Find of a lifetime

[Bear4570]

A old friend called me last week and said he had a line on 4 Smith revolvers, he said they were two 44's, a 455, and a 45 auto rim. Other than they looked good, that was the only info I got. It seems the Dad had mentioned my friend to his son in regards to reloading and the son remembered. Dad passed a few weeks ago, Son was here from the east coast and called my friend to give him all the powder and brass. He than mentioned the revolvers. Did not have any use for them, was not going to take them back to the east coast and he was leaving in a few days and wanted to get rid of them. My buddy not wanting them for himself called me, not knowing exactly what he had, and sight unseen made me a little leary as I live three hours away but I figured what the heck. I said to tell him that if he waited he could probably do a lot better, but I would offer him $400 each, sight unseen, And he took it stating he just wanted to get rid of them, my buddy delivered them Thursday night.

Needless to say...I just about wet my pants when I saw them....so without further delay...

All 4 are about in 98% condition

 

[Bear4570]

A old friend called me last week and said he had a line on 4 Smith revolvers, he said they were two 44's, a 455, and a 45 auto rim. Other than they looked good, that was the only info I got. It seems the Dad had mentioned my friend to his son in regards to reloading and the son remembered. Dad passed a few weeks ago, Son was here from the east coast and called my friend to give him all the powder and brass. He than mentioned the revolvers. Did not have any use for them, was not going to take them back to the east coast and he was leaving in a few days and wanted to get rid of them. My buddy not wanting them for himself called me, not knowing exactly what he had, and sight unseen made me a little leary as I live three hours away but I figured what the heck. I said to tell him that if he waited he could probably do a lot better, but I would offer him $400 each, sight unseen, And he took it stating he just wanted to get rid of them, my buddy delivered them Thursday night.

Needless to say...I just about wet my pants when I saw them....so without further delay...

All 4 are about in 98% condition

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, congratulations. Talk about a "dream score" ... wow.

Semper Fi,

Ron H.

 

[bigt5150]

Looks like the Dad was making sure the guns went to someone who would appreciate them.
Congratulations!

 

[cudamank]

wow, I think you just one the Smith & Wesson lotto. If you run out of room in your safe and would love to be a foster parent for any of them.

 

[Pontiaker]

Man what a deal! Lucky guy.... Dont the two .44's have the wrong grips on them? I thought they both would have service grips with large silver medallions in those years of manufacture? Are the grips numbered to the gun on those two? I know with S&W nothings ever a sure thing:~) Awesome stuff! Whats with the off color cylinder on the 1917?

 

[Culina]

Wow, it just goes to show, without taking a risk its sometime hard to come out ahead

 

[j38]

What an amazing find! Your gamble really paid off. I'm also surprised that all 4 guns (and their grips) are in such good condition. Thanks for the story and pictures,

Jerry

 

[Jack Flash]

Congrats! Sounds like it was a win-WIN situation. The other guy got more out of it than he probably would have any other way in such a short time.

By my guestimate, the only one that you came close to paying full value on is the Brazilian.

 

[moosedog]

WOW! You must be doing something right, The S&W Gods are looking out for you.
The find of a life time. Congradulations.

 

[Kobold_27]

You must be living right.

Congratulations on your finds!

Best,

Michael

 

[Polyphemus]

Gad, what a haul!

Questions:

What is the apparent two-tone effect on the Brazilian?
and
How often would one find a lanyard ring on a 1938 .44 Special?

Thanks

 

[Bear4570]

Originally posted by Polyphemus:
Gad, what a haul!

Questions:

What is the apparent two-tone effect on the Brazilian?
and
How often would one find a lanyard ring on a 1938 .44 Special?

Thanks

From what I have read the copper tone effect on the 1917 is from the heat treating of the cylinder.

The HE second model is found with and without the lanyard ring, this particular gun appears to have british proof marks on it.

 

[Pontiaker]

Originally posted by Bear4570:

Originally posted by Polyphemus:
Gad, what a haul!

Questions:

What is the apparent two-tone effect on the Brazilian?
and
How often would one find a lanyard ring on a 1938 .44 Special?

Thanks

From what I have read the copper tone effect on the 1917 is from the heat treating of the cylinder.

The HE second model is found with and without the lanyard ring, this particular gun appears to have british proof marks on it.

I think your 1917 has been refinished, S&W blue finish does not normally look like this or turn like this even over time. This normally happens when I gun has been refinished. Do the grips on the .44's have serial numbers on them that match the guns serial numbers? On two of them the vintage of the gun does not match the grips that are on it, very curious. The third model has a later vintage set of Magna's on it and the 1938 second model should have those service grips but with the large flat silver medallions. Though as we all know those service grips might have been left over and stuck on that gun in 1938 so I was wondering if these two guns have a serial number on the inside of the right panel and does it match the gun?
Thanks!

 

[Farmer17]

Looks like you bought one gun and got three for free!

 

[handejector]

I'm curious- how did you determine the dates for the 44 Specials?

 

[Bear4570]

Originally posted by handejector:
I'm curious- how did you determine the dates for the 44 Specials?

By comparing the seriel number on the butt with the Smith & Wesson 3rd Edition listing and description.

 

[Pontiaker]

Originally posted by Bear4570:

Originally posted by handejector:
I'm curious- how did you determine the dates for the 44 Specials?

By comparing the seriel number on the butt with the Smith & Wesson 3rd Edition listing and description.

Still no answer on the grips? I think you might be making a mistake on the serial numbers dats hence the problems with the grips maybe?

 

[olypenn22]

Bear,

A real score, as they say
"Some times you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you"

 

[Bear4570]

Originally posted by Pontiaker:

Originally posted by Bear4570:

Originally posted by handejector:
I'm curious- how did you determine the dates for the 44 Specials?

By comparing the seriel number on the butt with the Smith & Wesson 3rd Edition listing and description.

Still no answer on the grips? I think you might be making a mistake on the serial numbers dats hence the problems with the grips maybe?

Checked last night, no serial number on the grips.