kdailey
Member
Found this 24-3 this week, 6.5" # ABZ13xx, in beautiful condition. Just wandering about others.
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Any Model 24-3's out there.
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Lots of them. They are a very popular topic here. A bit odd to see yours with the magnas. Took a second or two to figure out why the S&W-side of the brain was saying, "Something is wrong here." 1950s and earlier 24s always came with magnas of course, but not the 24-3s. Good looking gun you have there but that direct sunlight is hard on it! 
I'll play
OP
kdailey
Member
Yes, the sun was a little much, a couple indoors.
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jubela#4
Member
I have a shorter version.
It shoots pretty good too.
It shoots pretty good too.
Here's my 4" model. ANIB with papers and tools.
OP
kdailey
Member
Man those are great looking revolvers!!
Lots of them. They are a very popular topic here. A bit odd to see yours with the magnas. Took a second or two to figure out why the S&W-side of the brain was saying, "Something is wrong here." 1950s and earlier 24s always came with magnas of course, but not the 24-3s. Good looking gun you have there but that direct sunlight is hard on it!
I've got two of them in the original boxes, and both came with the Magna's. They both also came with owner's manuals, parts diagrams, and other papers, for the 1950's .44 Specials, Model 24's.
EarlFH
Engine49guy
Member
Had it been a 4" would have kept it but had to do the
"Catch and release"...
"Catch and release"...
OP
kdailey
Member
The "release" part is next to impossible for me. I can let semi's, rifles and shotguns go, but none of my Smith or Colt revolvers. I just hope I can teach my Grandchildren to enjoy them as much as I do.
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
"I've got two of them in the original boxes, and both came with the Magna's."
I bought my three 24-3's NIB as soon as they hit my town, the 4 incher ABZ02xx (product code number 0243024041) in October, 1983, and the 6-1/2 incher ABZ40xx (product code number 0243026541) in January, 1984. They both came with the Goncalo Alves checkered Target stocks with the football cutout. The boxes are clearly marked with "TS" for stocks on the factory end labels. Of course, the 3 incher's box label sticker has "RB" marked for stocks, which are the round butt Goncala Alves smooth Combat stocks with finger grooves. 3 inch is AEJ14xx, product code 100787, which I got in September, 1984.
Hmmm. I am not sure that your Model 24-3's left the factory with Magna stocks. It is possible somebody along the line liked the Magnas better than the checkered Targets that they more likely originally wore and swapped them out. I never saw any new ones with Magnas. The gun magazines welcoming the 24-3's arrival showed Target stocks, as best as I remember. Skeeter Skelton trumpeted the Model 24-3 introduction in the March 1983 edition of SHOOTING TIMES. His initial test gun was a 6-1/2 inch gun and it sported smooth Target stocks, but the photos for the center spread photo taken by their staff photographer Kurt Collins showed both barrel length guns had checkered Targets.
Check your boxes' end label stickers to know for sure.
Before the Model 24-3 introduction earlier Model 24's and 1950 Targets often came with Magnas, but not always. My 1954-1955 4 inch bright blue 1950, S1183xx, came with smooth rosewood target stocks, as did many of the other 4 inch target sighted .44 Specials S&W made. I also have a 6-1/2 inch 1950, S861xx, from 1952 that came with smooth rosewood Targets, while my 5 inch bright blue, S861xx, has walnut diamond Magnas, and another 6-1/2 inch 1950, S1465xx) also has walnut diamond Magnas.
Bringing back a modern version of the 1950 Target Model in .44 Special in 1983, as the Model 24-3, was a masterstroke. Following them with the stainless steel equivalent Model 624 was a great thing for us, as well. Anyone who ownes one or more 24-3 is a lucky sixgunner indeed.
I bought my three 24-3's NIB as soon as they hit my town, the 4 incher ABZ02xx (product code number 0243024041) in October, 1983, and the 6-1/2 incher ABZ40xx (product code number 0243026541) in January, 1984. They both came with the Goncalo Alves checkered Target stocks with the football cutout. The boxes are clearly marked with "TS" for stocks on the factory end labels. Of course, the 3 incher's box label sticker has "RB" marked for stocks, which are the round butt Goncala Alves smooth Combat stocks with finger grooves. 3 inch is AEJ14xx, product code 100787, which I got in September, 1984.
Hmmm. I am not sure that your Model 24-3's left the factory with Magna stocks. It is possible somebody along the line liked the Magnas better than the checkered Targets that they more likely originally wore and swapped them out. I never saw any new ones with Magnas. The gun magazines welcoming the 24-3's arrival showed Target stocks, as best as I remember. Skeeter Skelton trumpeted the Model 24-3 introduction in the March 1983 edition of SHOOTING TIMES. His initial test gun was a 6-1/2 inch gun and it sported smooth Target stocks, but the photos for the center spread photo taken by their staff photographer Kurt Collins showed both barrel length guns had checkered Targets.
Check your boxes' end label stickers to know for sure.
Before the Model 24-3 introduction earlier Model 24's and 1950 Targets often came with Magnas, but not always. My 1954-1955 4 inch bright blue 1950, S1183xx, came with smooth rosewood target stocks, as did many of the other 4 inch target sighted .44 Specials S&W made. I also have a 6-1/2 inch 1950, S861xx, from 1952 that came with smooth rosewood Targets, while my 5 inch bright blue, S861xx, has walnut diamond Magnas, and another 6-1/2 inch 1950, S1465xx) also has walnut diamond Magnas.
Bringing back a modern version of the 1950 Target Model in .44 Special in 1983, as the Model 24-3, was a masterstroke. Following them with the stainless steel equivalent Model 624 was a great thing for us, as well. Anyone who ownes one or more 24-3 is a lucky sixgunner indeed.
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Wow! Now I know why they are so scarce. I think you must have bought most of them. I checked my boxes, and they ARE both marked as "TS". Thanks for the schooling on them.
EarlFH
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I'm a small-time piker compared to some on this site! I've been lucky to find and hang onto what I have.
There were only 7,500 4 and 6-1/2 inch Model 24-3's made, 2,625 of the first, 4,875 of the latter. Then S&W made (most believe) 5,000 of the round butt 3 inchers. So they aren't rare but certainly aren't common, either.
This compares with 5,050 of the original 1950 Target/Model 24, 24-1 and 24-2 made, from 1950 to 1966. I don't think anyone has exact numbers, but I think the great majority were 6-1/2 inch. 4 inch were less commonly made, and 5 inch were even less common.
I have never seen production numbers for the stainless steel equivalent Model 624. I am guessing there were a lot more of them manufactured than the 24-3; at least they are easier to find and buy.
I think that the 4 inch blued 1950 Target/Model 24 dash whatever is the best looking revolver ever made by anyone.
There were only 7,500 4 and 6-1/2 inch Model 24-3's made, 2,625 of the first, 4,875 of the latter. Then S&W made (most believe) 5,000 of the round butt 3 inchers. So they aren't rare but certainly aren't common, either.
This compares with 5,050 of the original 1950 Target/Model 24, 24-1 and 24-2 made, from 1950 to 1966. I don't think anyone has exact numbers, but I think the great majority were 6-1/2 inch. 4 inch were less commonly made, and 5 inch were even less common.
I have never seen production numbers for the stainless steel equivalent Model 624. I am guessing there were a lot more of them manufactured than the 24-3; at least they are easier to find and buy.
I think that the 4 inch blued 1950 Target/Model 24 dash whatever is the best looking revolver ever made by anyone.
I'm not very familiar with the 1950's models. Is it the better blueing on them, that you like better? I was under the impression that they were basically, the same mechanically. I've always liked that sexy tapered barrel they have. It just gives them that quality look. like they were designed to look good, as well as function good.
EarlFH
jimmyjoe
Member
I got one......
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I got me this here one....
A 6 1/2" Shipped March of 1984.
A 6 1/2" Shipped March of 1984.
I have a couple of them - one with a 4" barrel and one with a 6.5" barrel. Both are in really nice shape. I'm a great fan of the .44 Special cartridge. Both of these were shipped in 1984.
John
John
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