2nd Model Hand Ejector Target

[The Kid]

Has there ever been a concrete number cited on how many of these were produced? I own one and I’ve heard several numbers over the years ranging from less than 150 to nearly a thousand.

Mine has likely led an interesting life. I found it in a small gun shop in Alaska. It’s clearly been used but was well taken care of though it does show signs of significant holster time. When I bought it the front sight blade had been replaced with a neat Kings blade with a white insert, sadly it was much too short to zero at anything under about 200 yards. I built and installed a simple black Patridge blade in its place using the factory pin. It wears a set of Magnas from the 30’s that are numbered to a different gun but in about the same condition as the revolver for a nice match. It shoots great with RCBS 250gr Keith style bullets over light charges of Unique and PowerPistol, sometime the stars will align and the conditions will be right and I’ll kill a deer with it.

 

[HeloMt]

I'm not sure how many were made, but they are a very nice revolver and a pleasure to shoot. I'm lucky enough to own 2, the first I picked up 12 years ago. It is a 6 1/2 inch like yours with a little less wear. It wears service stocks and a pre-war grip adapter. The second is a factory 5 inch I purchased 2 years ago. It was sent by S&W to King for sights before being delivered to the customer. I'm told S&W sent all special order sights to King on production guns pre-war except the Registered Magnum. Those were done in house. I enjoy both very much. Congrats on your acquisition and good luck on your future hunt!

 

[rct269]

I'm thinking the answer is no. The serial numbers ran from the low 15000's to about 50000, but several other models were numbered in the same serial series.

The only concrete number I know of is for those chambered for .45 Colt----727.

All that said, they were made from 1915 to 1937. Mine was seemingly among the last available, having been shipped May 14, 1940----and seemingly among the last because it was one among a shipment of 39 others (all Targets) billed at $17.00 each. Now I don't know how much it cost to make one, but I do know how much to make a Registered Magnum ($17); so it figures a .44 Second was in the $14- $16 neighborhood; and this shipment of 39 figures to be a close-out deal.

The "less than 150" is patently absurd, and "nearly a thousand" strikes me as WAY short of the mark.

So---other than sittin' and starin' and making wild guesses we have accomplished not much to take home.

Ralph Tremaine

And speaking of "WAY short of the mark", that "about 50000" in serial numbers up there is what the book said. I just looked, and the serial number of mine was 58669---and while we've been told S&W didn't make guns in serial order, the number on my .44 3rd Target was 54911; and Jinks told me it was made in 1938---and shipped January 28, 1941.

You pays your money, and you takes your pick!

 

[handejector]

Ralph,
N serial numbers went above 62,400 on Pre War guns.
I think there were probably around 2000 44-2nd Targets made, but I am only guessing. I know I have seen more than 150.

 

[rct269]

It occurs to me, admittedly somewhat belatedly, we were asked about .44 2nd TARGETS. I, for one, ignored that---not purposely---just lazy maybe.

The conventional wisdom tells us hand ejector targets comprise maybe 10% of production. I'm not aware of any documentation confirming that, but that wisdom comes to us from sources we seldom challenge.

That said, I'm inclined to back down a bit. The "less than 150" still stands as patently absurd, but the "nearly a thousand" may very well not be so wide of the mark as I initially supposed---and I wouldn't argue about the Big Gorilla's estimate of 2,000.

I don't remember who said this first, but it goes along the lines of we often don't know what we don't know.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[CptCurl]

These are fantastic examples of S&W pre-WW2 art.

I have no idea of the number of target models produced, but I am delighted that they built #49369.

I shared photos of it at this thread and invite you to have a look: 44 H.E. 2nd Mod. Target #49369

To the O.P.: Enjoy and cherish that fine revolver.

Curly

 

[The Kid]

Well I got busy with plumbing emergencies when I got home yesterday evening and didn’t have time to reply. But I thank you gentlemen for some insight into production even if we may never have anything concrete as to an answer.
On the one hand it might be a bit disappointing for someone to find out that their piece isn’t as scarce as possibly thought. But in my case it isn’t a big deal and really is a little bit reassuring, I enjoy shooting it and carrying it out in the weeds and it might not be quite as big a deal if something were to happen to it. Not that it’s likely, but in the event something happened it’s not like it’s one percent of all of surviving production as in the case there were only around 100 made.

When I get home this evening I’ll try to post the serial number for those who may be interested. If I get really ambitious I’ll pull the stocks and post the number on them as well.

I know it’s cliche, but due to where I found it and the signs of use, I really wish this one could tell a story.

 

[bruce5781]

I have no idea how many were made. I have one that I shoot, one that is at a gunsmith's being worked on, and know of one other belonging to a friend.

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[handejector]

Bruce, did you letter yours? Roy's comment of "neat gun" might mean it is worth doing so.

 

[bruce5781]

Bruce, did you letter yours? Roy's comment of "neat gun" might mean it is worth doing so.

Yes, I did. Nothing came up. I asked for more info from the Historical Association, but never heard anything back. It has a star on the butt that is very plainly through the blue.l

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[paplinker]

Yes, I did. Nothing came up. I asked for more info from the Historical Association, but never heard anything back. It has a star on the butt that is very plainly through the blue.l

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I remember holding that gun It's a great gun that I hoped you would get.

 

[The Kid]

Bruce the ivories and Humpback on yours are very very cool.

All of them posted are neat old guns.

I wonder sometimes why a guy would order one when they were new. Bullseye shooter? Lawman might be more unlikely to my thinking, long barrel and more fragile sights though I could see one who was a shooter wanting to have a precisely sighted sidearm. Outdoorsman? Certainly possible but the ballistics of the 44 are pretty lukewarm in factory form.

Whatever they ordered them for I’m glad they did and they survived for us to enjoy. I’m going to enjoy #40298 for a while longer.

 

[rct269]

I have seen large frame guns used by Bullseye shooters, but not often.

I suspect any serious shooter, no matter the target, would opt for adjustable sights as an alternative to fixed sights simply for the convenience of knowing rather than guessing when dealing with varying range/distances. I personally wonder why anybody would bother with a fixed sight gun---never mind the intended use.

As to the fragility of target sights, the only thing that comes to mind is a bent blade---and they are easily replaced---especially on pre-war guns.

Now replacing pre-war blades today introduces the obvious necessity of having a replacement at hand. The good news is there are only two different styles---flat and the earlier version with a cylindrical base---and both are easily fabricated by hand.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[The Kid]

A little more data today. It’s been a while since I’ve really looked at my 2nd model and I thought I remembered the stocks being older than the gun but I took them off today and I guess I misremembered. They are numbered 62103 as opposed the the revolver’s 40298.

I also noticed a curious mark on the right side of the grip frame around the locator pin for the stocks. There are 4 1s stamped around the pin like points on a compass with a B to the side. No idea what that is about other than I presume the B is referring to the blued finish.

Anyone have a ship date for anything close to either the gun or stocks? I guess from the above poster’s gun shipping in 1940 that the stocks had to have come off something that shipped around then as they were changed Postwar, weren’t they? Always a little mystery with old guns.