Got my first .44 today

[Summersteel]

Very excited to have picked this one up!
I'm pretty sure its a .44 HE 3rd model pre-war gun with a 5" barrel. The serial number, 289xx, is very early in the range noted in the Std Cat. for the 3rd model. I've seen discussions where some HD models were made in .44spl, but I don't think this is one of them since the serial numbers for those are a bit after this one.
Do you guys think that since this is so early in the serial number range for this model that it is a Wolf & Klar model?
I also see that the stocks are supposed to be checkered with silver medallions. This one has gold medallions in the stocks. No serial number is on either one. Could these be original, perhaps left over from the 2nd model or 1st models? Also, the trigger on this gun is not serrated, but smooth.
I would love to hear your comments about this gun.

Thanks.

 

[quinn]

Surely, that went to Wolf & Klar in 1927 in one of the early shipments. The correct stocks would have no medallions. Beautiful gun, you are a fortunate man!. I have 287xx which shipped in March, 1927, in the second shipment to the Ft. Worth company. Also 5" barrel and in nickel. Came with W&K smooth mother of pearl grips.

Here is mine with the correct factory grips as would have been on yours. Bear in mind that many guns left the W&K sore wearing one of their signature jigged bone or MOP grips.

 

[Ugly Hombre]

What a great revolver thanks for posting!

 

[shovelmike]

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

 

[Univibe]

Mine looks just like the one on Post # 2.

About once every couple years, I load up a few handloads and take it out and shoot it, just because it's cool.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Oh my, that is nice! Congratulations on a great catch.

 

[Muley Gil]

Ifn' you like 3rd Model .44s, read this thread:

Let's see those 1926 .44 Specials!

 

[RudyN]

You did great. That is a very nice revolver.

 

[raljr1]

I have sn 28616 which also shipped in March of 1927. Mine has been renickeled and came to me with artificial pearl grips. I changed them out for some Altamonts that i think set it off nicely. Some day I'll get around to removing the nickel from the trigger amd hammer. We should warn you however, these can be addicting. I started with a second model because I had six loose 44 special cartridges...then a triple lock, then this 3td model, then a 4th model target...and I'm afraid the trail has not yet ended.

Nice find, you will love it.

Robert

 

[rct269]

This is, without question, a W&K gun (weasel words to follow)----------based upon what I've been told.

What I've been told is S&W had an exclusive agreement with W&K for the ten years beginning in 1926-----which is to say if you have a .44 HE 3rd shipped during that period, it came through W&K. The only other thing of possible interest that I've been told is that S&W was perhaps playing a bit fast and loose with the exclusive part of this deal, because if you wanted a .44 3rd HE Target through a source other than W&K, it could be had by ordering a 38/44 Outdoorsman with the "caliber option"----and when it arrived, it would look remarkably like it was made to shoot .44 caliber ammunition.

All this is as I've been told------I wasn't there--although we've heard from folks who've seen this Outddorsman "caliber option" business in S&W catalogs of the time.

When this subject came up earlier on, I was asked if a 38/44 Outdoorsman with the caliber option would letter as such--or as a .44 HE 3rd Target. I didn't know then----and I don't know now. Another thing I don't know is why someone would want----would be insistent upon a .44 HE 3rd Target that didn't come through W&K. I suppose that's something else I'd know if I was there at the time. I reckon we wouldn't be bothering to talk about it if it wasn't at least a little bit weird.

Ralph Tremaine

Same church----different pew------another at least a little bit weird thing is the fact (FACT) the .44 HE 2nd and 3rd were made, side by side, from 1926 right up into the early '40's. Why in the world would they bother with that? A little tid-bit about how interested John Q. Public was in all this foolishness is the story of my .44 HE 2nd Target. It was shipped in the early '40's----along with 38 others to a New York City distributor, who was billed $17 for each of these guns. Now it hasn't been all that long ago that we learned it cost S&W $17 to make what we call a Registered Magnum, so what do you figure the difference between that and a .44 HE 2nd Target would be------maybe 50 cents to cover the rib and the checkering on top? (Probably more like a dime.) So we're closing out these guns----why? Because nobody wanted them at the regular price, that's why-----no rocket science here!!

Go figure!!

 

[Hawg Rider]

Yep, you've got a very nice nickel W&K .44HE 3rd Model (Model of 1926) with 5" bbl. My 4" nickel W&K .44HE was one of 80 units (20 nickel with 4" bbl) that shipped on May 3, 1927 (per Mr. Jinx letter). Your s/n (289xx) is slightly earlier than mine (29803), ergo Mar 1927 would be correct for when yours was shipped. The front sight on mine was changed and a top strap added, probably back in the 40s, and it was then renickeled. I bought mine with incorrect magna stocks, and replaced them with some Grashorn Elk Antler stocks. I hope you intend to shoot yours...they're a lot of fun!

 

[Dosgatos]

Wolf & Klar

As usual, serial numbers and dates are jumbled up. The attached photo shows two Wolf & Klars, the bottom one being #29179. According to the factory letter it was part of 150 guns shipped to Wolf & Klar (at $21.90 each) on April 16, 1927. It also has the gold medallion grips, but they are not numbered. I suspect they came from a triple lock.

 

[Hondo44]

The "real skinny" (info):

S&W Military Reinforced Model... Anyone Have one? (3rd Mod 44)

"Ever wonder what Wolf & Klar called the gun that we call the Wolf & Klar model? It was listed in their catalog #16 as the "Military Reinforced Model Sq Butt". The "Military Model" was of course the 2nd model 44. Reading the text of the ad is really interesting. At the time of this catalog (1930, I think), the Triple Lock was apparently commanding more on the used gun market than a new 3rd model."

Photo credit quinn



3rd model 4 inch 1926 value

The letter in this thread no longer appears so I can only email it:

The whole story as I know it from the Roy Jinks letter in 2004 about a "44 Hand Ejector Model of 1926 – 44 HE 3rd Model":

Exclusively produced for Wolf and Klar from 1926 until late 1936.
W&K called it the S&W "Military Reinforced Model Sq Butt" listed as a 44 in their catalog.

In 1937 S&W noted in their catalog that the .38/44 HD and Outdoorsman were now available in 44 Spl.

It wasn't until the 1940 'All Model Circular' that S&W lists the "44 S&W Spl Model of 1926" separately.

Production was halted in 1942.

 

[Summersteel]

This is, without question, a W&K gun (weasel words to follow)----------based upon what I've been told.

What I've been told is S&W had an exclusive agreement with W&K for the ten years beginning in 1926-----which is to say if you have a .44 HE 3rd shipped during that period, it came through W&K. The only other thing of possible interest that I've been told is that S&W was perhaps playing a bit fast and loose with the exclusive part of this deal, because if you wanted a .44 3rd HE Target through a source other than W&K, it could be had by ordering a 38/44 Outdoorsman with the "caliber option"----and when it arrived, it would look remarkably like it was made to shoot .44 caliber ammunition.

All this is as I've been told------I wasn't there--although we've heard from folks who've seen this Outddorsman "caliber option" business in S&W catalogs of the time.

When this subject came up earlier on, I was asked if a 38/44 Outdoorsman with the caliber option would letter as such--or as a .44 HE 3rd Target. I didn't know then----and I don't know now. Another thing I don't know is why someone would want----would be insistent upon a .44 HE 3rd Target that didn't come through W&K. I suppose that's something else I'd know if I was there at the time. I reckon we wouldn't be bothering to talk about it if it wasn't at least a little bit weird.

Ralph Tremaine

Same church----different pew------another at least a little bit weird thing is the fact (FACT) the .44 HE 2nd and 3rd were made, side by side, from 1926 right up into the early '40's. Why in the world would they bother with that? A little tid-bit about how interested John Q. Public was in all this foolishness is the story of my .44 HE 2nd Target. It was shipped in the early '40's----along with 38 others to a New York City distributor, who was billed $17 for each of these guns. Now it hasn't been all that long ago that we learned it cost S&W $17 to make what we call a Registered Magnum, so what do you figure the difference between that and a .44 HE 2nd Target would be------maybe 50 cents to cover the rib and the checkering on top? (Probably more like a dime.) So we're closing out these guns----why? Because nobody wanted them at the regular price, that's why-----no rocket science here!!

Go figure!!

Ralph,
I've been thinking about your comments above, about a person being able to order a 44spl as an Outdoorsman or 38/44HD if not wanting to go through W&K for a 44. I've also been wondering if the factory recognized these as such, or just lumped them in as versions of the 3rd model HE.
I guess the next question would be this: Has anyone ever gotten a 44spl lettered where it came back as a HD or Outdoorsman?

 

[rct269]

I can't answer your question, but my story contains a serious flaw---implying S&W was playing fast and loose with their exclusivity agreement with W&K. Hondo44 notes the availability of the Outdoorsman/Heavy Duty caliber option came to be OUTSIDE of the term of the exclusivity, while I very clearly implied the exact opposite. Based on nothing more than my knowledge of his knowledge, he's right and I'm wrong. To put it another way, I was talking when I should have been listening----talking about what I've been told rather than dealing with what I know.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Eddie Southgate]

You're hooked now , ruined for life . Congratulations .

 

[LLOYD17]

Congrats on your first 44. I doubt it will be your last.

Looks like yours may be a round top? The early 3rd models were produced with round topstraps while 2nd models were already being produced with flat tops. I have a 2nd model serial 26219 that shipped in Oct 1927 with a flat top and have had a few early 3rd models with round tops.

Example of both below.

 

[Hondo44]

Ralph,
I've been thinking about your comments above, about a person being able to order a 44spl as an Outdoorsman or 38/44HD if not wanting to go through W&K for a 44. I've also been wondering if the factory recognized these as such, or just lumped them in as versions of the 3rd model HE.
I guess the next question would be this: Has anyone ever gotten a 44spl lettered where it came back as a HD or Outdoorsman?

The .44 will not come back as a 38/44 HD or Outdoorsman. It is a .44 S&W Special, listed as a Military or Target Model of 1926 and/or 3rd Model.

 

[Summersteel]

What do you guys shoot though these older .44's? I've read some hotter .44 loads aren't good to use with these pre-war guns.
I'm working on getting set up to reload, so would be interested to hear what others shoot through guns of this vintage. Also, which factory loads are safe for these?
Thanks.

 

[hsguy]

I handload light target loads with lead bullets. I understand that some Cowboy action loads with lead bullets are quite mild but others may weigh in with more reputable information.