Educate Me

[Pizza Bob]

I came across a HE Model of 1950 Target in .44 Special. I was under the impression that the only S&W's that had rebated cylinders were the rimfires and magnums. This gun has a rebated cylinder.

The serial number on the cylinder matches the serial number on the butt. On the cylinder it is broken down into two groups of three digits each. The S prefix was separate from the two groups of digits.

So, have I been laboring under a false impression all these years or is this something special or cobbled up?

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Mbrgr1]

I came across a HE Model of 1950 Target in .44 Special. I was under the impression that the only S&W's that had rebated cylinders were the rimfires and magnums. This gun has a rebated cylinder.

The serial number on the cylinder matches the serial number on the butt. On the cylinder it is broken down into two groups of three digits each. The S prefix was separate from the two groups of digits.

So, have I been laboring under a false impression all these years or is this something special or cobbled up?

Adios,

Pizza Bob

A picture is worth a thousand words! Today's lesson.

 

[Truckman]

Could it possibly be an early .44 Magnum with a replaced barrel?...Will the cylinder chamber a .44 Mag cartridge?......Ben

 

[hibbs]

My 1950 .44 spc. does not have a recessed cyl.

Richard

 

[22hipower]

Show us a picture. What you describe is not unusual for the SN on the rear of the cylinder. A recessed cylinder certainly would be unusual.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[StrawHat]

IF, the chambers were deepened for the 44 S&W Special cartridge, does the firing pin still hit the primers? And if the cylinder was recut for the Magnum round, same question.

Kevin

 

[Pizza Bob]

The more I look at this the more that I think that Truckman nailed it. There is a slight difference in the finish - very slight - between the frame and the barrel. It has a target trigger and hammer and a white outline rear sight with that 1950 target Patridge front - not typical. A 6-groove backstrap, 5 screw frame and a serial number that puts it in the range of the 1956 pre-29's.

Somebody either liked the slimmer barrel profile of the 1950 Targets or damaged the original barrel and replaced it with the 1950 barrel. BTW - These barrels were available from J&G in the mid to late 70's - I know because I bought one and had a Model 28-2 converted to .44 Spl.

So now the question becomes: If this is indeed a 1956 pre-29 frame/cylinder assembly, is it valued beyond a shooter. If one acquires this gun, should the barrel be replaced with a heavy barrel to make the cosmetics "right" - although probably not affecting value.

I'd be especially interested to hear what Bill (Doc44) has to say about this situation.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[murphydog]

As noted by Kevin, a .44 model of 1950 with counterbored charge holes would not have the proper headspace. A Magnum cylinder would fill the entire frame window and require the forcing cone to be shortened.

It is possible someone "chamfered" the edges of the bores slightly for easier loading, which would resemble a recessed cylinder.

 

[handejector]

More data always helps us avoid playing The Game of 20 Questions.....


What serial number range?
5 screw, 4 screw, 3 screw?
I assume there is no model number?
Is the barrel numbered?
Will 44 mag ammo fit into the gun?
What is the finish like- does it look original?
It could be a converted 357 mag.
It could be a rebarreled 44 mag.

 

[handejector]

I was typing as you replied.
So, is the barrel numbered?

 

[s&wchad]

You are correct; only magnums and rimfires had recessed cylinders. Sure sounds like a .44 Magnum with a replaced barrel, since the recessed cylinder and frame number match. You said it’s a 5-screw frame, so the original barrel would have been numbered to the gun. Did you check the barrel flat?

Even if you had the barrel replaced with a correct period barrel, the collector value is gone. If the mechanic are good, it should make a fine shooter. Tough to assign a value. Is it still wearing Cokes?

 

[Pizza Bob]

To answer some of the above questions - I do not physically possess this gun, so cannot verify some of the questions asked. From the photos, it appears that there is no number in the ejector rod shroud behind the ejector rod. It is currently wearing walnut, diamond Magnas - no Cokes. The serial number is S160085, which puts it in the correct range for a six-groove back strap like the pre-29's, which it has. The cylinder fills the frame window.

I have written the seller and asked if it will chamber a .44 Magnum round after explaining why. That may anger them enough that they won't reply, but at this point I am about 98% certain that it is a pre-29 from 1956, with a 1950 Target barrel installed - a 6 1/2" Mountain Gun - LOL.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[steelslaver]

If you post a picture of the gun from the side we could tell if cylinder was recessed and if it was the longer 44 mag cylinder. A 44mag cylinder 1950 barrel combo will work it you trim the barrel shank on the 1950 barrel and recut the forcing cone.

This gun has a recessed cylinder and the longer 44mag 45 colt length cylinder. look at how close cylinder is to recoil shield and to front of frame window.

This one has a non recessed cylinder and a short cylinder. Look at size of gaps. The recoil shield gap on this on is about.040 larger than a 44 special and about .07 bigger than a recessed one. But, should give you an idea, especially the front gap.

 

[Doc44]

The revolver being discussed is a 44 Magnum with a replacement 1950 44 Target barrel. I have no idea why someone would want to create a revolver like this, but if it were mine, and I could find a period correct 44 Magnum barrel (6 1/2-inch), I would replace the barrel currently on the revolver. This is assuming other modifications didn't make the switch back impossible.

Bill

 

[steelslaver]

Basically they created a 44 mag mountain gun. Should be fine as the 44 mag bullet can't tell a 44 special barrel from a 44 mag barrel and will not harm it any. The cylinder, which contains the real pressure was designed for 44 mag from the get go. In this case it was also sounds like the frame was originally a 44 mag too. Very possible that the original barrel got messed up and replace with a 1950 44 special. As long as the got the B/C gap good, back of barrel is square and they re cut the forcing cone correctly, it should be fine.

 

[fleabus101]

Also, possibly someone liked or wanted the slimmer barrel of the 1950 44 profile vs the
heavy thick 44 mag barrel..
I have a preference for the slim barrel profiles
myself. W/O the collecting originality consideration, Sounds like a nice looking & shooting piece..I'd ck the option box for for the slim barrel profile on my 50s 44 order if there had been one

 

[StrawHat]

Also, possibly someone liked or wanted the slimmer barrel of the 1950 44 profile vs the
heavy thick 44 mag barrel..
I have a preference for the slim barrel profiles
myself. W/O the collecting originality consideration, Sounds like a nice looking & shooting piece..I'd ck the option box for for the slim barrel profile on my 50s 44 order if there had been one

Same here! My collection of ACP revolvers all have tapered barrels, with two exceptions, both Model 25-2.

Kevin