S&W .44Spl 24-3 or What?

keith44spl · Jun 22, 2009

To the best of my recollection, it's was chewed over last year sometime, but…

I've got this ol' gun here.
It appears to be a Smith & Wesson mod. 24-3. with 6 ½" barrel and is chambered for the .44 Spl cartridge.
The model number stamped in the yoke of the frame is 29-3, what gives?
Any of you old timers that remember this being discussed and any conclusions drawn, I'd be grateful for any enlightenment.

Many Thanks,

Su Amigo
Dave

s&wchad · Jun 22, 2009

I'd say it's a 24-3 with a mismarked frame. The product code and serial prefix are right for a 24-3. Hard to get good help, even in 1984!

panamajack310 · Jun 22, 2009

+1 on the mismarked frame...it is just one of those guns that went through quality control on friday afternoon around 4:30pm...

Farmer17 · Jun 22, 2009

Have you ever tried to put a .44 mag in it?

keith44spl · Jun 22, 2009

Farmer17 said:
Have you ever tried to put a .44 mag in it?

Farmer,

A .44 Magnum cartridge will not chamber, the cylinder is chambered correctly for the .44 Spl cartridge.

Just an 'N' frame that got in the wrong batch, I guess...

Thanks Guys, if anyone has more info or just a comment, let me know.

I'm thinkin' about having this one lettered just for down the road.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Kevin G · Jun 22, 2009

"I've got this ol' gun here."

Dave,
Your "Ol' Gun" looks pretty nice on my screen. Kevin

Denver Dick · Jun 22, 2009

Hey, Dave, I like your figure . . . in the 24's grip that is.

jcelect · Jun 22, 2009

Cylinder length

One last step to prove all the prior post as being correct would be to measure the cyl. A 29-3 would be 1.69" and a 24-3 would be 1.57".
jcelect

keith44spl · Jun 22, 2009

Cylinder length

jcelect said:
One last step to prove all the prior post as being correct would be to measure the cyl. A 29-3 would be 1.69" and a 24-3 would be 1.57".
jcelect

Sir, measured cylinder as per your instr. ~ 1.576 on the nose...dead nuts

Thanks,

Su Amigo,
Dave

DCWilson · Jun 22, 2009

And not that you need any more evidence, the Patridge front sight also identifies it as a 24-3 (Model of 1950 .44 Target Reintroduction). I have never seen a model 29 that left the factory with a Patridge front sight.

Handsome gun, even if somebody did put the wrong model number on it.

SCSW says the factory made about 7500 of these in 1983-84.

David Wilson

Muley Gil · Jun 22, 2009

"SCSW says the factory made about 7500 of these in 1983-84."

Yes, 5000 were built in 6 1/2".

2500 were built in 4". I had a 4"er, but had to sell it.

M29since14 · Jun 22, 2009

I'm sure it is just a mismarked frame, but if you get tired of the poor old thing, give me a call. I have a few oddballs that this wannabe would feel right at home with.

Wyatt Burp · Jun 22, 2009

Dave, in Skeeter Skelton's 1983 Shooting Times article about the new S&W 1950 .44 Spl. (24-3), he mentions that his test gun which I think he ended up keeping had a frame marked Mod. 29. I forgot the dash. I know this for sure but forgot his brief speculation why. I'll find the magazine and let you know. Maybe your serial numbers are close or, better yet, the same gun! I'll write back tomorrow if I remember.

feralmerril · Jun 22, 2009

Dave, I think wyatt is spot on. Your # was probley made the first day or two of the run. I once bought a NICKEL model 14 at a gunshop where I was a fixture. It came in that way, and I knew they were never cataloged in nickel. Sure nuff, in the crane you could see where 14 was numbered over 15. I imanage once in awhile they do whats handy, maybe to clean up a run of parts, or whatever. Nice!

keith44spl · Jun 23, 2009

Many Thanks!

Many Thanks Guys,

Su Amigo,
Dave

624 Fan · Jun 24, 2009

Wyatt was right on. I dug out Skeeter's article and in it he says the test gun he got was a 29-3 marked frame. He says, "The first specimens of this run of Model 24s were made up on available Model 29 frames with old Model 24 barrels." The serial number of his test gun was N906282. It sounds like your gun may have an old 1950s or 60s barrel on it, from what Skeeter said. Very neat gun with an interesting history! It would be interesting to see close up photos of the barrel stampings and compare them to later 24s to see if there are distinct differences in font, size, lazy ampersand, etc. Maybe the SCSW will eventuall recognize "Early" and "Late" Model 24-3s based upon the age of the barrels.
The SCSW doesn't mention any 24s with an "N" serial number but mentions some possible 5" and 5 1/2" rarities. If they were using up old .44 Special barrels from the 50/60s then that would explain the unusual lengths.

Howard B · Jun 24, 2009

Both of my 24-3s are serial numbered in the ABZ range as well. Lucky you.

Pulicords · Jun 24, 2009

I have two 24-3's. The one on the top was a Patridge sight equipped 6 1/2" barrel model too, that I had cut down to 5". The 4" barreled one below, I recently bought "as is." Both have "ABZ" prefixes on their serial numbers.

S&W .44Spl 24-3 or What?

keith44spl

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s&wchad

panamajack310

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Farmer17

keith44spl

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Kevin G

Denver Dick

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jcelect

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keith44spl

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DCWilson

Muley Gil

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M29since14

Wyatt Burp

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feralmerril

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keith44spl

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624 Fan

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Howard B

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Pulicords

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