OK GUYS AND GALS, WHAT'D I FIND??

[mod34]

So,
While at my local haunt picking up my most recently found grail gun (M317-1, 2", adj. sites, pre-lock) I stumbled across this beautiful M24-3 sitting in the case that they just took in. No, that is NOT a typo, this is a stainless .44spl marked as a "Mod.24-3" Serial number is in the ALAxxxx range. Can find nothing about M24 marked stainless guns. I've posted a picture of the cylinder release as an aside as I'm certain its aftermarked. I won't even tell you what I stol........I mean, bought it for
I'd love to hear about any of you that might have seen or heard of a M24 marked stainless .44spl. Thanks!

[spearcrow]

Well, I have learned to never say never, when it comes to S&W's; but, I would think that there is a chance that it is a mis-marked 624. There shouldn't be a stainless m-24. There was a recent thread about a stainless m-19, but I think the concensus was that it was a m-66 that was stamped incorrectly, if memory serves the numbers on the box matched the gun and the box was marked 66, not 19...so it does happen. Like I said, some things that smith does never ceases to amaze me, but still...

[mod34]

Spearcrow,
The punch line here is that it didn't even strike me that this should have been a 6xx. When I saw the price on the tag, I knew it was coming home with me. Then she said that all used guns were 20% off through the end of the month. I don't think I've ever reached for my wallet so quickly!

Suppose its worth the $50 to have it lettered just for kicks?

[whitecoyote]

Very nice M24!
Are you sure that is not a "brushed hard-chrome" finish?

[2hawk]

Could it be hard chrome? Brushed finish hc can look a lot like stainless. Very popular with competition shooters, and that latch makes me think that maybe that gun was tricked out by a ipsc pistolero.

Very nice, whatever it turns out to be.



eta darned coyotes are fast!

[s&wchad]

Is there a "V" on the back of the cylinder?

[spearcrow]

The 624's are great guns too, I'd love to have one as well as many others. The factory letter would tell you exactly what it was, I was just saying that there have been many cases of smith's on here that have been stamped wrong, while it is not the norm, I wouldn't call it unusual necessarily, it happens. I'd say if you got such a good deal on it, doesn't matter what it is, you won't be sorry! Congrats on the nice gun. If you feel like passing on the savings...feel free

[whitecoyote]

Originally Posted by 2hawk

eta darned coyotes are fast!

Sneaky too!

[Allen-frame]

Bingo! give that man a cigar. Every time someone posts they have found a stainless model something ,it has been hard-chromed ,as yours has.
No letter necessary ,unless you want to find it shipped to Lew Horton.

Nice gun! For 20% off I would have sprained my wrist picking that one up too.

Regards , Allen Frame

Damn , coyotes ,and crows , you all sneaky creatures! Ed,

[mod34]

Chad,
No "V" on the back of the cylinder. I would be very hard pressed to think this has been hard chromed. Other points of semi-interest:
Target hammer, wide, smooth trigger, hammer mounted firing pin.

[mod34]

Originally Posted by Allen-frame

Bingo! give that man a cigar. Every time someone posts they have found a stainless model something ,it has been hard-chromed ,as yours has.
No letter necessary ,unless you want to find it shipped to Lew Horton.

Nice gun! For 20% off I would have sprained my wrist picking that one up too.

Regards , Allen Frame

Allen,
I'm not convinced this is hard chromed. Any sure way to tell?

[SmithNut]

in posts like this, the incidence of carbon guns turning out to be hard chromed, versus mis-marked factory model numbers is much higher in percentage.
My guess, as that of others, is that your gun has had a hard chromed finish. Again, not picking on you, but hard chrome/industrial finishes have fooled many of us here at one time or another, so unfortunately the only way to know for sure is to letter it.
If it turns out to be a stainless gun (M624) that is mis-marked as a M24, that would be interesting, and bring a minor premium to a collector of such nuances.
I'll add that the cylinder release is aftermarket, and the trigger appears to be smoothed/polished, indicating that the gun was someone's project gun, so that would factor into the guessing game.
Good luck, hope it turns out the way you want.

[mod34]

SmithNut,
Would that have been hard chromed at the factory? All lettering is very sharp and crisp and it just doesn't seem to have been monkeyed with.

[SmithNut]

Originally Posted by mod34

SmithNut,
Would that have been hard chromed at the factory? All lettering is very sharp and crisp and it just doesn't seem to have been monkeyed with.

Seriously doubt it, I've not heard of the factory offering that finish.
What is the serial number? If it's a 3Alpha4Numeric number, there's a chance you can call customer service (800-331-0842, select #7), provide your serial number and see if they would give you specifics, i.e., what the model number is, when it shipped and if it listed as blue or ?
If your serial number is listed as a M624, then it obviously is a mis-marked gun.

Lastly, unless you paid a premium for the gun based on the seemingly wierd finish versus the model number, that is a neat and useful configuration, and a hard chromed finish only makes it better.

[mod34]

It is 3 alpha (ALAxxxx) and 4 numeric.
I've downloaded the form for a history. Considering what I paid, might be worth it just for kicks. I would like to find a factory correct cyl. release though.

[mod34]

I'm not sure of the meaning of these numbers, but on the butt (under the grips) and on the yoke, it is marked "17x91"

[peyton]

Forgot all the marking stuff and get to the point!! HOW DOES IT SHOOT!!!!!

[mod34]

Peyton,
Fair question though one I cannot yet answer. It is probably a dog and I'll just end up using it as a door stop.

[tocohillsguy]

Originally Posted by mod34

Allen,
I'm not convinced this is hard chromed. Any sure way to tell?

I also believe it's brushed hard chromed. I have a hard chromed revolver that is often mistaken for stainless. There is a hard to describe subtle difference in look between the hard chrome and stainless. Check the ejector star. I bet it's black.

BTW, here is my hard chrome 28-2 (formerly my father's)...

[spearcrow]

FWIW, as far as your serial number goes...

According to my SCSW 3rd, the only known serial # prefix for the 24-3 is ABZ, the serial range was ABZ 0000 - ABZ 9999.

The 624 has a few known serial number prefixes, they are: AHBxxx, ALVxxx, AHTxxx, and ALWxxx.

So which, if any, does your serial number prefix fall into..I'm curious.

[JcMack]

A 624 would fall under the cylinder recall. The factory should be able to tell you if your gun is serial numbered as a 624 and whether recall applys.

[mod34]

Originally Posted by spearcrow

FWIW, as far as your serial number goes...

According to my SCSW 3rd, the only known serial # prefix for the 24-3 is ABZ, the serial range was ABZ 0000 - ABZ 9999.

The 624 has a few known serial number prefixes, they are: AHBxxx, ALVxxx, AHTxxx, and ALWxxx.

So which, if any, does your serial number prefix fall into..I'm curious.

Serial number ALAxxxx

[mod34]

Originally Posted by JcMack

A 624 would fall under the cylinder recall. The factory should be able to tell you if your gun is serial numbered as a 624 and whether recall applys.

I called SW today. They said that it is too early a gun to tell and that the prefix ALAxxxx is no longer in the system so I'm going to have to have it lettered if I want to know for sure.

[Paulie686]

For what it's worth, the Cylinder Release APPEARS TO BE an Ed Brown--the IPSC Revolver Shooters covet those quite highly. I would suggest that you could probably SELL the EB Cylinder Release for a fair amount on either this BB or the Brian Enos Forum. Hope this helps. Paulie686.

[mod34]

Paulie,
Thanks. I'll probably put it up for sale when I get it replaced with an original part.

[flagman1776]

Just confirming what others have written. It sure looks like my 3" M624 (no dash), (Lew Horton),
SN# ALW 5XXX, Bought New, 1986
Russ

[spearcrow]

I did some further research in my SCSW, this is what I found.

According to the serial number references in the back of the book, serial number prefix ALA was first used in November of 1985.

The 24-3 production ran from 1983-1984.

The 624 stainless gun began production in 1985; incidentally, the same year in which the ALA serial prefix was first used.

FWIW

[Alx]

NP3 Nickel-Polymer finish is also a dead-ringer for stainless steel, plus when it wears, there is never any flaking or edge, it just wears into the bare metal beneath.

[mod34]

My letter to Jinks went out this morning. I'll post results when they become available. I am, however, fearful that I've caught the short tubed N-frame bug. I've got a 3" M29 LH and a 3" M625 LH. I just have to have a .41 now!

[Harryo]

Just a thought but have you given it the magnet test? Won't stick to stainless but probably would to a plated/chromed gun. Might be quicker than waiting for a letter.

[sceva]

Originally Posted by Harryo

Just a thought but have you given it the magnet test? Won't stick to stainless but probably would to a plated/chromed gun. Might be quicker than waiting for a letter.

A Magnet will definately stick to a stainless gun. Only certain stainless's are non-magnetic but they are not used for firearms AFIK. The hardenable stainless steels vary from mildly magnetic to strongly magnetic.

[Mack]

Originally Posted by spearcrow

FWIW, as far as your serial number goes...

According to my SCSW 3rd, the only known serial # prefix for the 24-3 is ABZ, the serial range was ABZ 0000 - ABZ 9999.

The 624 has a few known serial number prefixes, they are: AHBxxx, ALVxxx, AHTxxx, and ALWxxx.

So which, if any, does your serial number prefix fall into..I'm curious.

Not true, I have three 24-3's a 6 1/2" sn prefix ABZ, a 3" AEL and a 3" AEM with box and Lew Horton invoice.

m.

[Dave from Pa]

Bet you the price of the stamp on the letter it comes back as a blued model 24-3 that has been hard chromed.

[H Richard]

I also have a 24-3, 3" with an AEM prefix on the S/N.

[mod34]

Originally Posted by H Richard

I also have a 24-3, 3" with an AEM prefix on the S/N.

...but this one falls quite a bit out of the blued S/N range at ALAxxxx

I guess we'll find out in about ~6wks

[mod34]

Originally Posted by Dave from Pa

Bet you the price of the stamp on the letter it comes back as a blued model 24-3 that has been hard chromed.

Dave,
shoot me your address and I'll see what I can do. "Cash" OK? I think that if the serial number range wasn't past the M24 range, I'd be more convinced. We'll see

[flagman1776]

I recently magnet tested a M66-1, 66-2, 66-7, 624... all magnetic. I know some SS is not but there are very many SS alloys. We should not be taken in just because they all have the same look.
Russ

[Dave from Pa]

Originally Posted by mod34

Dave,
shoot me your address and I'll see what I can do. "Cash" OK? I think that if the serial number range wasn't past the M24 range, I'd be more convinced. We'll see

mod34 I can wait for my money till you get the letter,I`ll even take a check. Seriously I hope I am wrong but time spent working in a shop that did hard chroming tells me I may be right. We`ll wait for the letter.Dave

[ENGINE18]

I would have sprained my wrist reaching for my wallet. I let a 3-inch 624 LH get away just before the holidays. $575 + tax. I'll NEVER let that happen again!

[sigp220.45]

I once was ogling a Model 19 that looked just like your very nice Model 24 (finish-wise). I was stumped until the owner told me it had been stripped of finish and was in the white. The only clue was some tiny traces of blue near the rear sight. Could yours just be in the white?

Either way, you got a great deal on a really nice gun.

Here's my Model 36, usually mistaken for a Model 60. Its been refinished in Robar's NP3.

[mod34]

Originally Posted by ENGINE18

I would have sprained my wrist reaching for my wallet. I let a 3-inch 624 LH get away just before the holidays. $575 + tax. I'll NEVER let that happen again!

Engine18,

Then I feel VERY good about spending considerably less on this one. Every time I get it out and "play" with it, I'm delighted to have been at the right place at the right time. She said she had literally just put it in the case. Had I waited until today to pick up my 317, I'm sure this would have been long gone.

[Dave from Pa]

Mod 34,did you get your letter from Roy on your Model 24?

[Bob R]

It looks a lot like polished hard chrome. Even the trigger and hammer has been done.

It will be interesting to see what the letter says.

bob