Help me identify this please

[TriviumAZ]

So, I found this revolver in my house, apparently it belonged to my grandfather. I read the "To IDENTIFY your Gun thread" so I got some (not good quality) pictures and tried to follow the steps:

First of all it has no model behind the yoke, so, I skipped to the steps for a gun with no model number there.

1. Type:

It is a hand ejector.

2. Serial Number:

Hard to see on the picture, hard to see by eye too. Numbers I'm 100% sure are: 5XX95, if I had to guess all of them it would be: 56195

3. CTG/Caliber

It reads "44 S. & W. SPECIAL CTG"

4. Barrel Lenght

6.5 inches

5. Sights

Fixed

Edit: I would also love to get an estimated price for this.

 

[arjay]

It's a late 30s 44 hand ejector,but that's all I know about these.

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. Your grandfather's gun is a .44 Hand Ejector, Third Model (or Model of 1926). It was probably shipped toward the later 1930s and possibly as late as 1940. It is definitely from before WWII.

If you look at the rear face of the cylinder and inside the ejector rod shroud under the barrel, you should see the serial number repeated there in smaller numerals. That should allow you to confirm the serial number stamped on the butt.

The symbols that start and end the cartridge designation are just ornamental marks, not an E or 3 or any other letter or numeral.

You can shoot standard .44 Special ammunition in that gun.

Nice specimen of its type. Very cool that it is a family heirloom as well.

 

[TriviumAZ]

Thank you DCWilson, I did check the cylinder and the serial number is in fact 56195, the information about the E/3 I saw also helped me.

Getting info about how rare/common this is would be appreciated. I would also want to know a possible price for the gun.

Thanks again.

 

[k22fan]

You lucky dog! That's a very desirable collectors' item.

Some one else will have to estimate value but it depends a lot on the condition of the bore and chambers and if the finish is original. I don't see and indication it was refinished.

 

[DWalt]

You have something that could be very interesting, and worth the price of ordering a factory letter. The 3rd Model .44s are often referred to as "Wolf & Klar" guns because of the Ft. Worth (TX) distributor that was instrumental in getting S&W to bring out an N-frame with the shrouded ejector rod. I don't know if your SN would be in the range of guns which were sent to Wolf & Klar, but if so, all the more interesting. They were very popular among the Texas lawmen of that day. The late 1930s dating is correct.
------------------
By the way, a very recent posting gave a SN for a RM .357 as 56298 which lettered as shipping on 5/24/1938. So yours could be very close to that date.

 

[lowhog]

Your Wolf and Klar is sporting a very scarce barrel length.Most of the 1926 models were produced in a 5 inch.This will raise its value.

 

[TriviumAZ]

A person I know told me that he can help me figure out if it actually functions correctly, is that a recommended thing to do? If so, how is this done? What should I avoid while doing this?

 

[arjay]

Theres a sticky at the top of the forum that explains how to check out timing,lock up ,etc.Just do those before you shoot it.

 

[DWalt]

Beat me to it. Those are the steps everyone should go through when contemplating a purchase.

 

[quinn]

A person I know told me that he can help me figure out if it actually functions correctly, is that a recommended thing to do? If so, how is this done? What should I avoid while doing this?

I suggest you send it to me for extensive testing over a period of a few years. I will provide you with a report at no charge.

 

[wheelgun610]

I've got one like it in the 54000 serial range. One thing I notice in the last pic you posted is that your gun appears to have the phrase 'MARCA REGISTRADA marking on the side plate under the S&W monogram. It's generally perceived that this marking was only on guns (S&W's) that were originally shipped to Latin American countries. Of course, shortly after WWII, all S&W's had the phrase 'MARCAS REGISTRADAS' (plural) rollmarked on the right side of the frame below the cylinder window.

Judging by your username, I'm kinda guessing you live in Arizona, and it makes me wonder if maybe that gun was originally shipped to Mexico came back across the border through unofficial channels due to the fact that there are no re-import markings on the gun. At least none that I can see....

Here's a pic of the side plate marking on my gun. Is yours marked this way?

Mark

 

[DCWilson]

Mark, very good catch.

 

[TriviumAZ]

I've got one like it in the 54000 serial range. One thing I notice in the last pic you posted is that your gun appears to have the phrase 'MARCA REGISTRADA marking on the side plate under the S&W monogram. It's generally perceived that this marking was only on guns (S&W's) that were originally shipped to Latin American countries. Of course, shortly after WWII, all S&W's had the phrase 'MARCAS REGISTRADAS' (plural) rollmarked on the right side of the frame below the cylinder window.

Judging by your username, I'm kinda guessing you live in Arizona, and it makes me wonder if maybe that gun was originally shipped to Mexico came back across the border through unofficial channels due to the fact that there are no re-import markings on the gun. At least none that I can see....

Here's a pic of the side plate marking on my gun. Is yours marked this way?

Mark

Hi Mark,

nice info (I didn't even realize it had a marking in spanish), you are totally right my gun is marked just as yours. Also I live in Mexico and my grandfather also lived here, so your assumption about it being shipped to Mexico makes total sense.

I would really appreciate if you could send me a PM with a price you think this would be worth (as you have a similar gun yourself). Also, would a factory letter be recommended? Do they even send them outside of America?

Thanks again for the nice information.

 

[wheelgun610]

I would really appreciate if you could send me a PM with a price you think this would be worth (as you have a similar gun yourself). Also, would a factory letter be recommended? Do they even send them outside of America?

I'm not a good person to ask about the value as I haven't bought or sold any guns in a few years. I'm interested to see what some of our more active collectors have to say about what they'd expect to pay. And how that would translate from American to Mexican value is something you'll have to keep in mind. I've had mine for over 10 years, and I sure hope the value has gone up since I've bought it.

And, as was mentioned above, the 6-1/2 inch Model of 1926 is considered to be the rarest barrel length. I don't know whether anyone here has an estimate of how many were made in that barrel length, but there were less than 5,000 made - in 4", 5" and 6-1/2 inch - in both blue and nickel finish.

Mark

 

[tlay]

Trivumaz, make sure that the person showing you knows what he is doing and if he wants to take it apart, he has the proper tools. You CANNOT use regular screwdrivers to disassemble your Smith or its side plate. Don't be afraid to hurt his feelings because many Smiths have had their screws messed up and the frames scratched from screwdrivers. You don't want this valuable Smith messed with. By the way, welcome to the forum!

 

[DWalt]

I thought that the possession of any handguns in calibers larger than .38 Special was banned in Mexico. Am I wrong?

I don't know any reason why S&W wouldn't send a letter to Mexico.

 

[tlay]

I believe they can have up to and including a 38 special.

 

[Muley Gil]

I thought that the possession of any handguns in calibers larger than .38 Special was banned in Mexico. Am I wrong?

I don't know any reason why S&W wouldn't send a letter to Mexico.

I believe that policy came into being after WW II.

 

[TriviumAZ]

Interesting info, would that mean it's 100% better to just keep it?

 

[wheelgun610]

Interesting info, would that mean it's 100% better to just keep it?

It's not easy for any of us to give you good advice since we don't have any real knowledge regarding whether you can legally own that particular gun in your country. If it's illegal for a private Mexican citizen to own a .44 caliber revolver, how could you sell it without the risk of possibly going to jail?

If it were me, I'd find out what the law is - without letting the authorities know I actually had that gun....

Let us know what you find out. I'm curious.

 

[TriviumAZ]

It's not easy for any of us to give you good advice since we don't have any real knowledge regarding whether you can legally own that particular gun in your country. If it's illegal for a private Mexican citizen to own a .44 caliber revolver, how could you sell it without the risk of possibly going to jail?

If it were me, I'd find out what the law is - without letting the authorities know I actually had that gun....

Let us know what you find out. I'm curious.

Will do, thanks for the advice.