1930 44 Special CTG
- Thread starter tburton4
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hkcavalier
US Veteran
Nice gift!
Not to pop your balloon so soon, but it has been refinished. Probably not originally nickel.
As a shooter it looks wonderful though.
Not to pop your balloon so soon, but it has been refinished. Probably not originally nickel.
As a shooter it looks wonderful though.
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Welcome! It's a .44 Hand Ejector third model (of 1926), also known as the Wolf & Klar type due to their shop in Fort Worth, TX being the sole source of this gun for several years. Very common to see them refinished due to hard use in the outdoors. I believe the stock material is Catalin, also commonly seen on guns of this era. Enjoy!
cgt4570
Member
Great gun!
If that's how your grandfather carried it as a LEO, I wouldn't touch a thing.
If it was refinished after he owned it, I would recommend changing the hammer and trigger to factory case color parts and finding a period correct set of factory grips.
If that's how your grandfather carried it as a LEO, I wouldn't touch a thing.
If it was refinished after he owned it, I would recommend changing the hammer and trigger to factory case color parts and finding a period correct set of factory grips.
If you will look in the inside of the ejector rod shroud, you may see a "B" close to the muzzle end, to the left of the serial number (which should match the number on the butt). That "B" would indicate the gun was shipped blue. During that time period Wolf & Klar seemed to be ordering these guns, half blue and half nickel. I have long suspected that they often nickel plated blue guns in their inventory at te time of sale to satisify the customer's desire. Many of this model went to LEOs at the timewho preferred the durability of nickel for police work. W&K also did engraving (wiggle cut) and added carved bone and mother of pearl grips.
That is one great piece of heritage you. Enjoy and find some "cowboy" loaded 44 special to shoot in it to honor your grandfather.
That is one great piece of heritage you. Enjoy and find some "cowboy" loaded 44 special to shoot in it to honor your grandfather.
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Welcome to the Forum, tburton4.
If you provide the serial number, taken from the butt, we can see if your info as to the date is in the ball park. If you have obtained a factory letter, that is the gold standard. If not, the members here can usually narrow down the window.
FYI: the first 75 Model of 1926 .44s shipped to Wolf & Klar, Ft Worth TX, on January 27, 1927. They were all 5" and nickel plated. I have one from that shipment. I also owned a 5" blue, SN 375xx, that shipped in March 1931. I Xed out the last two digits of the SN due to the fact I no longer own it.
If you provide the serial number, taken from the butt, we can see if your info as to the date is in the ball park. If you have obtained a factory letter, that is the gold standard. If not, the members here can usually narrow down the window.
FYI: the first 75 Model of 1926 .44s shipped to Wolf & Klar, Ft Worth TX, on January 27, 1927. They were all 5" and nickel plated. I have one from that shipment. I also owned a 5" blue, SN 375xx, that shipped in March 1931. I Xed out the last two digits of the SN due to the fact I no longer own it.
That SN should put the shipping date in the early 1930s. There were two models of .44 Specials being shipped then, the 3rd Model like yours with the enclosed ejector rod and the 2nd Model .44, which did not have the enclosed ejector rod. Plus, S&W introduced the .38/44 that year, a .38 special built on a .44 frame. Pre WW II, all of the commercial N (large) frame revolvers shared the same serial number range.
Plus, S&W did not ship their firearms in serial number order.
What a Fantastic family heirloom!!!
While most collectors prefer unmodified, original condition guns, the fact that the modifications were done by your Grandfather should enhance the personal value immensely! It's a testimony to his life's work.
Any other photos you'd care to post would surely be appreciated.
Welcome to the forum.
Jim
While most collectors prefer unmodified, original condition guns, the fact that the modifications were done by your Grandfather should enhance the personal value immensely! It's a testimony to his life's work.
Any other photos you'd care to post would surely be appreciated.
Welcome to the forum.
Jim
Grayfox
US Veteran
Great gun, great history and a family heirloom to be proud of. 
I have a great fondness for the .44 Special and all the guns S&W made for it. Get that thing to the range. You're gonna love both the revolver and the cartridge.
I have a great fondness for the .44 Special and all the guns S&W made for it. Get that thing to the range. You're gonna love both the revolver and the cartridge.
Here"s mine. Refinished too, but a wonderful shooter.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Another W&K .44 HE 3rd Model
According to Mr. Jinx, my W&K .44 HE Model of 1926 (s/n 29803) shipped to W&K in their second shipment in May 1927. Of the eighty (80) revolvers in that shipment, twenty were 4" bbl. nickel. As you can see, mine was modified sometime in the 1930s or 40s (?) by replacing the half-moon front sight with a ramp and Baughman front sight (like the .357 Magnum). It was also re-nickeled at that time. I replaced the incorrect Magna stocks with some Grashorn's elk stag stocks. The revolver shoots well, and with a holster from Bob Mernickle, it makes a great BBQ gun...if COVID will ever allow BBQ gatherings again! Happy New Year to all.
According to Mr. Jinx, my W&K .44 HE Model of 1926 (s/n 29803) shipped to W&K in their second shipment in May 1927. Of the eighty (80) revolvers in that shipment, twenty were 4" bbl. nickel. As you can see, mine was modified sometime in the 1930s or 40s (?) by replacing the half-moon front sight with a ramp and Baughman front sight (like the .357 Magnum). It was also re-nickeled at that time. I replaced the incorrect Magna stocks with some Grashorn's elk stag stocks. The revolver shoots well, and with a holster from Bob Mernickle, it makes a great BBQ gun...if COVID will ever allow BBQ gatherings again! Happy New Year to all.
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CQB27
US Veteran
I love to see pics of old steel riding in leather rigs! That set is Top Notch!
A rib was added too, Hawg Rider.
Could we see a picture of the rib? If that was added to the original barrel, someone did nice job of it....i thought it looked like a replacement barrel at first, hut the barrel contour at the frame looks original....nice.
Robert
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