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04-09-2015, 03:22 AM
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Model of 1950, 45 ACP. No model Nbr. Photo Heavy.
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22hipower, Dennis The B, DGT, g-dad, g8rb8, kennethg, Laketime, Lee Barner, quinn, RKmesa, Roofuss, S&WIowegan, shouldazagged, vonn |
04-09-2015, 06:48 AM
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Yours is a pre-26. It became the Model 26 when model numbers were instituted.
Nice revolver!
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04-09-2015, 07:50 AM
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Very nice! Likely produced in 1950. Enjoy!
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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
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04-09-2015, 08:12 AM
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Beautiful! I think 95% appears conservative.
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04-09-2015, 08:53 AM
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A very handsome revolver, and a very interesting one as well. That is the lowest serial number I know on a Pre-26. The number is so low, in fact, that all other revolvers with nearby serial numbers seem to be long-action transitional guns; the ones I have been able to check on are .38/44 HDs that mostly shipped in 1949. The situation makes me wonder if this frame was set aside or maybe just misplaced, then built out as a .45 Model of 1950 at a later date. I would be tempted to letter this one if I had it in my safe.
The Pre-26 and its model-marked successor constitute one of my favorite S&W models. This was the company's first production .45 caliber target model, though special order target revolvers are known from before WWII in the .455 HE and 1917 Army models. The light barrel Model of 1950 fell out of favor after the heavy barrel Model of 1955 was introduced a few years later. That gun, which became the Model 25, ran away with the target .45 market, and the Model 26 went out of production in 1961 with fewer than 2800 units produced in the 11 years it was available.
EDITED TO ADD: I changed my mind about what the actual serial number is. Please see post no. 11 below.
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04-09-2015, 01:29 PM
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I think your pre-26 is very, very nice, with its matching magnas and all. The one I have is about 20,000 number later than yours and I love it. Trigger shoes were very popular at the time as were other modifications to these target guns. Another congratulation is in order. Enjoy that one.
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04-09-2015, 04:16 PM
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Good looking 1950 Target- wish mine was that clean and had the high polish blue!.
FWIW, You may want to try and find a correct front sight blade to make it perfect.
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04-09-2015, 05:38 PM
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Very nice Pre-26...it appears someone filed on the Patridge front sight?
I wonder if you could clarify the serial number for us. Some of your pics look to be S 73627 but the stocks look like 78627.
I agree with DC Wilson that your number is amazingly low at 73627. I have two pre-26s numbered S78508 and S78962 which are 1950 or '51 guns.
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04-09-2015, 06:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S&WIowegan
Very nice Pre-26...it appears someone filed on the Patridge front sight?
I wonder if you could clarify the serial number for us. Some of your pics look to be S 73627 but the stocks look like 78627.
I agree with DC Wilson that your number is amazingly low at 73627. I have two pre-26s numbered S78508 and S78962 which are 1950 or '51 guns.
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S&WIowegan Thanks, I concur with You the revolver is s/n S73627 and the stock is S/N 78627. Guess I need to get the old eyes checked for new glasses.
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04-09-2015, 07:09 PM
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Looking at the pictures of the butt, of the inside of the barrel shroud and of the rear of the cylinder, I would say that the SN is S78627.
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Last edited by Muley Gil; 04-09-2015 at 07:12 PM.
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04-09-2015, 07:14 PM
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Well, I hate to keep this discussion going after a kind of resolution has been achieved, and especially after there was agreement about something I said, but I enlarged all the serial number pics and manipulated the contrast for a closer look. It now appears to me that the second numerical digit everywhere is an 8, not a 3, so I must back away from some statements in my original post. I think it is just an accident of lighting that washed out or obscured the left side of an 8 and left it looking like a 3.
It makes far more sense for a Model of 1950 revolver to have a serial number in the S78xxx range than S73xxx. As noted, other Pre-26 revolvers are known that have an S78xxx serial number.
I offer apologies for getting a little excited about something that now appears to be no more than bad eyesight on my part. Under the circumstances, I no longer think that this gun deserves a letter. It is, however, still one of the earliest Pre-26 specimens known. Iowegan, your S78508 is now the lowest serial number known to me on a Pre-26. My sole pre-26 is S96906 (July 1953).
EDITED TO ADD: Gil, your post landed while I was composing mine, but I obviously agree with you.
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04-09-2015, 07:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Muley Gil
Looking at the pictures of the butt, of the inside of the barrel shroud and of the rear of the cylinder, I would say that the SN is S78627.
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I agree. The light strike on the cylinder's 8 adds to the confusion.
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04-09-2015, 07:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired W4
I agree. The light strike on the cylinder's 8 adds to the confusion.
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You are correct I picked up the 1955, ILO of the 1950. I now have the 1950 in My hand and the S/N is "S 78627". I guess I should go back to bed. I'm having a really bad day.
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04-10-2015, 09:11 AM
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I have a Model 1950 with a seriall number of S124103. Can you tell me when it was shipped?
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04-10-2015, 09:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired LTC, USAR
I have a Model 1950 with a seriall number of S124103. Can you tell me when it was shipped?
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Only Roy Jinks can tell you exactly when your gun shipped. We can estimate your gun was made in 1955. The ship date could be much later because this model was a slow seller.
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04-10-2015, 10:12 AM
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In the early 1950's my father bought a new S&W Model 1950 target revolver. He was a Bullseye shooter and in those days they were highly prized for the .45 Stage. This was before accurized 1911's were commonly available. I spent hours learning rapid cocking for the timed fire and rapid fire stages. Then, when the 1955 Model was introduced, my father sold the 1950 and bought a 1955 Model heavy barrel. DCWilson is "spot on".
These were both superb revolvers and actually quite practical for the field if you don't mind the long 6½" barrel.
I still have great affection for the .45 ACP/45 Auto Rim in a revolver and while the 1950 and 1955 are long gone I have a pair of 625's that I shoot regularly.
I also have a Model 24 (.44 Special) that was quite similar to the 1950 Model (along with a 4" AND 6 1/2" Model 624). While they are a different caliber the handling is quite similar.
If you reload, I would suggest that you measure the cylinder throats and size your bullets to the throat size for best results. I will never shoot anything but cast lead in my many revolvers. Using home cast lead bullets sized to the throat size, you will get the most accurate and, more important, long lived results for your revolvers.
Love these big "N" frames, LONG MAY THEY LIVE!
Dale53
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04-10-2015, 10:48 AM
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Well, you guys had me worried there for a while! I thought the number was 78 something right along. I even got mine out because I figured it was pretty close by, and I could give a shipping date. Then this 73 business starts up, and I decided mine wasn't very close by at all.
#S79291 was shipped March 27, 1951.
Ralph Tremaine
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04-10-2015, 11:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired LTC, USAR
I have a Model 1950 with a seriall number of S124103. Can you tell me when it was shipped?
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FWIW, S124224 shipped in October '54.
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04-10-2015, 11:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homie
FWIW, S124224 shipped in October '54.
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Thanks for that information.
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04-10-2015, 12:25 PM
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Neat gun. enjoy it.
Here is a little thread of interest.
The Model of 1950 .45 Target
Allen Frame
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04-10-2015, 12:53 PM
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For the record here's another lettered early ".45 Target Model of 1950 Pre- Model 26", S80428, shipped April 3,1951 to Harvan Sporting Goods Co., NYC.
If we keep this up maybe we can account for all 2768 of them!
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04-10-2015, 02:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homie
For the record here's another lettered early ".45 Target Model of 1950 Pre- Model 26", S80428, shipped April 3,1951 to Harvan Sporting Goods Co., NYC.
If we keep this up maybe we can account for all 2768 of them!
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A good plan.
I think I am going to start tracking these. I usually plan on finding the serial numbers of roughly five percent of a semi-uncommon model, so I would expect that I could put together a list of about 125-150 specimens before the well starts to go dry.
I will work through the forum archives to find the ones I can. If anyone would like to send me a Model 26 or Pre-26 serial number for that data base, I would appreciate it. A PM through the forum software will be fine; or you can use the email link as well. Please identify any special features like non-standard stocks or front sight. Anonymity is promised. Many thanks.
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David Wilson
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09-22-2018, 03:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWilson
Well, I hate to keep this discussion going after a kind of resolution has been achieved, and especially after there was agreement about something I said, but I enlarged all the serial number pics and manipulated the contrast for a closer look. It now appears to me that the second numerical digit everywhere is an 8, not a 3, so I must back away from some statements in my original post. I think it is just an accident of lighting that washed out or obscured the left side of an 8 and left it looking like a 3.
It makes far more sense for a Model of 1950 revolver to have a serial number in the S78xxx range than S73xxx. As noted, other Pre-26 revolvers are known that have an S78xxx serial number.
I offer apologies for getting a little excited about something that now appears to be no more than bad eyesight on my part. Under the circumstances, I no longer think that this gun deserves a letter. It is, however, still one of the earliest Pre-26 specimens known. Iowegan, your S78508 is now the lowest serial number known to me on a Pre-26. My sole pre-26 is S96906 (July 1953).
EDITED TO ADD: Gil, your post landed while I was composing mine, but I obviously agree with you.
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I have a pre-26 S78490, but that isn't the lowest. There are some in the 76,000 range (from a fairly recent post here although I can't pull it up at the moment). Maybe it was the S&W Standard Catalog 4th Ed; which says sn range is S76212 to 211000.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Last edited by 22hipower; 09-22-2018 at 04:01 PM.
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09-22-2018, 04:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murphydog
Welcome! It is probably better to start a new thread for a question like this. However, have a look at this post for information we need for IDs (especially the location of and any letters near the SN):
To IDENTIFY your Gun >
Photos also help with value estimates. Hope this is helpful.
PS Navy anesthesiologist?
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You've never had navy beans with chow-chow?
GP, check on the butt of your revolvers for letter prefixes, like "S", "N", "K", etc. These are part of the serial number.
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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!
Last edited by Muley Gil; 09-22-2018 at 04:45 PM.
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09-22-2018, 07:49 PM
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This one, in the mid S145,000 range shipped 4/27/56
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