44 Magnum Turns 70!

[Doc44]

44 Magnum, S121836, manufactured in S&W's tool room in January 1955 as a photo and show promotion revolver. The only surviving prototype 44 Magnum described in factory letters and literature as the "First 44 Magnum". Single click on the photo for a closer look.

Bill

 

[22hipower]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[S&W ucla]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 44 MAGNUM! Sure has been a lot of fun since

 

[CA Escapee]

Yes, Happy Birthday!

My .44 Magnum is a "newer" Ruger Blackhawk from January of 1959.

 

[RON K.]

I HAD A FEW EARLY ONES AND A FEW ENGRAVED...AND RECENTLY WELL MAYBE LIKE 7 YEARS AGO ORDERED CURRENT MODEL. And it arrived and guess what two tone blue frame and cylinder and barrel. even the gun counter guy said you can see it plain as day not have to put it on angle or certain light. sent back to Smith. they get a letter back, will just send you a new gun. i said nope i want the same one back as it had a cool number. just reblue and refinish the whole darn thing. Smith said nope a week later. i ended up getting the grand plus refund. and was done with it.Have bought smiths for well over 50 years. and never had that type of issue.

AND TOO OLD TO GO BACK INTO MOD 29'S AGAIN.They are great guns. just took one issue to me to say....DONE WITH IT.

LAST SHOW IN DEC.a few on tables for $1,500 to $2,300 was nice just to look.i did buy 2 500 mags. but sold them to a buddy in town,
too much gun to just sit in the safe. I asked him the other day shoot them yet?
HE SAID nope just sitting in the safes.He also bought my Ruger nice gun.. LIKE THE SMITH 500'S

my other> what am i doing with it story<.Well everybody have a great 2025.

 

[KSK]

Great gun! A very interesting and historical 44 Magnum.

 

[AC Man]

Now that's what I'm talking about. How do you post photo's like that?

 

[Mike LaNier]

Seventy years old? How time flies! I was in high school when the .44 Magnum came out; I remember it well. I have an early 4-screw "Pre-Model 29" made in 1957 that I picked up a few years ago; it stays in the safe pretty much. My 629 "Mountain Gun" does get used, mostly with .44 Special loads. Cool beans, y'all!

 

[DARE]

The photo is not visible for me. Anyone else have this problem? I reported it.

Got a message from a moderator that said it was not a photo, but rather something from Doc's Album. Said IT is still working on albums.

 

[Doc44]

I reposted the photo. Hopefully, you can see it now.

Bill

 

[Keith Brown]

Beautiful 29 and very nice lumber ! I don't own a 29 of any vintage but every time you post a photo of one I think its time !

 

[DARE]

Thanks Bill, can see it now.

Beautiful!

 

[65Whelen]

Happy 70th birthday 44 Magnum. Finest handgun ever made. Mines only 65 years old (29ND) and lucky to have the old girl. She's retired but I still get her out shooting with some light loads once in a while. For normal range time I've got a young buck that's only 28 years old (629-4), he does all the heavy lifting.