44 special help

[Drews]

New member here! I need help identifying one of my late fathers guns please. 44 S&W Special with 4" barrel. I'm pretty sure the serial number is 143139 (stamped behind ejector and bottom of hand grip). I would like to know model and year.

Regards and thank you in advance

 

[andy52]

A little more info will be needed to help you.
photos will narrow it down and is there a letter of any kind before the Ser#.

 

[wetdog]

Is there a letter prefix on the bottom of the grip frame such as an S ? Does it have adjustable rear sight ?
A picture would be a big help. Welcome to the forum.

 

[22hipower]

I'm going out on a limb here, but not very far, and will say you have a pre-24 probably from about 1955. I have three all in the S 14X,XXX range. If the barrel has not been cut you have a real treasure, you have a real treasure even if it has been cut. Just worth three times (or more) if it is an original 4 inch over one that has been cut down. We would love to see pictures. Should look like this one (which has been cut). And welcome to the forum, lots of great folks and information here.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[rct269]

Let's cut to it. Assuming there's an S preceding the serial number---also that the serial number is correct, you have a Model of 1950 .44 Military (aka 4th Model .44), and it hails from 1955-56.

Ralph Tremaine

And if it has an adjustable rear sight, then it's what that fellow who types faster than I do says it is.

 

[22hipower]

Ok, just to cover that other base, here is the other option, also from the same serial range. Much less often seen (only 1250 made as I remember) than the pre-24. In either case, you likely have a treasure and we very much do want to see pictures.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Hondo44]

Welcome to the forum Drews.

That's quite a "splash" for your 1st post. Congrats!

I agree, it can only be one or the other of what is posted above. But the S on the butt way out in front of the # is part of the serial #.

For that model and vintage you'll usually find the serial # in the following 6 places if the gun is all original:


1. Grip frame butt (prefixed by a letter(s) following WWII) - or fore strap on I frame Regulation Police models and single shots with grips that cover the butt
2. Barrel - bottom of barrel or in extractor shroud
3. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight (except the .32 Model 1896 and no doubt a few others)
4. Extractor star - backside
5. Cylinder - rear face
6. Right stock only - on back; stamped (after 1929), scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material. (except most post war target grips because individual fitting not required.)

Are you a shooter or like the 44 Spl cartridge?

 

[Drews]

There is indeed an S in front of the serial #. No rear sight, and the grip covers the imprinted emblem? I'm not experienced enough to tell if the barrel has been cut. View attachment 422399

 

[Drews]

I must have formatted the first photo incorrectly. Here's another!http://smith-wessonforum.com/images/blue_style/attach/jpg.gif

 

[SAFireman]

Looks like a Military Model of 1950. A very desirable gun indeed!

 

[mtgianni]

You have a very nice 44. I will let others determine value.

 

[22hipower]

Well, still a treasure but perhaps not quite what we had hoped. The stocks are by S&W but much newer than the gun. The barrel has not been cut. Better pictures would help but it appears to be re-finished. Still, not a gun we're going to see every day and having belonged to your Dad would definitely make it a treasure. Period correct stocks are available (best bet is eBay) and they would look like the ones in Post 6 above. Shoot it, enjoy it. Got more from your Dad's collection?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Hondo44]

Of course Military Model is just S&W's name for the model, it had nothing to do with actually being contracted for or used by the military.

 

[Drews]

Hondo44, you mentioned a police model. I do recall my dad referring to the gun as the "state trooper", wasn't sure if he bought it from one or maybe he knew it was that model?

 

[Art Doc]

I'm going out on a limb here, but not very far, and will say you have a pre-24 probably from about 1955. I have three all in the S 14X,XXX range. If the barrel has not been cut you have a real treasure, you have a real treasure even if it has been cut. Just worth three times (or more) if it is an original 4 inch over one that has been cut down. We would love to see pictures. Should look like this one (which has been cut). And welcome to the forum, lots of great folks and information here.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Paranoid much? That's a lot of Xs.

 

[Art Doc]

I have two guns shipped in 1955 and your serial is between my two.

 

[Tom K]

Paranoid much? That's a lot of Xs.

Three guns in the 14X,XXX range just means the serial numbers can be approximately 9,000 numbers apart.

 

[Muley Gil]

Hondo44, you mentioned a police model. I do recall my dad referring to the gun as the "state trooper", wasn't sure if he bought it from one or maybe he knew it was that model?

S&W built a .357 revolver called the "Highway Patrolman", but yours is the 1950 .44 Military.

 

[22hipower]

Paranoid much? That's a lot of Xs.

Nope, no paranoia, normally include the full SNs. At the time though we were trying to figure out what the gun was and didn't have the full serial number. The point was/is that many of the 1950 Military and pre-24s fell in the 14X,XXX range which made it likely that his .44 was one or the other assuming it had an S.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[daddio202]

So it has been determined to be a 44 4th model military. The next thing that has to be figured out to get a value estimate is if it has been refinished or not. Check the butt of the frame on left side under grips for any numbers. If you find 3 numbers such as 6 78 then it would have been refinished at S&W in June of 1978. If no numbers on frame then some much better bigger pictures will be required or best for someone with experience with S&W revolvers examine it closely in hand. If has been refinished then it loses all collector value but is still a gem an excellent gun to enjoy shooting with value around $400 or so. If it has not been refinished then the condition needs to be determined and it not having the original grips will drop value a bit but the standard catalog of S&W 4th edition lists value in fair condition at $850 going all the way up to $5000 in as new in box condition. So if it has not been refinished the value will be between there somewhere. Good luck and make sure to shoot that family heirloom at some point to get the feel for it. May become addictive, as myself and so many here are always looking for "the next gem".

 

[Hondo44]

It has been refinished/reblued, but it was not done at the factory.

 

[Muley Gil]

I am by no means an expect on finishes, especially when judging pictures over the Internet. However, I can pick out obvious signs of a re-finish. Looking at the OP's .44, I see a blued hammer and trigger. These two should be color casehardened. Second, the side plate has been polished separate from the frame. Look at the gap between the side plate and the frame and how the screw holes have been dished.

Just call me Captain Obvious.

 

[StrawHat]

As Miley Gil stated, it appears to have been refinished. Not only the sideplate and dished screw holes but the overall appearance is slightly soft or rounded, not crisp and sharp like a new revolver.

Even so, it is a revolver I would not turn down.

Kevin

 

[MrG5122]

Just a question that I've wondered about. I know the assembly numbers have nothing to do with serial numbers, but should the assembly numbers on the yoke match the assembly numbers on the frame, sideplate, etc?

 

[Muley Gil]

Just a question that I've wondered about. I know the assembly numbers have nothing to do with serial numbers, but should the assembly numbers on the yoke match the assembly numbers on the frame, sideplate, etc?

Yes, they should.

 

[29aholic]

Paranoid much? That's a lot of Xs.

This is helpful how?