Fantastic Forty-Four a Special Engraved Edition

[RKmesa]

I never owned a Smith & Wesson 44 Special. Several months ago that changed. I am now the proud owner of this 44 Hand Ejector Target (Pre 24). It is factory engraved and shipped to Rex Firearms in New York City on May 4, 1954. I'm not sure if it has ever been fired.

This photoshoot represents another first for me, as I never photographed any of my guns on this black background. It is a BLUED gun, but the highly polished mirror like surfaces really reflect the light of my white light tent, nicely highlighting the engraving but making it almost look like nickel.

Here are a few photos for your enjoyment, thoughts and comments:

















As always, I would love to hear what you think. And because it shipped on May 4th, it is by definition a Star Wars Gun, therefore, I am obliged to say "May the 4th be with you."

Thanks for letting me share,

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Another breathtakingly beautiful work of art, Richard! Congrats!

 

[bruce5781]

I'm speechless.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[DARE]

Very nice Richard, as always. How about one photo with your normal background so we can see the difference?
Here is my ugly .44 for contrast.

 

[mikeruns]

As usual Mr. Richard, fantastic example of fine art. Shipped 12 years to the day before my wife's Birthday! Fantastic!��

 

[mchom]

Richard
Congratulations on yet another fantastic addition to your amazing collection.

 

[raljr1]

Richard, Richard, Richard.....you know it's not safe to be out of your comfort zone....Let me take that off of your hands or the next thing you know you'll have a dozen scratched up 44 specials....I will be fair, Say $500?



That is a beauty.

 

[ENNE-FRAME]

one of the most elegant "weapons" I've seen
Richard
my congratulation​

 

[Chuck24]

Beautiful firearm

 

[22hipower]

Beautiful doesn't really cover it. Do you think this one was also engraved by Harry Jarvis? Looks a lot like your pre-27 that also shipped to Rex Firearms about the same time. Love the stocks too.

BBQ 1950's Factory Engraved Pre 27

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Rusty parrot]

Richard,
Outstanding Sir and that one "speaks" very loudly.
I really like the black background because for me it sharpens the outline of the gun. Other likes are the King front sight and the punch backgrounding in the scroll and floral work. Who was the engraver at S&W ?
Thanks for sharing.

 

[rbrbrb6]

I owned a non engraved factory pinto version of that gun that was shipped to Rex Firearms. The same front sight, barrel length and model. Mine came to me with a set of ivory non factory grips but a member here helped me find the proper grips.

 

[sophie]

Absolutely beautiful, and I like the black background too. Sure is shiny.

 

[SS336]

Wow, sure looks like nickel. Beautiful revolver. Front sight is nifty.

 

[Shootgood]

Outstanding

 

[rct269]

------------------and yet another vote for the black background.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Gun Relics]

Stunning piece. The engraving is so well balanced that it looks like it was poured onto the gun.

 

[Pizza Bob]

Dagnabbit, there goes another keyboard...

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[colt_saa]

Richard,
Another GREAT addition to the Family

That engraving is Out of this World

​

 

[RKmesa]

Do you think this one was also engraved by Harry Jarvis?

Who was the engraver at S&W?

Based on these iPhone photos (on a white background), Roy Jinks thought it might be the engraving of Russ Smith.





In going over the gun with a magnifying glass, I found no engraver marks.

Not to differ with Roy, but I think the engraver is more likely Alvin Herbert (he was only at S&W for a few years in the mid 1950s prior to engraving for Colt). For comparison, Roy attributes the below 12/28/1955 3.5" factory engraved pre-27 to Russ Smith, stating in the letter "...in my opinion this revolver was engraved by R.J. Smith and would have been one of the first engraving jobs completed by him after joining Smith & Wesson in May of this year [1955]."

The Chief Special in the below photos on the other hand was engraved by Alvin Herbert and shipped 11/10/1954 (Mr. Herbert often engraved floral patterns both with S&W and Colt):





To me, the engraving on the 44 does not look like either Jarvis or LeBlanc. The May 4, 1954 ship date was too early for RJ Smith (based on Roy's letter that Russ started engraving at the factory in May 1955 - a year after the 44 shipped). So, without records to help us pinpoint the exact engraver and no engraver marks on the gun itself, I'm going with the assumption that Alvin Herbert engraved this one.