1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" blue - Does it exist?

[The Gila Bender]

Pulled my 44 Military shooters out for inspection - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Model 6.5" blue. Just wondering out loud if I would be able to add a 1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" to the accumulation at some point. Please share some shooter-grade .44 Military appreciation today!

 

[handejector]

1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" blue - Does it exist?
Pulled my 44 Military shooters out for inspection - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Model 6.5" blue. Just wondering out loud if I would be able to add a 1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" to the accumulation at some point. Please share some shooter-grade .44 Military appreciation today!

Yes, they do exist, but I don't have one either.
I believe tennexplorer has one.

 

[22hipower]

Oh, I like those. I don't have a 6.5 1st Model or 3rd Model, or 4th as all those have shorter barrels. Here is a 2nd Model though but a shiny one. I've seen a 6.5 4th Model in a recent auction, can't remember where but I'll look.

Found it, the auction that is.

Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector Pre-Model 21 Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nPnSzF https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Masterpiece]

Quick Question!!

Pulled my 44 Military shooters out for inspection - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Model 6.5" blue. Just wondering out loud if I would be able to add a 1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" to the accumulation at some point. Please share some shooter-grade .44 Military appreciation today!

Hi Tom,

One quick question...Do you consider the 3rd Model you posted a photo of a *True* 3rd Model or a *Transition* 3rd Model being if the Stocks are Serial-Numbered to the Revolver I believe it's the latter as best as I can tell??

If so...You're a bit closer to your goal than you think...Just curious!!

 

[JayCeeNC]

I had one; they exist.
Mine shipped in 1954 to Rex Firearms in New York City.

 

[handejector]

Hi Tom,

One quick question...Do you consider the 3rd Model you posted a photo of a *True* 3rd Model or a *Transition* 3rd Model being if the Stocks are Serial-Numbered to the Revolver I believe it's the latter as best as I can tell??

If so...You're a bit closer to your goal than you think...Just curious!!

The gun you reference is a Transition 3rd Model. Still, a true 3rd to me....

 

[Masterpiece]

The gun you reference is a Transition 3rd Model. Still, a true 3rd to me....

Lee,

Then in other words...Even though it shipped Post-War...The only one you consider to be a 1950 Military is...At the earliest...Has to be Short Action Pre-Model 21...Correct??

 

[The Gila Bender]

Yes it's a post war transition 3rd Model Washington State Patrol with long action and single line address. The 1950 Model is a short action with four-line address aka the "pre-21".

 

[Masterpiece]

Yes it's a post war transition 3rd Model Washington State Patrol with long action and single line address.

Tom,

Even though I had good reason to believe it was a Transition 3rd Model...Thanks for clearing up my original inquiry!!

One other thing I'd like to clear up regarding my Original Inquiry since there were some that mistook why I'd asked...I didn't mean to infer that Your Post-War Transition Variation 3rd Model be considered an Early Post-War 1950 44 Military!!

Only that if your end goal is to acquire all the variations of a 6 1/2" Barreled 44 Military...Pre-War & Post-War...You'd need to look out for a "True" Pre-War Model to fill the gap since Your Post-War Transition brought you that much closer to completing your end goal!!

Hope I worded it correctly so I didn't create even more confusion as that was not my intent!!

 

[handejector]

Lee,

Then in other words...Even though it shipped Post-War...The only one you consider to be a 1950 Military is...At the earliest...Has to be Short Action Pre-Model 21...Correct??

Correct. By definition, a 1950 Model is a SHORT action. All of 'em!

 

[mikepriwer]

I have one that appeared on the cover of a couple S&W Journals. It's a 6 1/2" two-tone with factory birds-eye maple grips, red post front sight blade, smooth bore, and a screw-on choke. It letters as a 44 Military Model of 1950 pre-model 21.

Here are all the pictures that I have in the folders. Some of the pictures are a lot better than others, and they were taken by Bill Cross. The grips on the gun were covered with some kind of dark shellac, that I subsequently removed.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[wcat94]

I have one .

If the barrel was original I could retire now.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Tom,

Even though I had good reason to believe it was a Transition 3rd Model...Thanks for clearing up my original inquiry!!

Only that if your end goal is to acquire all the variations of a 6 1/2" Barreled 44 Military...Pre-War & Post-War...You'd need to look out for a "True" Pre-War Model to fill the gap since Your Post-War Transition brought you that much closer to completing your end goal!!

Yes, I have but one pre-war 3rd (1926) Model .44 Military, a blue 4" shipped to W&K in July 1938. I'd love to find a true pre-war 1926 Model .44 Military 6.5" with magna stocks!

 

[Murdock]

Per the SCSW Third Edition, my 4th Model dates to 1954-1955. Probably the one gun in my accumulation that's worth a letter, but I have yet to get around to it. It's very clearly a shooter, not a museum piece. The 6.5 - inch barrel serial matches the frame.

I was lucky enough to find a vintage shoulder holster to match.

 

[Leroy Thompson]

One sold in a recent ROck Island Auction.

 

[tennexplorer]

"Yes, they do exist, but I don't have one either.
I believe tennexplorer has one.
__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett "

Yep, I'd post a picture, but right now it's off being drilled and tapped for a mount for a red dot and being Cerakoted.

Just kidding, Lee.

Lee? Lee? LEE!!!! Uh, anybody know CPR?

 

[Truckman]

Just kidding, Lee.

Does this mean I should cancel the order for the Kydex shoulder holster with the offside screw-on suppressor holder?......Ben

 

[Leroy Thompson]

A S&W Letter states that there were three (3) 6 1/2" .44 Military revolvers shipped to Gopher Shooter Supply in Faribault, MN on 20 April 1954

 

[Hondo44]

I have one that appeared on the cover of a couple S&W Journals. It's a 6 1/2" two-tone with factory birds-eye maple grips, red post front sight blade, smooth bore, and a screw-on choke. It letters as a 44 Military Model of 1950 pre-model 21.

Here are all the pictures that I have in the folders. Some of the pictures are a lot better than others, and they were taken by Bill Cross. The grips on the gun were covered with some kind of dark shellac, that I subsequently removed.

Regards, Mike Priwer

That's stunning! How are those stocks described in your letter? I ask because they appear to be the original "Coke Bottle" stocks described on page 38 of the SCSW 4th ed. Although not shown in that book, the majority of these early Cokes I've observed or own are birdseye maple.

And the two photos above are closest to the coloring I've seen.