I just acquired a 1950 military (5 1/2" no stroud). Serial no. S929XX. All numbers match except for stocks. My limited reference material does not cover this revolver having an adjustable rear site. I am seeking confirmation that this revolver is factory. I also have a regular 1950 military with fixed sites.

You need a letter to confirm it as a special order.

As you describe it, highly likely to be an aftermarket sight modification. Images would be great and a letter of authenticity definitive; you never know until you inquire.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Watched that one on gunbroker, looked like someone did a pretty good job on it. The rear sight blade looked like it was shaved down pretty short.

I was interested to a point, always wanted a 1950 Army and looks like a good shooter.

Post some pictures, folks here can likely tell you a lot about it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

A S&W firearm cannot be investigated when the full serial number is not listed.

Bill

Serial # S92922 Closed GB auction link: Just a moment...

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

That's interesting, lots of pictures but not one with the grips off to show a factory service date stamp and no reference to one in the write up. That said the rework for the sights looks very much like that on my 1927 commercial 1917 which was converted by the factory to 45 Colt with target sights in 1949. My non expert eye says the factory could have done this one, will be interesting to learn if there's a stamp on the butt and/or if service order work turns up in the records. Either way, a nice job on it and the price doesn't seem unreasonable to me, especially if it turns out to be a factory modification.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Lots of pictures there and the last one, I think, shows the diamond on the barrel flat. It went back to S&W for something. Maybe it was that Micrometer Click rear sight. Someone did a good job, and I'm thinking S&W. Letter and Deep dive!!

Shipped as a standard 1950 45 Army and modified later. The work is very well done and could be S&W (diamond on barrel flat). A month/year stamp on the grip frame would help with further research, but repair/service invoices are few and far between.

Bill

Beautiful revolver. Over 60 pics, of port side but not a single starboard. HHHM... signed, Paranoid

Lot of money for a re-blued revolver. A couple guys had deep pockets. Better them than me.

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S&WHF #946
S&WCA #3824

Auction screenshot for future reference. GB links die after a few months.

Attached Images

	2025-04-15 Mod of 1950 Army w adj sights.jpg (132.1 KB, 175 views)
	2025-04-15 Mod of 1950 Army w adj sights 02.jpg (189.9 KB, 169 views)
	2025-04-15 Mod of 1950 Army w adj sights 03.jpg (216.3 KB, 167 views)

Did you click on the link? I saw pictures of BOTH sides.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Sir I stand corrected.

I looked at the frame. There is a 5 and an 858. There is not a star, diamond or any other marking. I have had gunsmiths and store owners look at this revolver and they did not thing the gun has been reblued. I have a pre26 and pre25 and the rear sites look just like this 1950 military. I plan to have it lettered. The front site does look like it was not originally forged to barrel. I do not know how to send pictures.

You can see the pin in the pictures.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

There is a diamond on the barrel flat, near the frame. If the 858 is stamped on the left side of the grip frame near the front it would indicate a factory re-work on August, 1958. I would suggest that store owner and the gun smiths you mentioned see an optometrist.

Also, if you look a the front of the rear sight leaf on your pre 25/26 you will notice they are squared off, while the the front of the sight leaf on the gun you just bought is rounded.

As Doc44 said it will letter as a standard 1950 Army. You then will be able to request a deep dive from the Historical Foundation and if you win the lottery a service order or correspondence will be found confirming it was factory work, that is what happened with the 1917 I show above. The diamond on the barrel flat certainly indicates that something was done to it at the factory. Odd though that there is no service date stamp on the butt. Nice gun.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

The 5 stamped on the frame indicates the caliber is 45 ACP. 858 is a month year stamp indicating a return to S&W for some type of work in August 1958.

Bill

I noticed this, too. Never seen a rounded front edge of the rear sight on a post-war Smith, whether original or rework. It stands out as strange.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

I believe the front sight leaf was rounded so it would better match the top strap. Again, a nice touch maybe only the factory would think of. Regardless of what S&W's records show or don't show, this is a very cool revolver and well worth the price paid (in my opinion).

Post-WW II records consist only of invoices as all correspondence was destroyed. If a service record exists for this revolver, it should be found during the letter process. However, as I said previously, service records are rarely found for guns returned to S&W from the late 1940s and later.

Bill