44 Revolver

[DevineE]

Thank you for the add! I have an old break top .44 6 shot revolver. The only marking I see is 15425 on the butt. It is original nickel with some patina. I am trying to find out the age and any information about this pistol, also approximate value.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


Welcome to the Forum!

Your revolver looks to be a S&W .44 DA 1st. Model. From the
look of the cylinder, I think yours is the "Frontier" version.
These have a longer cylinder (1-9/16" long) and were cham-
bered in .44-40 (a.k.a. 44 WCF). The standard length cylinder
is 1-7/16" long.

These were not a good seller and many were converted back
to .44 S&W Russian (by replacing the cylinder).

The .44 DA 1st Model came out in 1881 and the "Frontier"
came out in 1886. All were manufactured before 1899 and
are considered antiques. As I said, these were not good sellers
and were sold from stock up to 1913.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[iby]

A picture of the inside of the chambers will tell if it's 44wcf or 44 Russian.
It is either an early 44 Russian or a late 44 wcf

 

[erikpolcrack]

A picture of the inside of the chambers will tell if it's 44wcf or 44 Russian.
It is either an early 44 Russian or a late 44 wcf

I'm a little confused by this discussion. I believe the 44 American was first chambered in 1869, the 44 Russian in 1870, and the 44 WCF/44-40 in 1873. The phrase "either an early 44 Russian or a late 44 wcf" seems backward.

 

[iby]

I'm a little confused by this discussion. I believe the 44 American was first chambered in 1869, the 44 Russian in 1870, and the 44 WCF/44-40 in 1873. The phrase "either an early 44 Russian or a late 44 wcf" seems backward.

#15,000 would be fairly early in production for a 44 Russian as there were Approx 50,000 made.
#15000 would be late production for a 44 WCF as there were Approx 15,000 made

 

[erikpolcrack]

#15,000 would be fairly early in production for a 44 Russian as there were Approx 50,000 made.
#15000 would be late production for a 44 WCF as there were Approx 15,000 made

Thanks - got it now!

 

[Model19man]

Thank you for the add! I have an old break top .44 6 shot revolver. The only marking I see is 15425 on the butt. It is original nickel with some patina. I am trying to find out the age and any information about this pistol, also approximate value.

There should also be a roll mark on top of the barrel.

 

[BMur]

1st Model DA 44 Russian

The OP’s very nice revolver is definitely a 44 Russian. The cylinder is perfectly square.

Murph

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

The OP’s very nice revolver is definitely a 44 Russian. The cylinder is perfectly square.

Murph

Could be. My perception may have been thrown by the angle
and the background. Of course, a simple measurement of the
cylinder length will tell for sure if it is a "Frontier" model or not.

Still, The OP hasn't responded to any posts so far and may
have left. I would have like to know if the top rib has any
marks stamped on it that are still readable and what it says.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[DevineE]

Thank you all for all the info. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner. I will be home later today and get a few better pictures.