S&W Military Reinforced Model... Anyone Have one? (3rd Mod 44)

Ever wonder what Wolf & Klar called the gun that we call the Wolf & Klar model? It was listed in their catalog #16 as the "Military Reinforced Model". The "Military Model" was of course the 2nd model 44. Reading the text of the ad is really interesting. At the time of this catalog (1930, I think), the Triple Lock was apprently commanding more on the used gun market than a new 3rd model.

The description refers to getting S&W to produce the reinforced model again so I think it refers to barrel lug like Triple Lock had.

Well, I most certainly am not the only one who has one; but for whatever reason, the first to admit it---and talk about it. Perhaps needless to say, I had no idea it was ever referred to as a/the "reinforced" model.

Mine is a target model, and was most certainly the most nerve wracking purchase of my entire life. I knew there were more than a few target models out there that wouldn't letter as such----and was properly terrified this gun might be one of them. This terror was one born of ignorance, but how to overcome that ignorance----and do it fairly quickly without making waves was the problem----mostly the waves part. Beyond the ignorance was the fact I was about to spend substantially more for a single gun than ever before----that too had my attention. The seller said he had a letter (stating the gun was the real thing), but he couldn't find it. I had problems with his inability to find it, but given he was a reluctant seller to begin with, I wasn't much inclined to press the matter. Besides that, his reputation was that of a good guy. What to do?

I quickly learned the real ones had numbered sights, and the not so real ones didn't. Given his apparent reluctance, I was not inclined to ask him to remove the sight---to prove the provenance. That sort of sounded like I didn't believe him. Even without the reluctance, I knew those little-bitty screws that hold the sight in place had a tendency to stay right where they were, and was not inclined to tempt fate from that quarter either.

So I start calling those folks I deemed to be among the less ignorant. You've heard of every one of them---and they were most assuredly less ignorant. They not only knew there were less than real guns out there, they knew the when and why of it----and the when part was the important part. It was likely right about the time of the ad shown above---which is to say early on. Early on translates to lower serial numbers, and what was to become mine has a higher serial number. The odds were mine would turn out to be for real--and it did.

Ralph Tremaine

It now seems I'm not the first to talk about it. I might've started first, but I finished otherwise---the story of my life---at least every now and then.

Check out this thread. You'll find one or two here.

Let's see those 1926 .44 Specials!

"Reinforced" Model

Perhaps the "reinforced" lingo arose from what I've always regarded as an old wives tale---that being the law folks were in the habit of whacking the bad guys on the head with the barrel of their gun---and coming away with a bent ejector rod. The solution: Simple---put the ejector rod housing back on---reinforce it---and whack away.

Who knows? "Truth is stranger than fiction"----some of the time, anyway.

Ralph Tremaine

I worked with a police officer who was prone to use his S&W M59 as a slap jack...

A Reinforced Barbecue Gun:



Bob

Wolf & Klar 44's

Here are a couple of my Wolf & Klar Reinforced models. All have been seen before, I believe.

The first is a 5" factory nickel gun that was part of the 2nd shipment of 50 guns to W&K in March, 1927. Shown with a Heiser holster that has been with the gun for many years.



Next are a couple of documented Texas lawman guns. The 5" blue was shipped Mrch, 1931, to the Houston PD as 1 of a large shipment. Badge is original. The 4" nickel (was shipped blue) served to two officers of the Kilgore, TX, PD between April 1930, until WWII. On these last 2, the reinforced feature was almost assuredly used.

Thanks for posting the catalog info from W&K! That is really interesting history.

Here is my Wolf & Klar Reinforced model! This one has had the trigger guard Fitzed, but I still think it's pretty cool




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bengal fan said:

Thanks for posting the catalog info from W&K! That is really interesting history.

Here is my Wolf & Klar Reinforced model! This one has had the trigger guard Fitzed, but I still think it's pretty cool

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This is one you really wish could talk!

Very cool catalog! Thanks for posting that!
My "reinforcer"!

quinn said:

Next are a couple of documented Texas lawman guns. The 5" blue was shipped Mrch, 1931, to the Houston PD as 1 of a large shipment. Badge is original. The 4" nickel (was shipped blue) served to two officers of the Kilgore, TX, PD between April 1930, until WWII. On these last 2, the reinforced feature was almost assuredly used.

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How do you go about finding out if it's actually a lawman's gun? Mine has a name engraved on a backstrap, and the only person I could find with that name on Google was with the Houston PD, but I don't know if there's a way of knowing for sure or not.

I have a 4 inch blue and a 5 inch nickel.

BornToLooze said:

How do you go about finding out if it's actually a lawman's gun? Mine has a name engraved on a backstrap, and the only person I could find with that name on Google was with the Houston PD, but I don't know if there's a way of knowing for sure or not.

Click to expand...

Very good question, but no easy answer. Some of my old LEO guns I was able to get from the family/estate. Sometimes, a factory letter will help, sometimes they will only show as being shipped to Wolf & Klar or other distributor. Many guns bought by a department (like my HPD gun above) will be marked somewhere with a department name, initial, or rack #. On your gun I would suggest you start with a factory letter. Also, spend the time to research your guy's name further.

I would love to have an example of a Wolf & Klar catalog. Thanks for posting that page out of it. Neato to see the reference to the Triple Lock right there in the catalog.

"... a general favorite on the market previously and is still remembered."

Here is his obituary"

Reno Kirby Obituary - Houston, Texas | Legacy.com

He was a retired Houston SGT.

You may want to contact surviving family members and ask about this revolver. There are also friends that signed the guest book that might know what sidearm Sgt Kirby carried.

At one time, Houston PD issued 3rd model .44s. He might have wanted to carry his own revolver.

Muley Gil said:

Here is his obituary"

Reno Kirby Obituary - Houston, Texas | Legacy.com

He was a retired Houston SGT.

Click to expand...

I had found that and a magazine article talking about him, but really for all I know it belonged to someone completely different. But going by Goggle that's the only person that pops up. I've been meaning to get a letter for it, but I keep putting it off.

I doubt "Reno Kirby" was a very common name.

Here is a link to Find-a-grave you may find interesting:

Sgt Reno Kirby (1913 - 2003) - Find A Grave Memorial

1926 3rd Model 44

I have posted this one before, a W&K 44 trimed in gold plate and refinished sometime in its life. Everybody should have one, that said, they are becoming like hen's teeth, not just scarce, but rare on the market.