44 Magnum "Types", 1956-1982

[model3sw]

Sal...less than 700 with a 6 1/2-inch barrel and less than 400 with a 4-inch barrel.

Laketime...assuming the stocks are smooth, they are most likely replacements for the originals that were checked and made of Goncalo alves.

Bill

Bill, These quantities "make my day" :: yes, pun intended, attributed to Clint Eastwood :: I'm presuming these quantities are by S&W factory records.

Approximately many do you personally have records of (or have seen / verified as seen offered for sale or owned by yourself and other members) over the years you've been accumulating data ?

I suppose I'm asking ... approximately how many (in quantity or percentage) of the factory Nickel pre-model numbers have shown up or surfaced over the years ? Thank you, Sal

 

[aphelion]

Thank you for always being so pleasant and willing to share your research simply for the asking. It is genuinely appreciated.

Yes, appreciated here, too. It is very generous.

 

[rck281]

... Dick...based on my information about 5-inch 44 Magnums, they include Types 1-3 and 5-7. However, I did not want to include non-catalogued barrel lengths.

Bill

I wasn't aware that there were any 5 screw 5 in barreled guns. Any idea how many?

 

[Doc44]

Dick...Two that I know of (only by serial number). S153748 was shipped on July 20, 1956 and is the first one made with a 5-inch barrel and S154457 was shipped on August 27, 1959 (it should have a 5-screw frame unless it is a replacement revolver using the serial number of one shipped much earlier).

Sal...I will check my records and let you know what I find.

Bill

 

[Doc44]

Sal...I have serial numbers and ship dates for approximately 360 Pre-Model 29s with a 4-screw frame. Of these, 27 have a nickel finish and 6 1/2-inch barrel, 9 have a 4-inch barrel, and 13 have a 5-inch barrel. We have researched the 5-inch 44 Magnums most thoroughly and that is why the number of 5-inch guns is higher than the number of 4-inch guns.

Bill

 

[model3sw]

Sal...I have serial numbers and ship dates for approximately 360 Pre-Model 29s with a 4-screw frame. Of these, 27 have a nickel finish and 6 1/2-inch barrel, 9 have a 4-inch barrel, and 13 have a 5-inch barrel. We have researched the 5-inch 44 Magnums most thoroughly and that is why the number of 5-inch guns is higher than the number of 4-inch guns.

Bill

Bill, Much appreciated. Sal

 

[vonn]

Your passion and dedication shows in the post,thanks.

 

[spad124]

Great information! Obviously you've done an incredible amount of research. Thanks.

I recently inherited a nickel 29-2 with a 6.5 barrel that fits the type 8 designation. Do you have any information as to the number of nickel type 8s 6.5s that were produced?

Thanks.

 

[Doc44]

spad124...no information on Type 8 in nickel, but since they were made for ten years, I am sure they number in the thousands. Normally, revolvers in nickel comprised around fifteen to twenty percent of the total made.

Bill

 

[Tom_R]

Congrats Bill, this is the Thread of the Week in the S&W Weekly Newsletter!

Here is my 6" Type 9:

 

[Doc44]

Thanks Tom. Nice looking 44 Magnum!!

Bill

 

[Retired W4]

This is the kind of thing I print and put in the back of my SCSW for future reference. Thank you.

 

[model3sw]

I have a vision ... bear with me ... the dustcover of a book with Clint Eastwood in one of the original Dirty Harry poses, holding a .44 Magnum. Wait ... the title of the book is coming now ... "The Legendary Smith & Wesson Magnum Revolvers" (leaving open the inclusion all Magnums) ... and now the author ... yes, there it is !! "William "Bill" Cross"

Bill, I'm sure there are many of us that would love to see that book or any title you decide to publish.

Every "Like" on this post is a vote for the book and a promise to purchase when published. I would "like" my own post for this reason, too, but the format won't allow me to. So here's my "LIKE" (promise to purchase).

 

[Doc44]

Sal...thanks. I have given it a lot of thought and have quite a bit done already regarding the different types, presentation cases, engraved guns, and rare barrel lengths. Maybe in 2016 something will materialize.

Bill

 

[Laketime]

Sal...thanks. I have given it a lot of thought and have quite a bit done already regarding the different types, presentation cases, engraved guns, and rare barrel lengths. Maybe in 2016 something will materialize.

Bill

I nice touch would be a chapter dedicated to the models used in the Dirty Harry series.Where they came from,and where they might have ended up.

 

[Art Doc]

Laketime- Much discussed topic. Harry's gun was a Model 29-2 with a 6.5" barrel. An 8" version was used for some publicity photos to make the gun look bigger at a distance but in the film it's a 6.5" gun that the studio obtained directly from S&W so it was made 1970-71. I think it's now in the NRA Museum as a gift from a screenwriter on the film who was presented with the gun by the producer.

OK, just where does the 44 Magnum CTG fit into the list?

 

[Quillslinger]

Great info on 44 Magnums

Thank you Bill for the great info. This is my first post--I've been reading the forum for a while. I have been shooting and enjoying Smiths for about 25 years, and recently inherited several of my Dad's when he passed away last year. (He had an extensive collection of firearms, most of which were auctioned to fund his only grand-daughter's college--my daughter, who has a liking for S&W magnums now as a high schooler.)

I did set aside a few from his collection, including a Type 6 29-2. No picture handy, sorry.

In prepping for Dad's estate auction, I did do some research on serial numbers. Fjestad's Blue Bool (at least the 35th ed. I was using) does try to break those out by SN/date to some extent.)

And good call, SaxonPig! I just was looking at the Dirty Harry display piece online the other day. Here's the link to it:
NRA Museums:

Have a great weekend all!

 

[Laketime]

Laketime- Much discussed topic. Harry's gun was a Model 29-2 with a 6.5" barrel. An 8" version was used for some publicity photos to make the gun look bigger at a distance but in the film it's a 6.5" gun that the studio obtained directly from S&W so it was made 1970-71. I think it's now in the NRA Museum as a gift from a screenwriter on the film who was presented with the gun by the producer.

OK, just where does the 44 Magnum CTG fit into the list?

Not to hijack Doc's thread,but there are so many different accounts on this topic. We know that a three screw was used in the first movie,and a four screw was used in the second movie, before it was donated to the museum.There it has been billed as the gun that was used in the first two movies?I think if anyone could finally put this topic to rest,it would be Bill.

 

[KEN L]

Sal...thanks. I have given it a lot of thought and have quite a bit done already regarding the different types, presentation cases, engraved guns, and rare barrel lengths. Maybe in 2016 something will materialize.

Bill

Well then, can I please be first in line for an autographed copy?

 

[spad124]

spad124...no information on Type 8 in nickel, but since they were made for ten years, I am sure they number in the thousands. Normally, revolvers in nickel comprised around fifteen to twenty percent of the total made.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I appreciate your response

Tim