Cylinder serial numbers

[Tracksidewrong]

I bought myself a shooter grade .44 Magnum Pre 29 recently and I am trying to determine if the cylinder for the revolver is the original one.

My reasoning for my suspicion is that I discovered pretty quickly after receiving the gun that it has a left hand thread ejector rod. This of course means that either the extractor star has been changed or I believe very likely the whole cylinder has been replaced sometime in the past due to each star being individually fitted to it's matching cylinder and typically not a drop in fit from another gun. The cylinder is recessed, but has no markings on the cylinder itself or the star, and depending on the light it almost appears to have a different sheen/color to the bluing.

In my research from watching online auction pictures and reading all the posts here on the early .44 Magnums it seems that right around the serial range that my gun is some are numbered and some are not. My serial is S170714, I have found pictures with serials as high as 174xxx with the number on the cylinder, but I have also seen plenty earlier than that without. Wasn't this also around the time that Smith & Wesson changed from hard fit to soft fit as well?

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[DARE]

SCSW 4th Edition says soft fitting ended May 1, 1957. This deleted stamping the serial number on the barrel, cylinder & yoke.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I'm seeing guns with serials bracketing yours shipping from June to October 1957.

 

[Tracksidewrong]

Good to know on both replies. Mine does not have the serial on the barrel or yoke either, just the butt and inside the frame under the yoke.

I was guesstimating mid to late 57 on production date. I am thinking about getting a letter done on this gun as well as my Grandfathers S180614 serial Pre 29 that he bought new I estimate in 1958.

 

[DARE]

Inside the frame under the yoke? Don't think there is supposed to be a serial number stamped in the yoke cut. A photo of that number would be helpful.
I have a 5-screw Pre 29 S153063 that shipped December 14, 1956. Since that is before soft fitting ended it has numbers on the butt, cylinder, in the barrel shroud, yoke and behind the star. In the yoke cut it has an assembly number.

 

[blackdeuce]

I lettered mine. I have an invoice dated July 30, 1958. Serial numbers for 6 1/2" 44 magnums range from S171432 to S181468. Twenty were shipped on that invoice.

It's crazy that the range of serial numbers is so big.

 

[s&wchad]

Check the back of the extractor star (you'll need to hold the ejector rod down and use a flashlight). They're usually numbered.

 

[Tracksidewrong]

There is no number on the underside of the extractor star, I have had it out of the cylinder when I changed the bent extractor rod.

Here a picture of the frame number and butt number.

 

[DARE]

Thanks for the photo. I learned something. Have not seen that before. I am definitely not an expert.
Here is the yoke cut on my gun. And a photo of my gun.

 

[Tracksidewrong]

You're welcome, I'm glad I could help you out, especially me being so new here. My grandfather's .44 Magnum has the numbers in the same place as mine. His is an S 180xxx serial.

And that is a beautiful guy you have, I want to add a four inch to my collection. And yours has the same silver sheen that my grandfather does, mine seems a bit darker. I don't think mine has been refinished,however I'm not 100% sure about that either.

 

[Tracksidewrong]

Pics of mine.