Does a real Model 23 exist?

[Jim Watson]

Now you are making me get mine out and look for a model number.

ETA: Not model numbered.

 

[mchom]

A real model 23...

One of my Grail Guns
There is at least one owned by a forum member

 

[demkofour]

One of my Grail Guns
There is at least one owned by a forum member

Yeah. See my post above (#17) for the story.

 

[Breezey1]

My model 23

I bought mine from a retired highway patrol officer. He said it had ridden around in his trunk for 25 years filled with hot loads.
I’m not a hunter so overloads are moot for me.
I’ll take some pictures and post them.

 

[Muley Gil]

I too have a model 23. Bought it in ‘96 for 500$. Took it to the range, bought 100 Rd’s and borrowed a rest. Wanted to sight it in. But first I tried six shots off hand. 4 in the 10 ring, 1 in the 9 and a flyer in the 6 at ten yards. Scratched my head wondering what to do with the other 94 rounds! Mine has additions to the trigger to make it wider and the hammer spur is triple wide. Is this factory on the model 23? Also have a hefty derringer in the same caliber. Two separate basketball sized patterns at the same 10 yards. Unrewarding and prompted me to buy the revolver. Later bought a Browning Buckmark Target for the economy of firing a .22. Never hunted with either but really enjoy hitting targets I aim at with both.

Sounds like your revolver is wearing a trigger shoe and has either a factory target hammer or a hammer that has been welded on to make it wider.

Pictures are definitely needed.

 

[Patrick L]

I saw 1 once. Back in maybe 1989-90? It belonged to a retired NYS Trooper. That's the only one I've ever seen.

 

[Camo101]

like this?

 

[Aussie Collector]

I saw one once. It was at the Louisville gun show and a guy was shopping it around. It got to David Carrolls table and submerged. Other than the model marked part, the gun was pretty unremarkable. I asked him why he snapped it up so fast and he said there might only be 20 of them. A big part of gun collecting is learning what really rare and then buying it when you see one.

I have a formula for the 20s model numbers that I go by (buy).
If it's a 20 through 26 no dash BUY IT.
If it's a 20s and -1 BUY IT.
If it's a 20 through 26 -2 BUY IT.

 

[22hipower]

I have a formula for the 20s model numbers that I go by (buy).
If it's a 20 through 26 no dash BUY IT.
If it's a 20s and -1 BUY IT.
If it's a 20 through 26 -2 BUY IT.

Good formula, and good advice. The problem is that if I've ever come across any of those in the last 50 years or so of buying S&Ws they were few and far between. I do have a couple 25-2s but they're not all that hard to find. I'm yet to have any other model marked guns in the 20 to 26-2 range.

I suppose we have a thread showing those in members hands. If I ever find one, we will.

Jeff
SWCA #1457