5-Screw 44-Magnum - what do I have?

[pre64win]

Hi S&W experts.

I am here because I am a life-long Winchester collector who happened to end up owning a S&W 44 Mag revolver that came to me as a part of a complete collection I purchased.

I thought it would be a simple matter to figure out exactly what I had purchased, but the more I try to research S&W revolvers, the more I realize this is no easy task. I have been through the sticky on what is needed to identify a S&W pistol and am posting photos here of everything I think will be needed. If the experts here can help me understand just what it is I have purchased, I would really appreciate it.

If there are other photos you need, please let me know and I'll be glad to post them.

Any information you can provide to help me understand what I have purchased will be greatly appreciated!

Merry Christmas,

Justin

 

[22hipower]

Looks like you have one of the most desirable 44 magnums; a four inch possibly shipped in the first year of production. You'll need to confirm the ship date to know for sure (letter available for $100, see links here on the forum as to how to get one; will provide original ship to address too) as these didn't ship in sequence. I have SN S161859 which shipped in November 1956 (first year). Looks like a very nice gun in excellent condition. Also known to collectors as a "pre-29" as these became the Model 29 in 1957. Did you also get the box and tools? The whole package in the condition we can see is likely valued in the $4000+ range. Only about 200 of these 4 inch guns shipped in 1956. Very, very, nice and welcome to the forum. I noticed your Woodinville, WA location, use to live there back in the early '80s. Any other S&Ws in that collection? Oh, and great pictures too! There's a "search" function at the top of the page, just enter "44 magnum" or "pre-29" there and you'll find many previous threads about the 44 magnums.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Donald Paul]

Welcome to the group Justin.
Your pre 29 is a real beauty.
- Don

 

[BC38]

What, that old thing? It doesn't even have a model number.
I'll give you a couple of hundred bucks for it and take it off your hands just 'cause I like old oddball things.

Seriously though, that's a beautiful pre model number 44 magnum Hand Ejector, with a very desirable set of target stocks in the style known as "Coke bottle" or "Cokes". The stocks alone are worth $500, and I'd venture to say you'll shortly be receiving offers in the $1500-$2000 range for it as pictured.

You made quite an entrance to our community. Welcome aboard.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on a very nice revolver.

 

[hkcavalier]

Woodinville, WA huh...I grew up in Duvall and Maltby. My mom was a mail carrier for the Woodinville PO in the late '70s/early '80s. Small world.

The gun? What's more to be said? I would definitely get a letter on it!

 

[Vettepartz]

Justin - Beautiful gun and welcome to the forum. And nice photos, too. I think the only way to truly find out when it was shipped is to get a letter from S&W. Don't try to guess the date from others like it with close serial numbers as they jumped all over back in that time frame. For instance, an earlier poster has serial S161XXX from 1956, and I have a 4" 5 screw with serial S 153037 which shipped in February 1957. So the numbering didn't always match the shipping times. Also, I have seen some postings regarding the 4" 5 screw models that say there were 200 made in 1956 and about another 500 made in 1957. So they are kind of 'rare'. If you get a letter, please let us know what you find out. Good luck and enjoy your new revolver.

 

[BC38]

Woodinville, WA huh...I grew up in Duvall and Maltby. My mom was a mail carrier for the Woodinville PO in the late '70s/early '80s. Small world.

The gun? What's more to be said? I would definitely get a letter on it!

LOL, I didn't even notice that the OP was from Woodinville! I lived in the Kingsgate area of Kirkland less than 5 miles from Woodinville for 16 of my 29 years in The People's Republic of Puget Sound.

 

[pre64win]

Oh, wow, guys. Thanks so much for the informative and helpful information. I am actually embarrassed to tell you all this - I paid around $550 for the gun, believing it would be worth $800-$1000. I had no clue.

It did come with a case:

I really appreciate your expertise!

And for all my fellow and former Pacific Northwesters - Great to find you here! This is far from the nicest time of year here, but you all know this is a great place to live.

 

[Peak53]

Outstanding! Looks like you might have some minor staining on the frame from the stocks. Possibly could be removed with Kroil or something similar. We also appreciate pictures of Winchesters which you could post in the Other Guns section.

 

[pre64win]

LOL, I didn't even notice that the OP was from Woodinville! I lived in the Kingsgate area of Kirkland less than 5 miles from Woodinville for 16 of my 29 years in The People's Republic of Puget Sound.

Indeed, they do love their socialism out here. It's not easy to be an out of the closet gun-lover in these parts!

 

[22hipower]

Oh, wow, guys. Thanks so much for the informative and helpful information. I am actually embarrassed to tell you all this - I paid around $550 for the gun, believing it would be worth $800-$1000. I had no clue.

It did come with a case:

I really appreciate your expertise!

And for all my fellow and former Pacific Northwesters - Great to find you here! This is far from the nicest time of year here, but you all know this is a great place to live.

Hang on to that case and hopefully the tools are in it too; you paid less for the gun than the case/tools are worth. The insides usually look a little ratty if the gun was stored in it, that blue material inside can be replaced. You won the lottery on that one.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[BC38]

Oh, wow, guys. Thanks so much for the informative and helpful information. I am actually embarrassed to tell you all this - I paid around $550 for the gun, believing it would be worth $800-$1000. I had no clue.

It did come with a case:

I really appreciate your expertise!

And for all my fellow and former Pacific Northwesters - Great to find you here! This is far from the nicest time of year here, but you all know this is a great place to live.

OK, now you're just piling on...

With that box, if the tools are in it, the package is easily worth 4 times what you stole it for. SCORE!

 

[pre64win]

Hang on to that case and hopefully the tools are in it too; you paid less for the gun than the case/tools are worth. The insides usually look a little ratty if the gun was stored in it, that blue material inside can be replaced. You won the lottery on that one.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Thanks Jeff.

The case does have an original blue lining, which is in fair, but far from perfect condition. Definitely some wear from the gun being stored in the case. There are no tools that I have found yet. The gun did come as a part of a complete collection, including many boxes of random firearm related things. I appreciate the photo of what the box should contain so I can go sift through things and see if the tools are tossed in one of the other boxes.

OK, now you're just piling on...

With that box, if the tools are in it, the package is easily worth 4 times what you stole it for. SCORE!

Honestly, it really does feel a bit embarrassing to come here as a non-S&W collector without a clue and to find out I stumbled by accident into something so desirable. It really should have been one of you... except you all would have felt guilty buying it so cheap!!!

Any other S&Ws in that collection?

There were two other S&Ws in the lot. Both were modern semi-auto pistols. A 915 in 9mm and a 22A in 22LR. Nice pistols, but not nearly as interesting as the .44 Mag.

Thanks guys, you really have provided a bonus gift to me this Christmas!

Justin

 

[Doc44]

Very nice 44 Magnum with its presentation case. Based on the style of the case and the serial number, I would guess your Magnum dates to early 1957. Based on my research of factory records, I have estimated the number of 44 Magnums with a 5-screw frame and 4-inch barrel to be less than 700.

Bill

 

[keith44spl]

Well....That thar is just a dandy...right thar for sure.

Extra Nice !!!

.

 

[oger]

Real nice.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I had to re-check the date to make sure this was Christmas and not April Fools day!

 

[luvsmiths]

Very nice 44 Magnum with its presentation case. Based on the style of the case and the serial number, I would guess your Magnum dates to early 1957. Based on my research of factory records, I have estimated the number of 44 Magnums with a 5-screw frame and 4-inch barrel to be less than 700.

Bill

CHA- CHING.

 

[pre64win]

I was able to find a few of the tools, including 2 cleaning rods, but no screwdriver. Here's a photo of the inside of the box.

I am guessing the screwdrivers are pretty hard to come by?