2nd Model HE in 44 S&W Special

[richcory]

Brought home this gem yesterday. I think it's a 2nd Model, so correct me if I'm wrong. 6 1/2" barrel, smooth action. The stocks have some very faint markings on the back side. I think it's some initials & maybe a last name. It's so faint that it almost doesn't show up. Has the eagle stamp so it's probably a 1917 frame originally.

Cory

 

[richcory]

Additional photos

Cory

 

[richcory]

And some more...

Cory

 

[Muley Gil]

Yes, you have a 2nd model .44 Special. It was built after mid 1922, which is when the "MADE IN U.S.A." stamp was added. I would guess a ship date of around 1923-24. Yes, it was built on a 1917 frame. Yours is one of the cleaner 2nd models that I have seen. Should be a good shooter.

 

[richcory]

I have a box of Federal 200 grain special loads to shoot through it.

Cory

 

[delta-419]

2nd Model

You will have to give us a range report, that is a super clean 2nd model. You will really enjoy shooting it. I have several of the model 2s and the smooth actions print to point of aim. Super find!

 

[richcory]

I'd like to find a box of the HSM 44 Special load in addition to the Buffalo Bore load. Anyone have experience with those?

Cory

 

[Texas Star]

I'd like to find a box of the HSM 44 Special load in addition to the Buffalo Bore load. Anyone have experience with those?

Cory

I'd be leery of Buffalo Bore loads in that old gun.

Were Second Models of that age even heat treated?

 

[Muley Gil]

I'd be leery of Buffalo Bore loads in that old gun.

Were Second Models of that age even heat treated?

The OP's revolver was built on a 1917 frame, so at least that part is heat treated. I doubt the barrel and cylinder were heat treated though.

Hondo44 posted "Your gun has a heat treated cyl. All Smith Hand Ejectors did by 1920."

I trust him more than I do my own memory.

 

[CptCurl]

Nice 2nd Model. Give us a range report.

Curl

 

[Glashaus]

Very nice 2nd Model! I have two, a blued 2nd Model that has a frame that was originally for a 1917 that was shipped on Sept 9, 1925 to Los Angeles, California and a nickel 2nd Model that was shipped on Dec. 13, 1926 to Miami, Florida.

These are great old Smith & Wesson's. I shoot cowboy action loaded .44 Specials out of them and have a ball!

 

[Hondo44]

Cory,

That's a great find. Good shape and an all original 2nd Model, you did very well. Congrats!

If it has a flattened top strap and sq notch rear sight groove, it was made after 1926.

With its mushroom extractor rod knob, it was made no later than ~mid 1928.

Your gun has a heat treated cyl. All Smith Hand Ejectors did by 1920.

I wouldn't worry about Buf Bore loads but I wouldn't tax an old gun by shooting a lot of them. Besides, there's too many other off the shelf loads that are accurate and a lot more comfortable to shoot, especially with those pre war service grips.

Enjoy!

 

[richcory]

Thanks Jim,

I don't plan on a steady diet of the Buffalo Bore. I actually want some to also try in my magnum's. BB is very clear that it is loaded to the standard pressure & is safe in all 44 special guns except a Taurus something.

I'm hoping to shoot it this coming weekend as I doubt I'll have a chance during the week.

Cory

 

[Hondo44]

Hi Cory,

Cool, yes BB is OK.

My point is that "standard" pressure is a general description. All it means is that it doesn't exceed ANSI/SAAMI Pistol Pressure Specifications (Maximum Average pressure).

For 44 Spl that's 15,500. Not all "standard" loads have that maximum pressure, most will be under that and many most likely less than BB.

So just saying I prefer lower pressures in my older guns, that's all. Hard to get actual load pressures from manufacturers. I just let recoil be my guide for "standard" loadings.

 

[75Vette]

Very cool find Cory! You found a good ol workhorse there! Congrats and happy shooting.

 

[richcory]

Well, she goes bang. Sent 25 rounds thru her tonight. Not a real fan of those stocks, couldn't find a comfortable grip. I have to admit I short changed the 44 Special on its power. It had more than I thought. I was shooting the Federal 200 grain semi wadcutter hollow point. I'm happy with it.

Cory

 

[Kinman]

.44 makes me smile, glad your having a good time with yours. Even .44 Russian makes a nice cloud of smoke and a good solid thump in my hand, enough to make me believe that when the chips were down it was plenty of firepower at close quarters. I recently loaded some .44 Russian smokeless loads to use in a .44 D.A. 1st Model, I only fired one cylinder of them through the old piece and finished off the rest in a Colt S.A.A. last week. I only use black powder loads in the antiques. The smokeless loads shot nicely through the Colt by the way, not quite the thump of .44 special but enough to provide the necessary grin of satisfaction. A couple of friends tried it out as well and thought it was pretty cool to have three rounds that could be used in a firearm chambered for .44 Magnum.

 

[Muley Gil]

.44 makes me smile, glad your having a good time with yours. Even .44 Russian makes a nice cloud of smoke and a good solid thump in my hand, enough to make me believe that when the chips were down it was plenty of firepower at close quarters. I recently loaded some .44 Russian smokeless loads to use in a .44 D.A. 1st Model, I only fired one cylinder of them through the old piece and finished off the rest in a Colt S.A.A. last week. I only use black powder loads in the antiques. The smokeless loads shot nicely through the Colt by the way, not quite the thump of .44 special but enough to provide the necessary grin of satisfaction. A couple of friends tried it out as well and thought it was pretty cool to have three rounds that could be used in a firearm chambered for .44 Magnum.

For some reason, when the .44 Special was introduced, it had the same ballistics as the .44 Russian. However, when Elmer Keith decided the Special was a better round when it came to handloading, as opposed to the .45 Colt which had been his primary handgun, then the .44 Special came into its own.

 

[Kinman]

I had no idea they were that close originally, makes good sense that after Keith got through with the .44 special it would indeed be truly special.

 

[Hondo44]

I had no idea they were that close originally, makes good sense that after Keith got through with the .44 special it would indeed be truly special.

Yes the original 44 special just duplicated the tried and true BP load of the 44 Russian performance. The spl case was only lengthened to accommodate a smokeless powder duplex load.

As smokeless powder improved, the extra case length provided the additional case capacity for greater performance potential.