OP
Thanks Tom. Nice looking 44 Magnum!!
Bill
Bill
44 Magnum "Types", 1956-1982
- Thread starter Doc44
- Start date
This is the kind of thing I print and put in the back of my SCSW for future reference. Thank you.
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).
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).
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OP
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
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
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
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?
OK, just where does the 44 Magnum CTG fit into the list?
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!
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!
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.
spad124
Member
Tom_R
Member
Bill, coming from the man with the best collection of 29's on the planet, that is high praise.
Thank You
digi-shots
Member
Bill,
Great information, thanks for all your work and for posting!
I have an "oddball" .44 that doesn't quite fit as a type 3...
Stamped Mod 29
4 screw
Nickle
8 3/8" barrel
10 grooves
Cokes
However, it has a L/H thread (1/16" groove on the ejector rod)
It lettered as being shipped Dec. 6, 1963. My guess is that it sat in the S&W vault for a while. (??)
Great information, thanks for all your work and for posting!
I have an "oddball" .44 that doesn't quite fit as a type 3...
Stamped Mod 29
4 screw
Nickle
8 3/8" barrel
10 grooves
Cokes
However, it has a L/H thread (1/16" groove on the ejector rod)
It lettered as being shipped Dec. 6, 1963. My guess is that it sat in the S&W vault for a while. (??)
Bill, can I add WO and RR to your list on each type?
OP
Linda...I am aware of your "type" of revolver. Actually, it is configured like a Model 29-1 (Type 4), but the -1 was not stamped in the yoke cut. I know of two or three guns configured like yours and each has a nickel finish.
Mike...I did not include WO and RR because they are standard on all 29s from the beginning to the end of the model.
Bill
Mike...I did not include WO and RR because they are standard on all 29s from the beginning to the end of the model.
Bill
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Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
"We know that a three screw was used in the first movie,and a four screw was used in the second movie..."
I don't know that. I have never heard this until now. AFAIK it was always a 29-2.
And really, what difference...at this point...does it make?
I don't know that. I have never heard this until now. AFAIK it was always a 29-2.
And really, what difference...at this point...does it make?
All joking aside, S&W's 1970's and (1980s and 1990s) advertising strategy must have been ... "lets give Clint Eastwood a bunch of cool guns to use in his movies and we can cut our advertising budget down by 90%". He became a one man advertising campaign for Smith & Wesson without ever formally doing an advertisement (that I ever saw).
Heck, Clint only used a Schofield in the last scene of Unforgiven where he takes if from the Schofield Kid (and then for only 5 or 6 shots as he uses the shotgun first, the Schofield second, then load up Ned's Spencer.
From that scene Eastwood created a collecting boom on Schofields so strong that Uberti and other companies saw a marketing opportunity and started producing Schofield copies, new, which S&W followed in 2000.
Prior to that movie you could pick up an excellent, original, Schofield for about $1500.00. Prior to that the U.S. Cavalry Model 3 American was the apple of every collector's eye being an order of only 1000, and (back then) when I was reporting in to Col. Pate on serial numbers of U.S. Americans, Col. Pate advise me the number of revolvers known to exist (by his records at that time) was 52 revolvers. I called him from the Tulsa show in 2000 to report a US American I had just seen.
PS: I had only heard in rumor the Dirty Harry .44 Magnum was a 5-screw. After I became a member I started searching out 5 screws.
Heck, Clint only used a Schofield in the last scene of Unforgiven where he takes if from the Schofield Kid (and then for only 5 or 6 shots as he uses the shotgun first, the Schofield second, then load up Ned's Spencer.
From that scene Eastwood created a collecting boom on Schofields so strong that Uberti and other companies saw a marketing opportunity and started producing Schofield copies, new, which S&W followed in 2000.
Prior to that movie you could pick up an excellent, original, Schofield for about $1500.00. Prior to that the U.S. Cavalry Model 3 American was the apple of every collector's eye being an order of only 1000, and (back then) when I was reporting in to Col. Pate on serial numbers of U.S. Americans, Col. Pate advise me the number of revolvers known to exist (by his records at that time) was 52 revolvers. I called him from the Tulsa show in 2000 to report a US American I had just seen.
PS: I had only heard in rumor the Dirty Harry .44 Magnum was a 5-screw. After I became a member I started searching out 5 screws.
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What difference does any topic really mean on this board.We all find different topics interesting.And that's what makes this place a great place to spend time and learn.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
What gun a character used in a motion picture released 44 years ago (how's that for a coincidence) doesn't really seem like the sort of thing serious collectors will lose sleep over. Not that I am a serious collector. Besides, the topic of Harry Callahan's revolver has been literally discussed to death. Search the forums and you will find many, many discussions on this issue.
Like I said, as far as I know Eastwood used a 6.5" blued Model 29-2 for all the films. If any other variation of Model 29 was used (such as a 4 screw model) I am unaware of it. It doesn't sound logical for the studio to want to go back to an older revolver for the second film, does it? What purpose would be served by that? They wanted the newest edition of handgun for the first film, why go backwards?
Like I said, as far as I know Eastwood used a 6.5" blued Model 29-2 for all the films. If any other variation of Model 29 was used (such as a 4 screw model) I am unaware of it. It doesn't sound logical for the studio to want to go back to an older revolver for the second film, does it? What purpose would be served by that? They wanted the newest edition of handgun for the first film, why go backwards?
OP
SP...Clint Eastwood used a Model 29 in Magnum Force. It has a serial number in the S206000 range or so. I examined this gun in Tulsa a few years ago. It was donated by John Milius to the NRA Firearms Museum. Mr. Milius wrote the screenplay for Magnum Force. Why this 44 Magnum was used is anyone's guess.
Bill
Bill
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Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Well, I guess everybody knew they used an older gun in the sequel except me. Live and learn. I've seen that gun pictured several times and always thought that was the 29-2 from Dirty Harry. Maybe I shouldn't ask what happened to that gun? Or did Eastwood keep it?
You know all I wanted to suggest to Bill was maybe a page or two in a possible next book regarding the use of this gun in the series.Important history of this model for either a serious collector or a novice.There is no better authority on this model then Bill,and who better ( if he feels like doing so ) to unravel some of the myths regarding this model in the Dirty Harry series then Bill.Ive read all the past threads pertaining to this topic,which is what prompted me to make my suggestion.Threads revealing the use of a4 screw date back to 2009 here,not sure how you missed all of these.But not a waste since you have learned something here tonight .
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Don't get condescending. I learned a minute factoid that has no bearing on my life what so ever. As I have said over and over, I am not an expert nor am I a serious collector. Go do as you please with the movie gun.
Pointblank2U
US Veteran
I have a type 1, blue, 4".
Bill, a little off base question. I have a nice Feb 1957 pebble 4" case with tools. I have no paper. What am I missing?
OP
Mike...nothing as far as I know. I have never seen any documents related to 5-screw 44 Magnums. If they were shipped with a Helpful Hints brochure, you think I would have seen at least one or two over the years.
Bill
Bill
Engine49guy
Member
Bill, Wondering if you have tracked approximately what serial range the "soft fit" barrel and cylinder numbering ceases on 44 Magnums ?
Allen-frame
Member
Here is one for the data base.
S 16876* is a 4 in. 5 Screw 6 groove backstrap.
Barrel and cylinder numbered to frame . ..
Shipped in March 1957 .
Thanks Bill.
Allen Frame ..
S 16876* is a 4 in. 5 Screw 6 groove backstrap.
Barrel and cylinder numbered to frame . ..
Shipped in March 1957 .
Thanks Bill.
Allen Frame ..
Allen-frame
Member
Another one , just observed at a gun show yesterday.
S173576 , 6 1/2 in. 5 screw , 10 groove backstrap.
barrel and cylinder not numbered to the frame.
Unfortunately poor condition with beat up cokes.
Allen Frame ..
S173576 , 6 1/2 in. 5 screw , 10 groove backstrap.
barrel and cylinder not numbered to the frame.
Unfortunately poor condition with beat up cokes.
Allen Frame ..
Allen, does the groove count matter? or just a mfg. change?
Allen-frame
Member
Mike, groove count only as a marker as to when manufactured.
6 groove 44s being the earliest may just hold a collector or cool factor.
We all know size is what really matters. .
Allen
6 groove 44s being the earliest may just hold a collector or cool factor.
We all know size is what really matters.
.Allen
