44 Magnum, 5-inch, Class A-Engraved

[Doc44]

Class A-engraved by Russ Smith and shipped on September 11, 1957. This is the only 5-inch 44 Magnum known to be factory engraved.

Bill

 

[fyimo]

Your collection is amazing and this is another wonderful example and thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[HeloMt]

Absolutely Beautiful! Love the smooth coke profile grips, they compliment the engraving. Wonderful piece.

 

[smokey04]

Doc 44, that is a beautiful piece that anyone would be proud to own. A question please,and in no way meant to detract, but since the grips are smooth are they "coke bottle" shaped? Thank you sir, for sharing with us a wonderful piece of art from the esoteric world and the engineering world.Nick

 

[GyMac]

What a work of art! Thank you.

 

[redbos]

I am very pleased that you take the time to show us your fantastic collection of S&W's, I get an education every time you post something. The photography is fantastic and without some of your posts, there would be S&W's that I never knew existed.

That 5 inch is so very pretty. Thanks!

 

[JayCeeNC]

Fantastic piece of art, Bill.
Thanks for sharing another of your treasures with us.

 

[gripper]

Bill, Great gun. Was this an H.H. Harris shipped gun or maybe shipped to someone special?

Chad Gripp
SWCA #2323

 

[Model19man]

Elmer Keith would have loved to own that one!

 

[rck281]

That's a fantastic gun. I really like Russ Smith engraving. Sometimes I don't care for Class A full coverage engraved guns but this is beautiful. I think engraving is very personal and this really appeals to me. Great gun!

Dick

 

[Doc44]

Thanks everyone. The stocks have a slight flare at the bottom and a mild palm swell. The 44 Magnum was shipped to Marshall Wells Company in Chicago. It was featured on the cover of GUN DIGEST Treasury in 1977.

Bill

 

[Mule88]

Beautiful...I always torture myself looking at these guns of yours Doc. I appreciate guys like you that share these photos of guns that I would probably never see otherwise.

 

[Art Doc]

Very pretty. Always like the 5" barrel length.

This is why God doesn't want me to be rich. I would buy guns like this... and shoot them.

 

[williamlayton]

I love Class A BBQ and Court guns.
Blessings

 

[29aholic]

Very nice Bill

 

[Tom K]

Bill, what's up with the engraving around the grips? On the RH side the engraving is bordered to follow the grip contour. On the LH side the engraving goes on underneath the grip. Was it engraved for a relieved grip contour?

Oh, and found this via Google:

 

[DWFAN]

Dang Bill, there ya go with those scratched up guns again. Send her on over and I'll hit it with the belt sander and Parkerize it for you. No charge of course.
Paul

 

[Harvester]

I am a 44 fan but, like many others, I am normally not a fan of that level of engraving but I have to admit that baby is suh-wheet! Thanks for sharing.

~Harvester

 

[Doc44]

Tom K...The left side of the frame has the same engraved line as the right side, but is covered by the left grip panel. I think Russ put the line in a slightly different place on the left side to avoid cutting into the S&W logo, or he just put it there and the stocks cover it. The stocks are original and numbered to the revolver.

Since the revolver is covered with "standard" Class A-engraving, and not a custom piece, I suppose no one paid any attention to the fact the line was in a different location. I hadn't noticed it until you pointed it out.

Bill

 

[j38]

That's a real beauty, Bill. I love those stocks!

Thanks so much for continuing to post pictures of your "once-in-a-lifetime" collection.

Jerry