Hello,

I just acquired a revolver and was hoping someone might be able to help with some history and a value estimate.

It has a serial number of S103821. There is a 2nd serial number 20564. From what I have seen, I believe that the first is the one to use.

The gun is is very good condition. I think the serial number indicates that it was built in late 1954 or early 1955.

The barrel length is 4" and it has an adjustable rear site.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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Welcome to the Forum.

This is one of the finest revolvers that S&W ever built.

Heck of a way to join the group.

The "S" located on the butt is the serial number. It should also be on the rear of the cylinder and inside of the barrel shroud. The barrel may have been cutdown to 4". Most 4" barreled .44s have a ramp front sight. The standard barrel length was 6 1/2".

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

What is a CTG? hehehaha


I'm sorry....I'll excuse myself to the principle's office.


Beautiful revolver!

ASUDEVILS - "CTG" is an abbreviation for cartridge. That marking on the berrel denotes caliber only, not the model, which is a ".44 Hand Ejector 4th Model Target" also known in collector's shorthand as a "Pre-Model 24". Posting a close-up photo of the barrel that shows the location of that caliber marking may resolve the issue of whether the 4" length is original. I agree with Muley GI that the front sight configuration is unusual.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Here is a pic that might help.

Thanks for all the input.

By the way, the gun belonged to my Grandfather. He was a Border Patrolman and he bought the gun new and used it as his service weapon. It means a lot to me that he gave it to me.

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I agree that the Barrel was most likely cut to 4"!! If you look closely in the photo you'll see the Caliber Stamping on the Barrel is well forward of where it's located if correct!!

Added;
Well, now we know for sure!! If I could type faster I would have seen his added photo before I made the above Post!!

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Masterpiece

You are probably correct. The fact that it is/was a target pistol makes sense since he was on the target team for quite a few years.

He eventually became a Director but kept the gun. I can see him cutting it down to make it easier to carry and conceal.

It has an amazing trigger. I'd like to get it measured but I'm guessing it is right at 3lbs.

I've known several police officers that preferred the Patridge front sight for a service revolver. If someone grabs the gun, pull it out of his hand and he will probably say "OUCH".

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

What an outstanding revolver and what a great family connection. Congratulations!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Your grandfather probably wore a different gun for concealment when off duty or after becoming a director.

But the USBP mandated four-inch barrels for uniform wear and issued holsters accordingly. That's probably why he had the barrel cut, and to let him be seated more comfortably in a car.

He probably used different guns in target competition.

You are indeed fortunate to receive such a fine bequest. Thanks for sharing with us.

Asudevils,
That's a great family treasure...I've been known to crop one back from time to time to suit myself.
I guess your Grandfather knew just what he like as well.



All My Best.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

ASUDEVILS that is one cool revolver with a family history no less. Make sure you document as much as you can about your grandfather's LE history for future generations.
If it was mine, I would also order a factory letter for it. It will actually add to the value of the gun.
If you don't have the leather rig to go with it, i'll bet some of our members could help if you posted an add.
Your Grandfather must have been a real hard nosed Border Patrol as any LE that goes to the trouble to customize his equipment is surely a cut above the rest.
Congradulations and thanks for showing that fine pre 24 to us.

Your grandfather was probably associated with some of the great gunwriters who were also Border Patrolmen at one time. Folks like Skeeter Skelton and Bill Jordan wore that badge proudly, as did many others.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The letter sounds like a great idea. And I was going to look for a Bianchi holster shortly. If anyone here has a model reccomendation it would be appreciated.

My grandfather's name was Robert Jarratt. The Patrol was one of the most important parts of his life. He started in the patrol riding horseback on the southern side of the Huachuca mountains in AZ. And he was more of a father to me than anyone else in my life.

Thanks to all of you for the help.

I would sincerely recommend that you sit down and start writing down every story he ever told you or that you ever heard about him. I would also recommend you interview other relatives and any friends of his who are still living. You have a truly wonderful inheritance that is a unique piece of regional history. Anything that adds to it is good.

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S&WCA 1729

Agreed! You may want to create a video library of people who knen him, and his stories.

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Existimo ergo sum armis

Find all of the photos of your grandfather that you can turn up ! Any of him in uniform or on horseback would be outstanding additions to all of the history you develop ! I hope you find one of him wearing that .44 !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

My sister is working on a book now. We started interviewing him a few years back and gathered quite a few stories that include run-ins with Lyndon Johnson and his alcohoic brother and friendships and hunting trips with Jimmy Doolittle. He had an amazing life.

Here is your grandfathers obituary.

Robert "Bob" L. Jarratt - Arizona Range News: Obituaries

Ya. That's my Pop. Here are a couple of my favorite pics. Of course one is a pic of a painting they did for him when he retired (with the gun).

Thanks again. Greg

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Great gun in really nice condition. You're lucky to have such a wonderful heirloom.

Great gun, history, and stories.

That appears ot be General Doolittle in the middle of the other two men. Is it?

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

You know, I belive it is. I seen him briefly once in the mid 60s on my job.

Your are correct. That is my grandfather on the right and my uncle on the left. They were down in Baja California on a duck hunt. Check out the agave plants in the back. Huge and probably made some great tequila.

My Bianchi thumb-break is #5BHL and carries my 4" M624.

Larry

Dude... you have to investigate further. If your grandfather was in the USAAF then it coul dbe that he knew Doolittle. Might have even served with him. At the very least after reading his obit there is a huge story behind this man and his life that deserves telling. And you need to be the one starting with the gun.

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Existimo ergo sum armis

Believe me, that we all wish we had grandfathers that left us a gun like that. What a great pic of your family's men with such an American legend.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

You have my sympathies for the loss of your grandfather. From what you have said, and from the story told in his obituary, he was one helluva guy! We are losing our greatest generation.

I would be willing to bet that his story could be published as a book. Congratulations to you and your family having the foresight to begin documenting his remarkable life before you lost him!

I particularly appreciate the painting done for him. I would bet that you could get a holster maker to duplicate the rig shown in the painting for you. That would be the perfect way to carry the mans revolver and a nice way to honor his service!

Thank you for sharing, and Welcome!

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Even older, even crankier....

I don't think you'll find a currently made holster like the USBP issued in his time. It was designed by Chas. Askins when he was Chief Firearms Instructor for the force and had six ctg. loops above the hoster well.

Many patrolmen carried the optional rig designed by Bill Jordan. I think that is still offered or can be made by Don Hume. If they quit making it, they may have one around that was never shipped. Tell them your story and see what they can do.

Jordan wore what was called a River Belt. Mine is by Bianchi, but I don't know if they still offer it. Myres made the originals. They are long gone, but El Paso Saddlery seems to have bought their building or something and claims to be their logical successor. They do custom work and make historic holsters and belts. They'll know what you want. But they cost a lot and take awhile to deliver.

I'd sure try Don Hume first, if they're still in business. I haven't bought anything from them in years; they may be gone now.

I agree that the man in the middle of the photo is Gen. Doolittle. I've seen his photo many times and read his autobiography, "I Could Never Be So Lucky Again." BTW, he earned one of the first, if not THE first, doctorates in Aeronautical Engineering that MIT ever granted. So, if you want to be humorous about it, he was also Dr. Doolittle.

I suggest that anyone who hasn't read it get a copy of Capt. Ted Lawson's, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and view the movie based on it. You'll learn a lot about Doolittle there, too. But you'll have to read his own book to learn how Eisenhower almost fired the hero because he thought that he was just a hot pilot without senior command abilities. He was wrong, and Doolittle commanded the 8th Air Force sucessfully.

But he was still foremost a pilot and engineer, who flew a P-38 over the beaches at Normandy on D-Day, to see what air cover he needed to supply and to tell if the invasion was successful. He chose the Lightning because it was so distinctive that Allied troops on ships and ashore wouldn't mistake it for a German plane.

I checked the Don Hume site & couldn't find a Border Patrol style holster. I've had good luck finding holsters on e-bay, including several El Paso Saddlery models.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I used to have the one from don hume. It was for a 5" N frame. (My 27-2). I had it and a matching river ranger type belt made up about in 1971. It was stolen out of my trucks shell camper when I ran in a doughnut shop for just a minuet. Thank God, I had taken my revolver out of it and was going home in the early am. You know they probley couldnt even use it as the belt probley was 46"s!

"I'd sure try Don Hume first, if they're still in business. I haven't bought anything from them in years; they may be gone now."

They are still around, called them today, but 3-4 months for the holster I wanted.

"Doolittle commanded the 8th Air Force sucessfully"

He also increased missions before rotation back to the U.S..
"In 1942-43 the prescribed number of missions was 25, increasing to 30 in mid-1944 and 35 missions by late 1944"

"Never lacking courage, 89% of the combat crews deployed during that initial year of operations failed to complete their prescribed combat tour."
"More than one in four (26%) of Air Corps personnel in the 8th Air Force were killed, wounded or captured during the Second World War. Everyone thought they would be one of the lucky ones; they had to."