1st Year .44 Magnum 4-inch

[DARE]

Blue finish, 4-inch barrel, RRWO sights, target hammer, target trigger, target stocks.
Serial number S153063 shipped to Edward K. Tryon Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 14, 1956.
About 3100 44 Magnums shipped in 1956. Have heard that only 168 were 4-inch.
There were five 44 Magnums on the invoice along with 54 other guns. Also got a serial number list. Hopefully this may add to some of the data bases.

 

[bluetopper]

Edward K Tryon III (1911-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial

 

[jaestridge]

Nice! Real nice. Curious about how long it took to get that documentation, process start to received?

 

[DARE]

Only took about a month to get the letter and the invoice and serial number list. Think I had the letter within three weeks and then contacted Mike Helms at SWHF about the invoice etc.

 

[glenncal1]

OP-great gun. I wouldn't mind having one each of the guns on that invoice. Tryon stocked some fine arms.

 

[JRB416]

Very nice DARE. Good looking cokes too.

Here is a photo of my five screw 44's. The 6.5 inch was shipped on July 6, 1956 and the 4 inch was shipped on February 27, 1957. So not a first year four inch like yours but a nice one nonetheless.

 

[mikeruns]

DARE- thanks for showing this model 29….the 4" is of my opinion, the finest looking S&W ever, and the most practical to me as well for the .44 magnum cartridge….I love the slight patina to your old gal there, cheers to a fantastic piece of Americana!

 

[AC Man]

Very nice DARE. Good looking cokes too.

Here is a photo of my five screw 44's. The 6.5 inch was shipped on July 6, 1956 and the 4 inch was shipped on February 27, 1957. So not a first year four inch like yours but a nice one nonetheless.

Would you be interested in selling the 7/6/56 model? I have searched for years and have never come across one that was shipped on my exact birth date. I have a 5 screw 6.5 44 mag in mint condition. maybe we can work a deal. I'll send you a personal message.

 

[Shootgood]

Very nice..I have a 4" s/n 154005 that I have been going to letter for a handful of years now

 

[DARE]

Shootgood, get that letter! Serial numbers and ship dates on 44 Magnums are all over the place. Have seen guns with close numbers that shipped a year apart. I think a good chance your gun shipped in 1956, but a 5 screw 4-inch gun deserves a letter anyway.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Blue finish, 4-inch barrel, RRWO sights, target hammer, target trigger, target stocks.

My favorite revolver of all time. What a handsome handgun and thank you for sharing.

 

[ameridaddy]

The Tryon location in your letter is long gone to a parking lot, but FWIW - Edward K Tryon Co was at one time the largest retailer of sporting goods in the USA and perhaps the world. Over the course of their history since their founding in 1811, they were also manufacturers of guns, knives, fishing tackle and bicycles.
Here is a bit of history: Vintage Outdoors: The History The Edw. K. Tryon Company of Philadelphia.

There are also books about them:
The Oldest Gun House in America History of the Edward K. Tryon Co., 1811-1965 - Fin & Flame

You found a beautiful piece of history; thanks for sharing!

 

[Truckman]

Edward K Tryon Co was at one time the largest retailer of sporting goods in the USA and perhaps the world.

Interesting, I did not know that...I have several guns that lettered to EKT...I learn something new here every day......Ben