I got a nice New Service shooter couple months ago. I needed a TL shooter. This is it. Reblued, kind of satin, 'modernized' with Magna grips and mod to front sight. On the plus side, s/n under 500, lettering sharp and crisp, perfect bore and function, original case colors on hammer and trigger near 100%. As usual for me I paid too much $1100.

Good lookin' TL.

I have a 5" TL that has been parkerized. I paid too much as well, but it is a one hole shooter, and it is a 5". I really am happy with it.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

This time next year, you will not regret the $1100.

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Always bet on stupidity.

Thats a really good looker. They are the best shooting revolvers that S&W ever made. I have two, my 2012 Christmas present was a 6.5" 44 special New Century. It really stacks the bullets at 25yds. Enjoy your new toy.

First chance I get I'm taking it and my New Service shooter out and try to scare some CDs and soda cans. Might get a hit now and then.

If any consolation... happens to me all the time.
BTW, nice piece.

Whoever re-blued it was very good. Top rate professional. Lets see the other side please.
DW

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"NUTS"

I've never paid too much, just paid a little too early sometimes.

$1100 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

Cheapskate's lament, not unhappy with my deal. I wanted it and it is as good as hoped for. I got it for my max bid. Next bidder would have won. Probably just the return to reality after a few purchases quite a bit below what I expected to pay.

Picked up this refinished TR Target a few months back for $700, they really are great shooters! I added the vintage Sanderson grips, really completes a nice package. The original grips were missing on mine too.

Matt

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

Matt where in the world do you get a tripple target for $700, because let me in next time, I would pay $1200 easy for that nice gun here in Canada! cheers Dale Z!

That's a really good buy at $700. Nice refinished TLs seem to be centered around $1100 in recent months. My best was a 5" factory renickel with sharp lines, sharp markings and fine bore at $1050. Another I paid $1200 for turned out to have bad bore so I sent it back.

Hard to believe but there are gun people who have never discovered the internet and don't keep up with the times. A 'sleeper' used to be a gun found on the top shelf of the old hardware store, now is with the people who don't use a computer.

hey, I was going to bid on that gun in the beginning but changed my mind. I still think I should have bid on it. At the time, I was thinking two things: (1) it could be professionally restored to have the cuts filled, the sight replaced and then a another re blue, but I had no idea what that would cost or (2) shoot it. It looks great.

That's a nice gun and a quality re-finish; the hammer pin wasn't even flattened. Have you checked under the left grip for a factory re-finish date? I have a 22/32 factory re-finished in 1953 and it has the same satin blue of the post war period.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

My Christmas present to self at $800 from a small gunshow in TN. Shoots great!!!

Nice gun and looks all original. Those grips w/o medallions indicate your gun might be a low number if the grips are numbers matching to the gun.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have this one that was sent to the factory twice, in 1949 and 1950. Target sights were added by the factory.

That's a very cool package, I love factory reworks. Because of when it was done, it got the upgrade to micro click sights. And the front sight blade looks great with the extra depth to make up for the lower, standard height base. Did they use a King front blade?

It looks so good with the first style target stocks w/o the football cut out!

Does it have the two factory return dates stamped on the left side of the grip frame?

I have a 1917 with target sights added but it was done before the war therefore got the pre war style rear sight. And the front sight blade is a Redfield with gold insert.

thanks for showing that one.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I still don't know why so many frown on Factory reworks, to me that justy adds to the great history of these well built guns, that some guy just didn't get rid of his Tripple Lock, he sent back to Smith to make it more usefull to his needs later on in life, as well as spruce up the finish! I have a Colt NS Target that had work done in the 1960's by the same family who bought it in 1919!! WOW!
I have been looking for any TL's no luck to recently, picked up a 455 TL WW1 gun for $500, progect gun, who knows what I will have done to it? Dale Z!

Yes the dates are on the grip frame. They are about 6 months apart so it must have been sent back for some reason. I have it lettered. No, I dont think the front is a king, but I will look later. I dont know if the rear sight is numbered with the gun as I never took it off. I did try it against about 3 other .44 specials I have and a model 29-2 off the bench. It outshot them all! Because I have other .44 specials its sat in the safe ever since. I also have a like new 1950 target that it also outshot. I dont know if it was refinished at the time the target sights were installed, I suppose it was. I have owned this gun close to 40 years.

I don't believe sights were being numbered after the war, at least I have no examples, only my pre war guns. But if they are numbered, both front and rear will be #'d.

I have two TL targets and they do both shoot tight groups but never ran a test with my Model 50 targets.

If it was refinished when sent back it should have a B/R or R/B in a rectangle on the grip frame near the dates.

Thanks again for the additional info,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I dont belive it has anything but the star and dates on the gripframe, however I will post back here when I get ambitious in a few days and dig it out of the safe and recheck.