Any info appreciated .44 magnum

[thompjp4373]

I will check.good idea!

 

[Truckman]

I always look behind the presentation box inserts. Never know what you'll find there.

Indeed...Recently I found the newspaper ad that a previous caretaker answered to buy his (now mine) nickeled, cased 8 3/8" Model 57!......Ben

 

[jcelect]

Clam Shell liners

I always look behind the presentation box inserts. Never know what you'll find there.

Do Not try to remove your liners! They are glued in, and it is very easy to break the Styrofoam when trying to pry the liners out. The 8 3/8" case was the first production Mahogany case made! The 8 3/8" 44 Mag was introduced in 1959, #S180386 went to the sales dept. on 7 Nov 1958 for demonstration purposes, and the case being used at that time was the Black(very dark blue) presentation case for the 4" & 6 1/2" guns. A transition 8 3/8" Mahogany case was used for the first production guns. It used the style liner from the Black. In a short time period, the Styrofoam "clam shell" style liners were introduced.
jcelect

 

[22hipower]

The upper sideplate screw was eliminated around S172000 in 1956. There are many N-frames made after that which are pre-model numbered specimens.

But I wonder how many is "many" of these four screw non model numbered guns? Four screws started sometime in 1956 and model number stamping began in 1957. So less than a year of production. Are there more, or fewer, of these than five screw guns? Not that it matters I guess but I think I've actually seen more five screw pre-29s than four screw.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Doc44]

The directive to delete the upper side plate screw for N-frame revolvers was issued in September 1956 and 44 Magnums with a 4-screw frame and no model number first appeared in February 1957 at approximately serial number S167500. During the first half of 1957, 44 Magnums with a 5-screw frame and 4-screw frame were shipped by the company. Stamping of MOD-29 in the yoke cut began at approximately serial number S183900 (late 1958) so there are approximately 16,400 serial numbers for all N-frame models that could have a 4-screw frame and no model number. If the Model 29 comprised twenty percent (a guess on my part) of the revolvers manufactured, then approximately 3200 44 Magnums with a 4-screw frame and no model number may have been made by S&W. This is just over half the number shipped with a 5-screw frame and no model number.

No 44 Magnum with an original 8 3/8-inch barrel and a 5-screw frame is known to exist.

The first clamshell case was introduced in the spring of 1960. 44 Magnums with the long barrel were shipped in late 1958 and in 1959 in a mahogany case with a blue satin lining like that used for the dark blue/black presentation cases.

Bill

 

[Chuck24]

So is it possible to have a pre 29 with original 8 3/8 barrel?

 

[THE PILGRIM]

If I correctly ran the maze, yes it's possible to have an original 4 Screw 8 3/8 inch Pre- 29. But not a 5 Screw.
So I ask Doc44, what's your best estimate on how many original 4 Screw 8 3/8 inch Pre 29s were made?

 

[thompjp4373]

From what everyone is saying is that this is something that could be valuable from a monetary perspective and a historical one. I am curious as to how someone would go about selling this without getting ripped off. Are auction sites the way to go? My LGS always lowballs anything I have brought to him making really low offers. It seems to me that this has to be listed on a broader market. So far in my life I have been more a buyer and not a seller so I am unsure on what to do with something like this. It is probably more f a piece than I need. Hopefully I am not violating any rules by asking your opinions.

Thanks for the help,
John

 

[thompjp4373]

I also want to say that this forum is great. I tried another for an old rifle I have and got nothing but hassled for asking questions….

 

[thompjp4373]

The 1960 time frame makes sense to me sinc a couple other guns I bought from this collection were from the 1960-1970 time frame.

 

[Doc44]

I don't know how many Pre-Model 29s with an 8 3/8-inch barrel and 4-screw frame were made, but based on the fact you see very few, I would guess at fifty or less. I own two, both of which were shipped in December 1958.

Bill

 

[RobertJ.]

I tried another for an old rifle I have and got nothing but hassled for asking questions….

I really dislike forums like that. That's why I spend all my time here!

Out of curiosity, what was the rifle? Whatever it is, I'd bet money that someone here can give you info on it. I posted a photo of a fish I found washed up on the beach that wasn't native to our area, and within eighteen minutes someone posted a photo of a live one, and was able to tell me exactly what it was.

That's a nice .44 you have, and welcome to the forum!

 

[weatherby]

John if you swing the cylinder out and look at the underside of the barrel.
Is there a serial number there and does it match ?

 

[22hipower]

I am curious as to how someone would go about selling this without getting ripped off. Are auction sites the way to go?

Thanks for the help,
John

One way to sell it and get a fair price is right here on the Classified side of the Forum. No commission and no fee to list it and of course plenty of folks who will be very interested in it. Get an agreement on price and shipping, pack it up and have your FFL ship it to the buyers FFL. Pretty simple really and you'll make someone here happy too. Or keep it and shoot it. . . .and make yourself happy. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[cmansguns]

Factory Letters are great!

OP;

It appears that you bought a very, very nice long barrel, early 44 Magnum.

If it does turn out to be, as Doc 44 (THE expert on 44 Magnums), one of 50 or so I would say you are indeed sitting on a valuable firearm. Along with what anecdotes you can assemble about the owner before you, meaning the gentleman that had the gun originally and presumable passed on and the Estate sale was for his Estate, a Factory Letter of Authentication will confirm as to when, where and how (configuration wise) it left the factory.

I cannot shoot Magnum revolvers any more due to a medical condition, however last summer/fall when I sold my Magnums on this Forum, one was a Model 29-2 (Target grips..not "cokes") with wooden presentation case, unopened tools. The blue flocking had deteriorated and turned to dust years earlier. Attached is an example of a Factory Letter regarding that very gun, so you can see the kind of information you get from such a Letter. I only have a pdf file of page 2 and I gave the original 2 page LOA to the purchaser of my gun, but page 1 is full of the history of the 44 Magnum so I'll see if I can convert an old copy file to pdf and post page 1 another time.

My Model 29-2 sold just a few months ago for $1,500 which would be well under bare minimum for yours in my opinion and most likely much more as there are those that not only desire early Models, or pre-Models in high condition, but also collect the long barrel variants.

I sell (and buy) pretty much either local, or from this Forum, but I have heard that the big auction houses will bring you a larger return, buy you may not net as much after fees and all which I hear can be quite steep.

Right now there is a moratorium on requesting Factory Letters but that will lift in January 2022 (see note at top of forum pages).

In your case I personally would do nothing more with the firearm until you can obtain a LOA, then come back here and post as much information about it, with pictures, as you can and you will find that the many experts here will help you out with better evaluations. I don't recommend leaving the gun in that case, to avoid any deterioration of the guns' finish, or the case liner.

Best of luck with what you are doing, and please come back and let us know how it all works out.

 

[thompjp4373]

Hi yes the serial number matches the one on the frame under the grips.

 

[thompjp4373]

Lol. I was on the Marlin firearms forum and was asking about my 1951. Model 39a called a peanut because of the brass insert in the pistol grip cap…

 

[dsf]

Do Not try to remove your liners! They are glued in, and it is very easy to break the Styrofoam when trying to pry the liners out. The 8 3/8" case was the first production Mahogany case made! The 8 3/8" 44 Mag was introduced in 1959, #S180386 went to the sales dept. on 7 Nov 1958 for demonstration purposes, and the case being used at that time was the Black(very dark blue) presentation case for the 4" & 6 1/2" guns. A transition 8 3/8" Mahogany case was used for the first production guns. It used the style liner from the Black. In a short time period, the Styrofoam "clam shell" style liners were introduced.
jcelect

Thanks, didn't know that re the early made cases. Mine go back to early 70's only.

 

[weatherby]

Hi yes the serial number matches the one on the frame under the grips.

That is a "very" good thing for you.
A very early 8 3/8" gun.

 

[thompjp4373]

According to Doc44 the gun was from 1958 but someone has changed the barrel at some point. It is a really nice gun but from a historical point of view now it seems to be not worth much, so I will probably let my son shoot it and have fun. What is the opinion of all, it it something I should sell, or just hold on to it and have fun? This kind of weapon is outside my experience since I am more of a pistol guy.

Thanks,
John