.44 caliber

[MVDUY]

Recently purchased a SW top break revolver, caliber .44 S&W ctg
double action, 6" barrel, nickeled finish, I already learn is a .44 Russian cartridge, Serial number : 44563.- In this forum I read they were manufactured up to year 1913.- I would appreciate if someone knows the manufacture year of mine.- Thanks

 

[glowe]

The 44 Double Action was made from 1881 to 1913 and sold into the early Twentieth Century. S&W records reflect the date the gun was shipped, not manufactured in most cases. In the US, all 44 DAs are considered Antiques by the BATF, since all frames were manufactured before 1899. That serial number would place shipping date at 1903.

 

[MVDUY]

Thank you Gary. Useful information.

Regards, Nello

 

[rct269]

One question: Is it a fact all frames were manufactured before 1899, or is it that such has been deemed to be so by the ATF (in consultation with S&W)?

Another question: If the latter is the case, at what point in time did this come to pass?

Ralph Tremaine

 

[opoefc]

Ralph, Early in Roy Jinks career as the Historian at S&W, he had consultations with staff at the ATF to establish which S&Ws were antiques, etc. and letters were furnished the ATF listing antique models, based on Roy's records searches in the S&W archives. All Model 3s were declared as antiques, which covered the .44DAs, and this was accepted by the ATF and is so set forth in the ATF rules. I recently discussed this with Roy and his response was that if he had to re-prove this from the old records, it would be difficult, as most of these records have since been lost, destroyed or gone missing. however, I don't think the ATF is interested in revisiting the issue, so we can let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak. Ed. (Records are in the hands of a Forum member of when .44DA frames were assembled into complete guns, up to about WW1 era. For example, those records show that ser. # 44563 was assembled Jan. 28, 1903. )

 

[glowe]

Ralph, I recently posted the letters between Roy and the BATF that listed many models as antiques and others with serial number cut-offs. You can find the letters using the link below.

S&W Antique List

 

[rct269]

Okay---I knew about that---never mind I didn't necessarily understand WHAT I knew about it!!

Now I do!

Ralph Tremaine

And speaking of letting sleeping dogs lie, I even know about the hands of the Forum member holding the assembly records. He's a good dog---best in show, as they say---a blue ribbon winner.