.44 Special ctg?!?

I love threads like this. Back and forth discussion of what is or isn't, what may or may not be. Very educational. As someone who doesn't have all that much experience with pre-1970 guns, you guys have put me in a difficult position while reading this thread - having to mentally pick whether I think Handejector is correct, or keith44spl. If those two had agreed I'd say game over. Now...

I will now show my true ignorance on the subject... does "open on the books" mean that the serial number is listed, but no description of how the gun left the factory, i.e. barrel length and finish?

Just trying to add to my S&W warehouse of knowledge. Which right now isn't warehouse-sized. Maybe lean-to or shanty. Hopefully not outhouse. :eek:
 
I want to thank you all so much for taking an interest in my grandfathers gun. It means so much to me and my father as I would have to him. He never collected items because of their value he only treasured the items he had because of his history with them. I'm going to send out for the authenticity letter and wet or or not it comes back to be a factory gun I will treasure it just as he did. It will never leave my family and it will be passed on for generations. Thank y'all again. Feel free to continue the debate

Blake
 
keith44spl said:
Hey Lee,

If'n this one comes back "Open on the Books" I still get ya fifty bucks. right? :D


Su Amigo,
Dave
Click to expand...
You got that backwards, pard. :p
If the gun don't letter, I get the 50! If it letters at 3-1/2 inches, I'll be payin. ;)

BTW- did the owner ever put a ruler against the cylinder? :eek:
 
BaldEagle1313 said:
I will now show my true ignorance on the subject... does "open on the books" mean that the serial number is listed, but no description of how the gun left the factory, i.e. barrel length and finish?
Click to expand...
Picture a great big ledger.
Each line has a serial number consecutive to the preceding number.
As each gun is shipped, the date and disposition was written on the line for that number.
If you're holding a gun with number 1234, and the line brside 1234 has no date or disposition, 1234 is "open on the books".
 
handejector said:
You got that backwards, pard. :p


If the gun don't letter, I get the 50!

If it letters at 3-1/2 inches, I'll be payin. ;)

BTW- did the owner ever put a ruler against the cylinder? :eek:
Click to expand...

No, sorry if she's still 'open on the books' it'd be a draw!!! :p;):D



I don't know if he measured it or not....I put the best pic on the CAD program....Purty dang close, best I can tell.


Get ready to shed a tear & a Ulysses S. Grant thar ol pard....;)


Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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So i just spoke with my father who talked to my grandfathers borther who shed more ight on the history of the gun.

This gun was originally owned by a man named Det West, he was a deputy sheriff in Dallas, Texas during the 1950's under Bill Decker. Bill Decker was a very notable Dallas sheriff from what i am told. My grandfather bought it from Det after he (my grandfather) left the Marines sometime in the 1960's. From what my grandfather's brother Bobby Moorehead said,( Garland bomb squad commander and narc commander for 33 years) the gun was factory original but Det later had it Nickle plated because he liked that style. THis gun was also Det's daily service revolver.
 
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handejector said:
Picture a great big ledger.
Each line has a serial number consecutive to the preceding number.
As each gun is shipped, the date and disposition was written on the line for that number.
If you're holding a gun with number 1234, and the line brside 1234 has no date or disposition, 1234 is "open on the books".
Click to expand...



Thanks, Lee. That was kind of my first thought, but then I figured that certainly they'd have had to keep a record of when and to whom shipped for the feds, but maybe not the gun details.

So if this is open on the books all bets are a push since nothing can be proven one way or the other? :D

I have to admit I'm kind of hoping it's original. Especially if that would make it as rare as you guys are indicating. It'd be like a barn find Hemi 'Cuda Convertible.
 
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Zooyork77 said:
So i just spoke with my father who talked to my grandfathers borther who shed more ight on the history of the gun.

This gun was originally owned by a man named Det West, he was a deputy sheriff in Dallas, Texas during the 1950's under Bill Decker. Bill Decker was a very notable Dallas sheriff from what i am told. My grandfather bought it from Det after he (my grandfather) left the Marines sometime in the 1960's. From what my grandfather's brother Bobby Moorehead said,( Garland bomb squad commander and narc commander for 33 years) the gun was factory original but Det later had it Nickle plated because he liked that style. THis gun was also Det's daily service revolver.
Click to expand...

This is a great story. Guns are interesting partly because they often are associated with interesting people. "Det West" happens to be a cool name for our protagonist.
 
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gkitch said:
This is a great story. Guns are interesting partly because they often are associated with interesting people.
Click to expand...
gkitch,

This story is likely to get even more interesting as Blake's now trying to verify exactly "When" Det West owned this Revolver!! If he can confirm West was still working for Sheriff Decker at the time of the Kennedy Assassination, & was still carrying the gun at this time, this could get "Really" interesting as Decker & his Officers had quite a bit of involvement in the investigation as well as other related activities following the shooting!! Sheriff Decker's Dept. was also in charge of holding Oswald in custody & transferring him shortly before he was killed!! I realize that's a tall order to fill, but if it can be verified in any way, what provenance that would be!!
 
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Zooyork77 said:
So i just spoke with my father who talked to my grandfathers brother who shed more light on the history of the gun.

This gun was originally owned by a man named Det West, he was a deputy sheriff in Dallas, Texas during the 1950's under Bill Decker. Bill Decker was a very notable Dallas sheriff from what i am told. My grandfather bought it from Det after he (my grandfather) left the Marines sometime in the 1960's. From what my grandfather's brother Bobby Moorehead said,( Garland bomb squad commander and narc commander for 33 years) the gun was factory original but Det later had it Nickle plated because he liked that style. This gun was also Det's daily service revolver.
Click to expand...



Blake,

Thanks so much for the back story on this fascinating revolver!

A 3 1/2" .44 Special Smith and Wesson revolver emerging from our own great Southwest.
Dallas County just spitting distance from Tarrant County, Fort Worth with the history of Wolf & Klar and the S&W 3rd model.

And to think that a lawman would choose to carry as his personal sidearm a .44 Special
revolver with the handiest of barrel lengths and the Smith and Wesson Company of the 1950s taking a
special order for a non-standard barrel length to accomadate a Texas lawman. ;):D

A few dedicated shooters remain to carry-on in the shadow of the great ones, aliken to those of the 44 Associates, we are a meir wisp of the fog.

Whether or not your fine revolver letters to an original configeration...It is time for celebration, for all us old hands that really know what we like in a personal sidearm.


Blake, again please cherish your grandfather's revolver.
I reveille in your glory!

The revolver pictured below is one of my custom project from the early 70s, when a man couldn't find an affordable .44 Special anywheres.

She turned out soo good as a .44 Special shooter....I had 'er engraved to suit myself.

S_W_Engraved_1.jpg



Regardless, of how this all comes out...It's sur nuf a interesting ride, fur sur!

All My Best,

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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I'm going to put it a bit more strongly:
Aside from making it functional (replacing that strain screw & checking out the action), DON'T RESTORE THE DAMNED THING!!!!!!!!!

If the story & connections are true, leave it alone!

Replace the screw & any other internal parts that may need it, keep the parts that come out, and DON'T mess with history.
Denis
 
Dpris said:
I'm going to put it a bit more strongly:
Aside from making it functional (replacing that strain screw & checking out the action), DON'T RESTORE THE DAMNED THING!!!!!!!!!

If the story & connections are true, leave it alone!

Replace the screw & any other internal parts that may need it, keep the parts that come out, and DON'T mess with history.
Denis
Click to expand...


Denis,

I'm with ya on Blake leavin his grandfather's revolver in it's current condition,
as to preserve the provenance and Dallas, Texas lawman connection.


I'd like to think my grandsons will preserve my 'Tools of the Trade' as well. ;):D

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
Zooyork,
have you actually measured the barrel??

Pic attached of how a barrel is measured.

BTW-
You boys notice how far off the markings are on my por ol 357?
That is the original barrel, and in the original length....
:D
 

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handejector said:
OK.
If it letters at 3-1/2 inches, I'll be payin. ;)
So, if it letters any other length than 3-1/2, you lose?
Click to expand...



Yup...If'n she letter's anything other than a three and half....

I'l be forwardin' ya a 50 from the shallow end. ;):D


Jest stop an think...If'n I had been workin in the S&W toolroom in the 50s....

Man o man, the neat ones that would have come outta there! :eek:


Oh Lee,
I forgot my crime scene photos....;)


From a 1950 Target .357 in the 109,000 range

I don't think this'n been cut off since leavin' the factory neither...:D
IMG_0079-3-1.jpg
IMG_0077-1.jpg



Su Amigo,
Dave
 
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