Help identify possible 5 inch pre 24

I am reluctantly replying as I don't want to be a kill joy.

Does anyone else think the front sight ramp and the end of the barrel just don't look right?

However that is one nice looking gun. For 1080 OTD you did great!

Dave
 
I have a daughter and a son, both good kids, would you consider a trade?
 
Hi
Happy hunter I don't want to give you bad news but the front sight
on your revolver does not look like all the other 5 inch I have seen.
I have owned 4 over the last 20 plus years and only two of those lettered
and the ones than letter all have the higher front sight. see picture attached. also all the ones I have had that letter are in the higher
number ranges 130xx to 145xx.
but a factory letter is the only sure way to tell.
Jim Fisher

bmg60-albums-pre-model-24-picture11435-img-3250.jpg
 
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It looks good, but do I spy a smooth semi-target trigger?


Even if its not correct, its done right, AND since you already have an original 5" I think this would be a good one to shoot!
 
A fantastic gun. In my definitely unexpert opinion it looks correct. If it is an original 5" 1950 44 Target it is worth far more than what you paid. But you will have to letter it to be sure.

Here are my two 5" 1950 44 Targets. Neither is original. Both shipped as 6.5" guns. Letters say one shipped to New Orleans and the other St. Louis in 1955. Story I got was that in 1970 they were together with one owner who sent them back to S&W for modifications. One had the barrel cut to 5" and the other had a replacement 5" barrel installed. Maybe the last one in inventory since they cut the other? The front siights look slightly different with the cut barrel having a sharper slope to the siight. Smooth triggers also installed. The cut barrel has the correct serial (how about the subject of this thread, number there?) indicating it is a shortened original tube. The other has no number being taken from the parts bin and not coming on a gun.

Note the lettering on both is fairly centered and nearly identical to one another. It appears the stamping on a 6.5" barrel was in the same location as a 5" barrel. Both of mine have the S&W logo on the side plate. As someone noted the left side location may indicate a correct short barrel version.

I really hope the OP's revolver is the real deal. It looks great and even if not original still worth what he paid and a great shooter.

Cut barrel:

standard.jpg



Factory original 5" replacement barrel:

standard.jpg
 
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I got my 5incher from a reputable dealer in Alabama. Roy was unable to locate the original order, but was able to confirm it shipped to H.H. Harris in April of 1955. Harris was known for having carte blanche with the factory for custom guns. Ser. # is S1484**, logo is on the side plate. The front sight seems to match the op. Lee

 
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SaxonPig said:
A fantastic gun. In my definitely unexpert opinion it looks correct. If it is an original 5" 1950 44 Target it is worth far more than what you paid. But you will have to letter it to be sure.

Here are my two 5" 1950 44 Targets. Neither is original. Both shipped as 6.5" guns. Letters say one shipped to New Orleans and the other St. Louis in 1955. Story I got was that in 1970 they were together with one owner who sent them back to S&W for modifications. One had the barrel cut to 5" and the other had a replacement 5" barrel installed. Maybe the last one in inventory since they cut the other? The front siights look slightly different with the cut barrel having a sharper slope to the siight. Smooth triggers also installed. The cut barrel has the correct serial (how about the subject of this thread, number there?) indicating it is a shortened original tube. The other has no number being taken from the parts bin and not coming on a gun.

Note the lettering on both is fairly centered and nearly identical to one another. It appears the stamping on a 6.5" barrel was in the same location as a 5" barrel. Both of mine have the S&W logo on the side plate. As someone noted the left side location may indicate a correct short barrel version.

I really hope the OP's revolver is the real deal. It looks great and even if not original still worth what he paid and a great shooter.

Cut barrel:

standard.jpg



Factory original 5" replacement barrel:

standard.jpg
Click to expand...

Does your cut gun have any rework stamps?
 
The 44 looks correct as far a barrel length, but the combat trigger came much later and is a replacement for the original that was most likely a standard, grooved trigger as the target trigger did not become available until 1955.

Bill
 
My 5 inch .44 1950 Target must have been an early one, S/N S 86130, letters as having shipped February, 1952. In addition to the special order 5 inch barrel, it also has the high polish blue, an extra at the time. It has the large logo on the side plate.

It shipped to Salt Lake Hardware, a distributor in SLC, Utah. I bought it from Jim Supica in 1996, when he ran Old Town Station in Lenexa, Kansas. It was in his catalog. I got it at a bargain price (under $600 shipped) as he wasn't sure the barrel length was factory. I think it was the first S&W I lettered with Roy.

The 1950 Target just looks right with a 5 inch barrel.
 
I love 5" guns, especially the tapered barrels. That one is fine no matter what the situation is on it.

I have seen S&W stamp the small logo on the left side like that after re-finishing a gun where the side plate stamp was either thin to start with, or needed to be polished out/off to make the gun's side plate smooth and free from any issues.
I'd have been all over it for the price you paid. :)
 
OldDominion said:
I got my 5incher from a reputable dealer in Alabama. Roy was unable to locate the original order, but was able to confirm it shipped to H.H. Harris in April of 1955. Harris was known for having carte blanche with the factory for custom guns. Ser. # is S1484**, logo is on the side plate. The front sight seems to match the op. Lee

Click to expand...

Actually it doesn't in one point and that makes me think it has been cut down. The pins that attach the ramp on the rib are proud. Your factory (H.H.Harris gun) is flush and very hard to distinguish.

I have had a couple less than collectible S&W N-frames cut down and my gunsmith told me he had to leave the pins slightly protruding to not damage the blue, necessitating a re-blue. I believe that is what the OP's front sight ramp is showing.

Still a very nice 44 Special.

My $.02,
Dave
 
I would like to see one of us begin a data base for the 1950 Target Models in .44 Special.

Broken down by serial number, date shipped, barrel length and finish, plus any special features i.e. sights and stocks, confirmed by Roy and his letters. There was only 5,050 of them.

I can contribute 4 of them:

1- 4" high polish blue, S1183xx, red insert front, white outline rear, smooth rosewood presentation stocks, logo on left side. Shipped January, 1955.

2- 5" high polish blue, S861xx, colored insert front sight, white outline rear sight, Magna walnut diamond stocks, large logo on right side plate. Letters as shipping Feb. 25, 1952.

3- 6-1/2" satin or non-high polish blue, plain Patridge front, plain black rear sights. S985xx, smooth rosewood Target presentation stocks. Shipped November 1953.

4- 6-1/2 " high polish blue, Magna stocks, plain Patridge front and plain rear sights, S1465xx.

If someone on the Association side wants to start a data page, I'd fill mine out, even add the .45 1950 Target and .45 1950 Military I have.
 
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