Got It!!!

[brucev]

After doing some selling of items "surplus to my needs," I took a drive over to the local gun shop and took another look at the M-21-4 .44 Special Thunder Ranch S&W revolver. It has been sold to a local individual. He brought it and a number of other guns in and sold them back to the shop. He told the shop owner it was never fired. From my examination, I would say that it is unfired. In the next few days, that will likely change, just as soon as I can find some .44 Special ammo. Right now I only have one box of Cowboy loads using 240 gr. lead flatnosed bullets. If I can't find anything else, I'll just go ahead and fire these. It was priced at $550 plus tax. I had been told they would sell it to me for $500 plus tax. I ended up getting it for $490 plus tax. I just couldn't get them to ignore the tax! But, $525 seemed O.K. to me.

The revolver is simply perfect in every respect. It comes in a fitted wood case with a glass top that has the Thunder Ranch logo etched into the underside of the glass. The revolver is a 21-4 with the Thunder Ranch logo on the sideplate in gold. It has a roundbutt grip with smooth combat type grips. The trigger and hammer are I think MIM items as the trigger has a hollow back and the hammer is flat faced with the firing pin mounted in the frame. This revolver has a lock. I figure sooner or later I'll buy a plug for it. The grip fits perfectly. It is just about perfect for my hand as it is K frame size which for me is ideal. The timing on the action is perfect. The single-action is what one would expect from a S&W revolver. The double-action is smooth and even with the cylinder locking before the hammer breaks.

As soon as my wife comes home from work, I will take some photos and get them up so that everyone can take a look and see what they think.

I think that just as soon as I can I will contact El Paso Saddlery and order up one of the Austin holsters. Until then, I'm going to find me a Uncle Mikes hip holster so I can enjoy carrying this revolver on some of my walks in the woods.

 

[M.Cunningham]

Awesome price, enjoy!

 

[WC145]

Nice catch!

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Congrats on a great revolver. Plug the hole and shoot those cowboy loads. Save the brass and buy yourself a loading press and dies. Reload will give you a new lease on life!

 

[Gunhacker]

Congrats on becoming a member of the .44 special club, that's one sweet deal.

I've been searching a lot and it's been my experience that there's not much else in 50 rd boxes of .44Spl other than the cowboy loads for real factory ammo... and not the stuff that's being marketed as "factory" that's using once fired cases, or by a "no name" manufacturer that you don't know.

Enjoy your new toy.

 

[badguybuster]

Awesome deal.

 

[pdinphx]

Can't argue with the price, especially considering what you got for your money ...

Pics are a must.

Sounds like you have experience with EPS; I carry my 627 in one of their 'tortilla' holsters and absolutely love it.

Pj
Phoenix, AZ

 

[toroflow1]

Great price for that 21-4. I paid double for this pre 20, converted by Bowen to a pre 21 in .44 Special:

 

[Snapping Twig]

Great roscoe!

Now you need to find some reloading components. Only way to get the most for your ammo dollars in that caliber.

7.5g Unique under a 240g SWC is good medicine.

 

[Airedale]

Nice find.
There is a 21-4 at my local P&G. They have it tagged at $650. I think they are a tad high. I will bide my time on it.

Dave

 

[brucev]

Pictures will have to wait. My wife got home at 6pm. She has to leave for another job at 5am. So... first things first... supper and sleep. I'll try to figure out the pictures tomorrow. I'll be out making visits to church members. After I get the bulletins done for both churches, I'll hope to be able to go out and try my hand shooting this beautiful new pistol. If I can't figure out how to post the pictures, my wife will show me when she gets home.

Just one observation. I've handled and owned a pile of S&W revolvers in 30 years of shooting. I know what a well fitted revolver feels like. This 21-4 is remarkable. It times up just right, locking just before the hammer cocks in single-action and just before the hammer breaks in double-action. The single-action is crisp... as one would expect from a good S&W. The double-action is faultless, smooth to the break of the hammer with a slight staging at the top. With a little bit of effort one can trigger cock the gun and then break the hammer when the sights are in the right place. I've been doing some dry-fire practice. I think this revolver is going to be a perfect woods walking companion as well as an ideal HD gun. Loaded with WW Silvertips or Speer Gold Dots, it should be able to handle any task to which it is pointed. I am thoroughly thrilled to have bought and now own it.

 

[C Islander]

Sounds like a dream gun. Can't waite for pictures and a range report. Nice score!!

 

[goldenlight]

I am more than a little envious.

I just LOVE the old 44 Special cartridge, though I currently only own 2 revolvers chambered for it.

I reload for my 44 magnums, and I load what would be a fairly typical 44 Special load for target shooting.

Recoil is light, it's very accurate, and they are easy on me and my revolvers.

The 44 Special is an old cartridge, but like the 45 Long Colt, even though it has been eclipsed with may more 'modern' and 'powerful' cartridges, the 44 Special remains one of the most accurate, if not THE most accurate, of the 'old' cartridges still in use today.

This is due in no small part to the many fine old AND new revolvers, made by S&W for this fine 'old' cartridge.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Nice find, you will really like this one! With the exception of the horrible factory grips and gold logo on mine I really like it and agree with others here, you have to reload to get the full 44 special experience.