New to me, model of 1950 .44 Tarrget 6.5 inch (questions)

daddio202

daddio202

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About 5 years ago I had bid on a few of these but always dropped out in $1200 range. I seen this one on Gunbroker, the gun shop in Washington state had 3 S&W's, all priced for 2K. A pre war 38/44 Outdoorsman that was nice but not original grips and had a little use on it. The second was a 3 1/2 pre 27 that had wrong grips and definitely seen time in a holster out in the elements. The 3rd gun was this one. It has nice, unrelieved target grips and was put up nice and dry. Pictures were not that great but I took a chance at 2k. I was happy once I got it hand. A tiny bit of muzzle wear at the tip on both sides. All numbers match S 143854 so I figure 1955.
Now my questions come about the grips. The number in pencil is written on the left grip and not the right and the letter S is before it. I see no reason why they would include the S while making them. Most pre 24's I have seen only have magnas, so I don't think they are original to the gun but are very nice and fit 99% on gun. Did the unrelieved targets come on these guns? Wouldn't they be cokes in 1955?
I included in last picture my 1954 pre 27 6.5 inch with unrelieved target grips too. The number is S137311 on pre 27 so I bet the same group of craftsmen and women made both guns within a year of each other.
 

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Your 1950 44 Target probably does date to 1955. Target stocks are not normally numbered so a former owner probably added the number. The stocks are period correct as coke bottle stocks were not used until 1956. Your 44 Target looks like a very nice example.

Bill
 
daddio202 said:
About 5 years ago I had bid on a few of these but always dropped out in $1200 range. I seen this one on Gunbroker, the gun shop in Washington state had 3 S&W's, all priced for 2K. A pre war 38/44 Outdoorsman that was nice but not original grips and had a little use on it. The second was a 3 1/2 pre 27 that had wrong grips and definitely seen time in a holster out in the elements. The 3rd gun was this one. It has nice, unrelieved target grips and was put up nice and dry. Pictures were not that great but I took a chance at 2k. I was happy once I got it hand. A tiny bit of muzzle wear at the tip on both sides. All numbers match S 143854 so I figure 1955.
Now my questions come about the grips. The number in pencil is written on the left grip and not the right and the letter S is before it. I see no reason why they would include the S while making them. Most pre 24's I have seen only have magnas, so I don't think they are original to the gun but are very nice and fit 99% on gun. Did the unrelieved targets come on these guns? Wouldn't they be cokes in 1955?
I included in last picture my 1954 pre 27 6.5 inch with unrelieved target grips too. The number is S137311 on pre 27 so I bet the same group of craftsmen and women made both guns within a year of each other.
Click to expand...

Congrats on stepping up to get a fine, hard to find gun. My experience is decent examples of this model are in demand and I believe they were not great numbers produced based on the scarcity of this model for sale.

I have a 6.5" Model of 1950 Target made in 1955 and shipped early 1956, 142002 and it came with cokes when I bought it a few months ago. The letter from SWHF says mine was shipped with target stocks. The brochure picture and description from 1957 shows magna stocks (see below). I think this was an odd decision by S & W since they were described as a target model.

Based on the numbers, yours probably shipped in 1956. I think it would be wise to get a letter and I would not be the least surprised if your grips are original to the gun. I joined the SWCA and SWHF and have ordered quite a few letters at a discount. It's really exciting to get the letter. I've learned some valuable information from them.
 

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It's definitely a satin blue finish. Next to the pre 27 that really stands out. Is it true a B in the ejector shroud signifies bright blue? As the .44 has no such mark.
 
Shotguncoach said:
I'm glad you got that one...I was watching it. Welcome to the 1950 Target family.

I do have to warn you though, .44 Specials tend to multiply when you're not looking. I started with one just like yours a few years ago and number 18 came home yesterday.
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Thank you, thanks all of you! I like longer barrels so this is actually my 2nd .44 special 6.5 inch. I have a 2nd model with a pair of grips Kurt made, that Fleabus (Randy) gave to me R.I.P.
 

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daddio202 said:
It's definitely a satin blue finish. Next to the pre 27 that really stands out. Is it true a B in the ejector shroud signifies bright blue? As the .44 has no such mark.
Click to expand...

No, the B in the shroud only means it left the factory as a blue gun but doesn't tell us whether satin or bright blue. Edit: Or perhaps not, see more posts below.

I have S 143742 which shipped to a Dallas hardware store in 1955 and has diamond magna stocks numbered to the gun.

Nice gun, nice non-relieved stocks, at a very good price. Enjoy.

Jeff
 
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That is a handsome revolver!

I have a Model of 1950 .44 Target that shipped in May of 1955. The serial number is less than 1000 higher than the OP's. It came to me with Magnas; however, the serial number inside the right grip panel does not match. Were Target grips universal by 1955 or could it have come with Magnas?

My February 1953 Model of 1950 .45 Target came with Magnas and the serial number does match.

This reminds me that I need to letter both guns…
 
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I'm always amazed at how the S&W serial numbers jump all over the place in the 40s and 50s. I have a 6-1/2 inch Model of 1950 with number S98250 which shipped on 4/54. I expected that number to be much earlier.
 
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TheTinMan said:
I have a Model of 1950 .44 Target that shipped in May of 1955. The serial number is less than 1000 higher than the OP's. It came to me with Magnas; however, the serial number inside the right grip panel does not match. Were Target grips universal by 1955 or could it have come with Magnas?
Click to expand...

I have S 143742 that shipped in April of 1955 with magnas numbered to the gun. They didn't ship in order but I suspect yours shipped with magnas too.
You can guess which one it is in the picture.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2o6HdJT https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
 
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22hipower said:
No, the B in the shroud only means it left the factory as a blue gun but doesn't tell us whether satin or bright blue.

I have S 143742 which shipped to a Dallas hardware store in 1955 and has diamond magna stocks numbered to the gun.

Nice gun, nice non-relieved stocks, at a very good price. Enjoy.

Jeff
Click to expand...

IIRC, the "B" serial number prefix, indicating a blue finish, was found on pre-WW II revolvers. Post WW II, the "B" did indicate a bright blue finish and the indicator for a nickel finish was a large "N" stamped on the frame and cylinder.
 
Muley Gil said:
IIRC, the "B" serial number prefix, indicating a blue finish, was found on pre-WW II revolvers. Post WW II, the "B" did indicate a bright blue finish and the indicator for a nickel finish was a large "N" stamped on the frame and cylinder.
Click to expand...

You may be correct, I have them in satin blue and bright blue and will dig them out this morning and check. I thought the B was used until model numbers showed up whether satin or bright. . . .but perhaps I misremember.

Edit: Pretty small sample, but here's what I found on four 1950 Targets, two are 44 Special (one bright blue, one satin) and two 45acps (one bright blue and one satin); no B found in the shroud for any of them. Also checked a 1950 Military which had been nickeled but lettered as blue, no B in the shroud. And another pre-26 in satin, no B . . . .but did discover a <> in that shroud though so more investigation needed on that one but for a different issue.

Edit 2: Finally found a post war with a B; a satin blue 1950 Army (pre 22). So now I'm more than a little confused. Was there any consistent practice post war for the factory applying a B on the barrel?

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
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I have four 1950 Target revolvers. Three are finished in bright blue (44 Targets) and one in blue (45 Target). The three finished in bright blue have a B stamped on the lower left-hand corner of the grip frame and in the rear of the extractor rod shroud. The 45 Target does not have a B stamped on the frame on in the shroud.

It is my understanding the B was stamped so the employee polishing the parts would know to apply the higher level of polishing.

Bill
 
1960, you could order target stocks on your factory order S&W

fuKjXux.jpeg
 
Those are both real nice. Congrats. I've dropped out of a few bidding wars on these also. They can go pretty high these days...
 
To follow what Doc44 said about target stocks not being numbered, I have several 1950's that letter as having been shipped with target stocks and none of them have serial numbers on the stock panels. I've only ever seen that on Magna's.
 

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