3RD Model Hand Ejector. 44 Special

[Muddyboot]

Picked up this beater 3rd model 4-inch barrel off GunBroker last week. As you can
see it has a not-so-great nickel job over whatever the factory finish was. My plans
are after receiving the Smith letter (request go out tomorrow) I'll have it restored
to the original finish.

The mechanics of the revolver are good, a very tight revolver in that respect. Serial
Number is 348xx.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Look inside the ejector rod shroud. If there is a B there, it left as a blued gun. If not, it was plated.

.44 H. E. 3rd serial 38468 shipped in June 1931. I think your gun would have shipped around the same time frame.

 

[Muddyboot]

Look inside the ejector rod shroud. If there is a B there, it left as a blued gun. If not, it was plated.

.44 H. E. 3rd serial 38468 shipped in June 1931. I think your gun would have shipped around the same time frame.

The B is there, so that is solved. The serial numbers are 3600 apart so 1930 would be a good guess.
The grips will also be replaced with more period correct.

 

[22hipower]

The B is there, so that is solved. The serial numbers are 367 apart so 1931 would be a good guess.
The grips will also be replaced with more period correct.

Your SN is 348xx right? Guy's is 38468. Wouldn't that be more than 3600 numbers different? But what's a few digits among friends, probably early 1930s. If 1930s, the grips would be service style with the silver medallion as shown below. Or maybe the carved steelhead W&Ks if the original owner was feeling flush and changed them when he picked it up in Ft. Worth. Wonder what happened to all those nice old stocks that W&K pulled off to replace with MOP or otherwise? Nice, love those old W&Ks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Duh! My dyslexia got me there, Jeff.

.44 HE's in the 348** serial range were shipping in April 1930.

 

[22hipower]

Duh! My dyslexia got me there, Jeff.

It's just numbers and digital ink, easy to change. My 4 inch, 38302, shipped in July of 1931 so agree with the 38XXX numbers being 1931ish. I suppose there is a chance something in the 34XXX range could have shipped before 1930 but probably not, the first ones supposedly shipped in 1927 and my 5 inch (28757) shipped in April of that year.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Muddyboot]

Your SN is 348xx right? Guy's is 38468. Wouldn't that be more than 3600 numbers different? But what's a few digits among friends, probably early 1930s. If 1930s, the grips would be service style with the silver medallion as shown below. Or maybe the carved steelhead W&Ks if the original owner was feeling flush and changed them when he picked it up in Ft. Worth. Wonder what happened to all those nice old stocks that W&K pulled off to replace with MOP or otherwise? Nice, love those old W&Ks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Fixed the number and backed off the Modelos. Looking for a nice pair silver medallions... Would Gold medallions
be too early for the revolver?

 

[22hipower]

Fixed the number and backed off the Modelos. Looking for a nice pair silver medallions... Would Gold medallions
be too early for the revolver?

Yes, gold ones were 1910 until WWI stopped civilian production. From 1920ish to 1930 they didn't have medallions.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Muley Gil]

Nice .44.

That looks like a chrome finish to me.

 

[DARE]

When you get the letter it will probably tell you what grips it shipped with.

 

[Muddyboot]

Nice .44.

That looks like a chrome finish to me.

Whatever it is, it's got to go. This model has always been my favorite Smith & Wesson, so it gets restored and shot.

 

[Muddyboot]

Letter arrived a few days ago. A Suprise to me as the letter indicates the revolver was shipped in nickel.

 

[Muley Gil]

Since we now know the serial number, would you post pictures of the butt and the inside of the ejector rod?

 

[Muddyboot]

Not the best pics, but here you go.

 

[22hipower]

Not the best pics, but here you go.

That B in the ejector shroud suggests something is in error with the letter or the invoice. The B tells us it was originally finished in blue. . . . or should have been.

 

[Muddyboot]

That B in the ejector shroud suggests something is in error with the letter or the invoice. The B tells us it was originally finished in blue. . . . or should have been.

Impossible to tell at this point, the letter states it as nickel. Possibly a gun originally to be blued but a late order came
in for nickel? I'm not sure what to make of it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

How about removing the grips and posting a picture of the left side of the grip frame?

 

[Muddyboot]

How about removing the grips and posting a picture of the left side of the grip frame?

I looked, nothing there. No N....

 

[Kinman]

Great revolver, I have a restoration horror story about nickel. If there are any pits or places where black is showing through you need to be aware of the fact that the rustification takes places in the dark between the nickel plating and the base metal. You can have some large areas that will not come out smooth without serious metal removal. My 1st model 32-20 was ruined in the process and finally ended up blued, the guy should never have taken on the project, it took six months for him to finally give up, I took one look and refused to pay him, he told me it would look much better blue. I still refused to pay him for the nickel removal and attempt at replating, it was a disaster. I wont give that firearm to someone I don't like, its out in my workshop in a box where I know where it is and is one of my last ditch weapons. It does function but very poorly.

 

[Muddyboot]

Great revolver, I have a restoration horror story about nickel. If there are any pits or places where black is showing through you need to be aware of the fact that the rustification takes places in the dark between the nickel plating and the base metal. You can have some large areas that will not come out smooth without serious metal removal. My 1st model 32-20 was ruined in the process and finally ended up blued, the guy should never have taken on the project, it took six months for him to finally give up, I took one look and refused to pay him, he told me it would look much better blue. I still refused to pay him for the nickel removal and attempt at replating, it was a disaster. I wont give that firearm to someone I don't like, its out in my workshop in a box where I know where it is and is one of my last ditch weapons. It does function but very poorly.

I plan on using Fords, I've had good jobs done in nickel with them in the past. The hammer and trigger will be done in case colors.