44 Magnum "Types", 1956-1982

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. (??)
 
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
 
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"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?
 
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.
 
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SaxonPig said:
"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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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?
 
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

orig.jpg
 
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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?
 
SaxonPig said:
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?
Click to expand...

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 .
 
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.
 
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, Wondering if you have tracked approximately what serial range the "soft fit" barrel and cylinder numbering ceases on 44 Magnums ?
 
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 ..
 
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 ..
 
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
 
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