for this gun. (Thanks Mike).

These pics don't do the gun justice, but will have to do until I can figure out how to work that dang light box I built!

I'm still in the clouds just holding this old .45.
Enjoy...
Craig
S&WCA

Wow that is really nice. Congrats!!

Now that's jim dandy, for sure.


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

You know I'm doing the happy dance for ya.
To say the very least I'm glad this is in a collectors hands. And from what I understand,
it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

All of mine are 1985 and newer.

May I post a picture ?






Regards
Allen

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Man that is one really fine looker. Great find.

Just shorted out my keyboard with drool! Wow.....thanks for posting.
Craig....

great looking gun. so,the big question is,how does it shoot?

Did you pick up a lottery ticket on the way home?
NICE>

Don't know how much you paid for that, but it probably wasn't enough......

Very nice.

Iggy , this is one of those that makes up for the ones where
" You didn't pay too much, you just bought it too soon"

Know what I mean?

Allen

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.

Whoa. Sweet.

YUP, I know what you mean.

That's absolutely stunning. I love the look of the light-barrel Pre-26, and to find one in .45 Colt is just unbelievable good fortune.

Where has that gun been for more than half a century? It looks like it came out of the factory box, got wrapped in an oilcloth, and went straight into the desk drawer that was immediately locked.

And then the key was misplaced.

Really, that is one fine .45 and I agree with Iggy: whatever it cost you, ou didn't pay near enough for that gun.

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David Wilson

That was a super find of a beautiful revolver. That also is why I now carry my SWCCA books with me. I've got one of those in the easy to find .45ACP caliber. I lucked into it at a small gunshow also.

Tried five times. I can't see any gun. I'm bummed. It sounds awesome.

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Go big or stay home

And I had quite a few of those to make up for......
Craig..

I cussed and swore at my crudbucket puter and it loaded the pics up!!! And I say WOW!!!!!!!!!!

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Go big or stay home

that is probably the find of the week if not the entire month.

DNONAC, nice catch. You did good, reallllllll good !! That gun in the condition the pics show is north of $3000.00. If it had the original magnas maybe more. The box normally found on those is the maroon box for the 50 target in 45 acp with a big black C in grease pencil on the end label. On the bottom of the box where the serial number is found you will often find 45 colt in black grease pencil.

I have one, ser. # S99681 so the 200 were spread around. You just never know what you'll find. The gun shows are a lot like looking for gold. You can find some of the light stuff on the surface, but to find the big stuff, you hafta dig. You hit the mother load.
Enjoy

Bob

Thanks Bob. Do you know the ship date of yours?

Counting yours, I am only aware of 4 or 5 others that belong to forum members and at least 2 or 3 of those are in their original boxes.. I'm sure there are more hiding away in safe keeping. But I do wonder how many still exist. I did ask about the box but the dealer said he'd just gotten the gun on trade with no box.
Craig...

A great find , I'm glad you got it . Thanks for posting.

Did the seller know what he had?

SP......I don't think so. But then, neither did I.

As I recall, this was the only revolver on a table full of Glocks and Sigs. When I bought it, I had never seen one and had no idea what it was....except that it looked clean, was in a caliber that started with a "4", and had 5 screws.

Craig...

Nice Find - I have one just like it in .45ACP, which is much more common. It is an outstanding shooter, I don't know why S&W felt they needed to go to a heavy barrel on these guns.

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My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Gotta keep rubing it in dontcha??? good grab

You said you haven't had much luck at gun shows lately. Don't think you're going to have much luck in the future either. You used it all up in one shot. (smile)

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Absolutely stunning! You made up for a lot of time looking with that one. Old story of right place at right time with the right amount of cash in the pocket.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

May I suggest that you contact the seller and see if they will put you in touch with the individual that traded the gun to them?
The worst they can do is decline.
But you won't know if you don't ask and it would be fantastic to see the box with that beautiful Model 1950 Target Model (Light Barrel) in .45 Colt!

Very nice piece - congratulations on your find.

tp

CLANG, I have both models, a 50 Target 45 acp and a pre Model 25 in 45 acp. That pre model 26 will drive you crazy with that light barrel. If you do not have absolute great follow through, well the groups aren't going to excite you. That heavy barrel pre model 25 is like shooting a laser beam as she holds steady all the way through the shot and is a lot more forgiving. Also the pre model 25 will shoot most loads really well and the 50 Target will not. I almost gave up on the 50 Target and started to run a wire down the barrel and make alamp out of it before I found the right combo. With that particular load it will shoot a cloverleaf 5 shot group at 25 yards.

Craig, I will check to see if I have a letter on that one. I got it from Ray Brazille many years ago. I will try to check my file this week.
You got one of the raely seen models these days and to get it under the scenario you stated almost defies the laws of probability.

I actually did just that when I got the gun....but the dealer declined. Sometimes it's amazing what you can find out if you just ask. Just didn't work this time.
Craig...

Craig great find, I think I used up my luck also when I found my RM for under $800 a few years ago, its been slim picking's since then, but I think the luck comes back every couple years, great catch, Dale Z in Canada!

Exactly the same experience I had with the 1950. Only load I found that would shoot in mine was 45 GAP ammo. Gave up on it.

if you still have that 50 Target, try this load. 45 acp or ar cases, any primer, 4.5 gr. Bullseye and the Lee 190 gr. Tumble Lube bullet. It is a long bullet and I htink that helps to stabilze it. It shoots great in mine. It really messed up my head after trying to get this thing to shoot for years, but literally it will almost shoot one ragged hole. Happy days are here again.!!!!
Enjoy
Bob

Craig, I found the letter on mine. It was shipped June 8, 1954 to Rex Firearms Co. in New York. It shipped with 6.5" barrel, patridge front sight, standard hammer and trigger, blue finish and magna stocks. There were seven guns, same configuration, in this shipment. Be interesting to see how many of them owned by Forum members fit this shipping info.

Again, you did good.
Bob

Bob...thanks for taking the time to locate it. I should have the letter for mine in a couple of weeks and I'll be sure and post the info.
Thanks again...
Craig..

Letter received. Info in 1st post.

Craig...

Great gun! You have a real keeper there and there aren't many known to be still out there.
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

Congrats, and THANX for sharing............

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

hidden by a glock, how poetic lol

so .45 colt as .45 long colt the one with the rim right?

A wonderful find. Congratulations!

I looked at a lettered, boxed 1950 Target in .45 Colt not long ago. It was offered to me by one of our finest of fellow forum members, Mr. Michael Stern.

As I already had a Pre-26, a Pre-25, a 25, a four screw 25-2 and both a 6 1/2" and 6" 25-2, Having the 1950 Target in .45 Colt would have rounded out the stable. I really wish that I had made that deal. It was a fantastic gun and a fair buy at $3200.

With Micheal's permission, here's a couple of snapshots of that gun & box.





Note the identical taller, odd-looking front sight on both Michael's and you gun.

Drew

That's a beautiful "murderer's row". All 45 Colts I presume?
All newer than '85...what are the ribless barreled ones if I may show my ignorance? Heritage Models?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

My oh my Craig, thanks for that story and pictures of a true Holy Grail. It's a magnificant find.

I call the table where you found it a 'black gun' table and there are also 'black gun' stores. I check them out for only one reason. If they take in a classic revolver type which could be a queen mother of all guns like yours, they know just little enough about it that they either put an exorbitant ridiculous price on it or price it as a standard model. I always hope for the latter.

Nice find, all those gun show 'foot miles' do pay off sometimes.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Wow, that's a nice one for sure.

The guy who had it at the show had a table full of plastic...I wonder what the fella who traded that beauty got for it...

Cooter,
My thought as well. I can only surmise it was his dad's or grandfather's gun, didn't know what he had and was happy to trade it for a plastic gun. So porbably got nowhere near its value. I hope that savings was passed onto dnonac. He'll be an excellent 'care taker' of that jewel of a gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

dnonac, it is odd that Rex Firearms had another shipment on the same day 3 months after mine shipped. Mine shipped 6-8-54 and yours shipped 9-8-54. How many guns were in the shipment on your shipping date. Be interesting to find out if it was for the same number of guns as mine. If it was for the same number of guns, either a heck of a coincidence or maybe a mistake in the shipping date in the letter. By the way mine shipped 3 months earlier than yours but has a ser. # of S996xx. Interesting and goes to show you can't extrapolate these numbers. That is a nice gun you have and getting it the way you did and for a good price is just icing on the cake.
Yeah the front sight on this particular variant does look a little odd. Enjoy cause it looks like CHRISTmas came early for you.
Bob

That's the kind of gun you only put on a table at the right kind of show. Or if just a routine show you don't put the price on it, just a sign: "I'll tell you the price if you can tell me what it is." Otherwise those in ignorance of it's true rarity say rude things or look at you like you eat your offspring! No one needs that aggravation.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hey Bob....Yep, I'm celebrating Christmas early this year. And even better, looks like I'll have all 3 of my kids AND their families home for Christmas too. It's unusual for us all to be able to get together.

I'd love to have the shipping quantity information as well. It would also be interesting to find out where some of the others owned by members shipped to. I guess we have established that at least 1% of the total production of 45 Colt guns went to Rex.

I noticed that my gun has a .500 target hammer which was listed as an option in the SCSW but not mentioned in Roy's letter. Does yours have the target hammer?

It's too bad we won't be able to get detailed information through the S&W Historical Foundation for the guns of the 50's. It's my understanding that most of those records burned in a fire.
Craig.....

Here's the letter on one that I used to own and it went to Rex.

"so .45 colt as .45 long colt the one with the rim right?"

Yes, the rimmed cartridge for revolvers, not the .45 ACP, which is shorter and rimless.

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