Just bought a Model of 1950.

Condition is at least very good, has smooth rosewood grips and a five inch barrel!

Beyond the barrel being 5 inch it has a red ramp front sight...what gives?

The serial number matches on barrel, frame, cylinder, and yoke (will check star later, but I feel it is original). S/N is S 1465**, the good book says: 1955-1956.

I know a 5 inch barrel is rare, that is why I took a chance on this gun.

It is 45 ACP.

Just noticed that the rear sight is white outline...what did I buy?

Any help?

Thanks in advance,

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

I've seen 4 and 5 inch .44 Specials with red ramp front sights and white outline rear sight blades.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

What, NO pics??

Send us a picture and it will improve the quality of our guesses. That is a rather unusual configuration in my limited experience.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

That serial would appear to be from 1955 (I have a couple that are close and letter to mid 1955). A 1950 Target 45 should have a 6.5" tapered barrel. The big change on the 1955 Model was the heavy barrel (also in 6.5" length). A 5" barrel on either model was never a standard catalog option. While very cool, such a gun would almost certainly not be original in that configuration.

It is not impossible that it was a special order. S&W would do just about anything back then on SO but the odds are not with you. If it was a SO 5" gun, it's worth a small fortune. But I seriously doubt that is the case. Maybe someone knows of a run of 5" 45 1950s but I have never heard of such a thing.

I hope you didn't pay for a rare collector grade gun.

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No life story has happy end.

Hello gentlemen,

Thanks for your posts. I am leaving for most of the weekend and will try to post a picture on sunday...I have never had sucess doing this b-4 but the wife is home and she is a bit of a geek...

Regards,

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

hi
there were 9 of them made in one order I have all the serial numbers
if you Pm me the serial number i will check it.
jim fisher

I see you've been here since 2003 so you know about the proper placement of S&W stampings on 4 and 5 inch guns. I hope it's one of the nine 5 inch SO guns !

dan

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

hi
My records are at home and I am on the road.
your serial number is only 17 numbers from mine
so its a good chance it is correct.
Jim

Hey! Let's see this 1950 Target pre 26 five inch.

Just got home, long day trip.

WOW, I may really have something! The roll marks are correct and centered on the barrel.

I am up at 4am for whitetail hunting. I will try posting a picture in afternoon.

Must admit to being rather excited about this gun...I will need to pull out a few other gems to discuss sometime.

Thanks for all the assistance,

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

My first effort with posting pics...I am not an artist.

Attached Images

	Model of 1950 006.jpg (85.0 KB, 409 views)
	Model of 1950 003.jpg (75.1 KB, 374 views)
	Model of 1950 002.jpg (94.3 KB, 380 views)
	Model of 1950 007.jpg (82.8 KB, 408 views)

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ineedannudernewgun

Happy,

That looks alright from here!

A letter from Roy Jinks will tell for sure nuff whatcha got.

Anyhows, she's a nice one.

Su Amigo,
Dave

P.S.
HappyHunter,
Sorry for hi-jacking your tread whilest you were away...
I guess we all got alit'l bored and ended up pokin a little fun SP's way.

Sorry SP...Didn't mean no harm.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That looks like a righteous gun from here!

Better letter that lickity-split!

Drew

Like most of the posters agree, the gun looks right. I think it may have shipped somewhat later than the serial no. would indicate, based on the domed rear sight and the relieved stocks.
Maybe a REX or H.H. Harris gun?

Hope it letters.

Good shooting!

It's a nice looking gun, I'm not read enough in but based on Jim's opinion I'll be hopeful enough to think you got a nice gun there OP.
Not that there's a bad 1950..

I doubt anyone hurt SP's feelings but personally the guy that doesn't need a gun is the one I wouldn't wanna pick on

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27-2, 66-1, 640 Pro, 10-5

As others have said, it looks pretty darn righteous!

The roll marks appear centered, the barrel pin does not look flattened and the two pins for the front sight are polished smooth with the rib (although raised pins may not necessarily be wrong).

Hopefully bmg60 will be able to give some confirmation. The fact your serial is so close to his is another plus.

Wow.

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Non illegitimae carborundum

I have been a fan of the Smith .45 ACP revolvers for a number of years. However, in the past three or four years it has taken over as my "first choice" these days. Mine are a pair of 625's (625-6 (5") and 625-8 (4").

I cast my own bullets and reload (of course) and these are just flat "user friendly".

I have warm feelings for the early 1950 and 1955 Target models as my father had one of each "back in the day".

To the O.P. - it appears to me you not only have a very desirable revolver but a very valuable and uncommon revolver.

Good show!

Dale53

Thats a darn nice revolver, there. Congratulations on your find.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

The fact that one of the experts has confirmed that some were made and yours is close in serial range to known examples certainly gives hope that you have the real deal. Neat gun, and I hope it proves genuine for you.

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No life story has happy end.

Hi
I have looked at the pictures and I think it is correct.
of the 9 made not all are the same sight configuration.
Mine has a front sight configured just like yours except for the red ramp.
I will not be home until friday to check my list of serial numbers.
Jim Fisher
see picture of mine attached

Mr. Fisher,

Sincere thanks for your efforts.
Your picture is outstanding, is this in a light box?
I have got to learn how to clean and polish a gun like that, beautiful.

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

Many of us that enjoy taking pictures of our guns use Renaissance Wax on the exterior instead of oil. They look real pretty that way! And if you want to take similar pictures, a light box is a wonderful tool. Congratulations on a fabulous find, by the way!

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Peter
S&WCA #2620

I could have sworn I had replied in this string, and the string shows in my subscriptions.

ANYWAY: if I may be so bold, I am curious in addition to jealous. What was the ballpark $$ range.

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NHI, 10-8.

It appears some posts were removed.

BTW- Mr. Fisher's guns don't need to be prepped to look good, they always look good.

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No life story has happy end.

Doug M.
I have $1k in this gun O.T.D.

Homie,
What is a domed rear sight?

I noticed that the grips are not numbered at all. Is this normal for this gun?

Regards,

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

Fred,
It is normal for target grips not to be numbered to the gun since they cover most of the grip frame and require little or no fitting. They are most likely original. That's a real sweetheart you found!

I have never heard of a "domed" rear sight either and have know idea what he means.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Ok, it appears that the gun is worth proper storage.

My normal procedure for a "safe queen" is to detail strip, clean and oil. Reassemble and coat with quality oil, wrap in factory paper and store in a Smith/Wesson box (I have extras and can usually find a good fit).

Would you suggest something better?

I will be trying the Renaissance Wax, Mr Fisher's gun looks great!

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ineedannudernewgun

Hi
the only thing better would be to put the gun in a correct size bore store bag and then in the box. the bore store bags have a film that protects the gun.
just my 2 cents.
jim fisher

I will let you know about the gun when i get home on friday or saturday
from my list.
jim

[QUOTE=bmg60;136799789]Hi
the only thing better would be to put the gun in a correct size bore store bag and then in the box. the bore store bags have a film that protects the gun.
just my 2 cents.
jim fisher

A question Jim, do you store them with the stocks on or off? Doc.

hI
I have gotten home and to my list. this gun is on the list so it was shipped from the factory as a 5 inch.
you will have to letter it to find out if the red ramp is correct.
Jim Fisher
I will not give out the list of numbers if you find a gun PM me and i will tell you if it is correct or not.
Jim Fisher.

Fred,
No wonderr you're a "HappyHunter"!!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

BINGO!!!!!!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Well I believe that what Homie refered to as a domed rear sight would be a rear sight screw that is domed rather than flat. It appears that my gun may have a non original sight blade and sight blade screw.

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ineedannudernewgun

You still stole it.

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NHI, 10-8.

Got more questions.

It appears that the gun was shipped August 1960.

Are grips on Mr. Fisher's gun standard target stocks or "Coke Bottle" grips. Will this be identified in my factory letter when it arrives?

What box should it have? Would it be the Pre-Bangor Punta? The solid line two piece box? What would correct length be?

I have aquired some Renaissance Wax! Wow is this gun pretty waxed up! It is a solid 98-99%.

My only disapointment is that I no longer want to shoot it.


Thanks for ALL the help I have had on this wheelgun.

Best Regards to All!

Fred

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ineedannudernewgun

Fred....the stocks on Mr. Fisher's revolver are diamond target stocks made of walnut without the relieved area on the left panel (the revolver I hade in my collection has the same type of stocks).

My gun did not have a box either, so I don't know the type. It most likely needs a box made for a 6 1/2-inch gun since it is fitted with target stocks.

Bill

Happy Thanksgiving ! You have a winner,sir. A 'letter' normally will state what grips it was shipped with but one of my 5" .44SPLs had reguler service stocks and the other has "no football cutouts" although they are both non-target guns.

It's difficult to see the usage from the pics but I wouldn't be afraid to fire it with factory ammo as most if it is pretty mild. I've used hand loads that run 800fps with no problems in my 1950 guns. Enjoy...dan

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HIS Trains 'a LEAVIN

Congrats, I'm glad it is original. Good find!

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Hi
I have a 1955 special order 5 inch 45 acp that has a numbered box. it was shipped in 1962.
but it would give you a idea of the type of box that it could have been shipped in.
I will take a picture of the box and the markings and post it .
Jim Fisher

Thank you.

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ineedannudernewgun

Hi
Here are the pictures of the 1955 box for a 5 inch that was shipped in 1962, your gun was shipped in Aug 8 1960 so it would have been the correct box for a gun shipped in 1960.
The 1955 would have been over written with a black marker and changed to 1950. you will see where my box has been over written with a 5 because the box is for a 6 1/2 inch gun.
your gun would have used the same 6 1/2 inch box..
I hope this helps.
Jim Fisher

Very, very nice