Heritage Line

[Tom S.]

Last week, a Model 24-5 Heritage popped up for sale on the local gun board. It took a few days of negotiating a time and meeting place, but last night, I brought it home. Technically not new in the box because the original owner fired a cylinder of ammo through it, it never the less is in excellent condition. As a Heritage model, it was assembled in the PC shop and is a four screw frame without a lock. The barrel is 6.5" long and has a gold bead on the front sight. Chambering is 44 Special. As the pictures show, this is one of the case hardened frame models and the colors are superb. The price was very reasonable, especially considering it came with an extra set of like-new stocks, made by none other than Culina.

All in all, a very nice example of what the PC shop was producing in 2001!

 

[s&wchad]

Nice grab Tom, I think you'll love shooting it!

I've got one of the .22's and have shot mine. the OEM stocks are horrible, but the action is what you'd expect from the Performance Center. The bluing is really nice and they obviously put a lot of effort into the polishing. Doug Turnbull did the case colors and put his stamp on the grip frame.

I've played musical stocks with mine and still haven't found the right set. Those Culina stocks look like just the ticket!

 

[swagmeister]

Beautiful gun and one that is not seen that often for sale. A keeper for sure. Great looking extra stocks also. Will probably be more comfortable to shoot with them on it. Thanks for showing.

 

[Tanners Owner]

Congrats, great snag. I was fortunate to pick up a 21-4 and love it.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Must be time for my semiannual showing of the three Heritage models I have, a 24, 1917, and 15. All the grips are from the late Roy Fishpaw - I should apologize in advance for my poor photo skills. The model 24 is my favorite one to shoot. I liked these so much when they came out I paid full retail for the 24. They didn't sell very well at the time, and I picked up the others for a steep discount. I bought two model 15's for less than a decent used blued model 15 was going for; I have since sold one of them.



Good guns need holsters, these are all from El Paso Saddlery:

 

[Pizza Bob]

Just curious if you got the box or case with the gun. I have an early 24-5 and the early guns came in PC aluminum cases. The later ones in the gold Heritage series boxes. Not sure where (at what serial number) the change took place. Mine came with the PC case and is #25 of the 150 made.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[Tom S.]

Just curious if you got the box or case with the gun. I have an early 24-5 and the early guns came in PC aluminum cases. The later ones in the gold Heritage series boxes. Not sure where (at what serial number) the change took place. Mine came with the PC case and is #25 of the 150 made.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

It came with the original gold box with the correct end label for the gun. I also have one each of the Ed McGivern Model 15's:

 

[Miami_JBT]

I just stumbled upon a 29-9 Nickel and should be picking it up tomorrow if my schedule allows me. Mine looks just like this:

 

[Bullet Bob]

The one I'd like to have (if I hadn't stopped buying anymore guns ) is the model 10, built on the last square butt frame. I've read different accounts, such as they were proof of concept or something for the Heritage line, I don't have a clue (the story of my life). They didn't have the Performance Center mark (although knowing S&W it wouldn't shock me if one did turn up so marked). I don't care about money very much, I just like 4" (okay, 4.25" for the literalists) model 10's. I know SmithNut either has or used to have one of them.

 

[SmithNut]

The one I'd like to have (if I hadn't stopped buying anymore guns ) is the model 10, built on the last square butt frame. I've read different accounts, such as they were proof of concept or something for the Heritage line, I don't have a clue (the story of my life). They didn't have the Performance Center mark (although knowing S&W it wouldn't shock me if one did turn up so marked). I don't care about money very much, I just like 4" (okay, 4.25" for the literalists) model 10's. I know SmithNut either has or used to have one of them.

Bullet Bob,

I had both the RB and the SB Case Hardened M10 models, see the pic below (at the top). Both are wearing proper S&W grips, not the Altamont versions they shipped with.

The RB was made using a M10-8 frame while the SB was made on a M10-7 frame.

Click on the pic for a larger view.

 

[Tom S.]

Bullet Bob,

I had both the RB and the SB Case Hardened M10 models, see the pic below (at the top). Both are wearing proper S&W grips, not the Altamont versions they shipped with.

The RB was made using a M10-8 frame while the SB was made on a M10-7 frame.

Click on the pic for a larger view.

I wondered how original grips would fit! Looks like they fit just fine. Are they pre or post war?

 

[SmithNut]

I wondered how original grips would fit! Looks like they fit just fine. Are they pre or post war?

Those two were postwar grips, and they did fit just fine....

...SmithNut

 

[Miami_JBT]

Just picked mine up.

 

[Miami_JBT]

All cleaned up.

I really like how the Performance Center made them look as a way to pay homage to the S&W Model .44 Triple Lock Target Model.

 

[Tom S.]

I really like how the Performance Center made them look as a way to pay homage to the S&W Model .44 Triple Lock Target Model.

Given the care taken by the Performance Center in the construction of these, the use of 4 screws instead of 3 and lack of a lock, I am surprised the prices on these remain relatively low. It would be interesting to know what the premise was when S&W decided to produce this limited run. Were they considering making a come back of these models and were testing the market? From what I understand, they didn't exactly fly off the shelves when introduced.

The quality on mine is top notch. They are the tightest revolvers I have and while plastic cases are "OK", I prefer the gold boxes these shipped in. The only clinker is the stocks. While they are period correct in design, the plastic look is a distraction, at least to me. Like SmithNut, I will be looking to replace the stocks with some nice period correct stocks.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Given the care taken by the Performance Center in the construction of these, the use of 4 screws instead of 3 and lack of a lock, I am surprised the prices on these remain relatively low. It would be interesting to know what the premise was when S&W decided to produce this limited run. Were they considering making a come back of these models and were testing the market? From what I understand, they didn't exactly fly off the shelves when introduced.

The quality on mine is top notch. They are the tightest revolvers I have and while plastic cases are "OK", I prefer the gold boxes these shipped in. The only clinker is the stocks. While they are period correct in design, the plastic look is a distraction, at least to me. Like SmithNut, I will be looking to replace the stocks with some nice period correct stocks.

These guns are basically an anomaly in collector circles.

1. They aren't "pure." These are modern production guns and the purists who want a no-dash don't want These.
2. They're an extremely small number of them in circulation. That in of itself makes it harder to collect since there isn't a lot of information and discussion about them. You don't have a lot of folks creating content and sparking interest in them since they're unknown. More Colt Python "Snake Eyes" sets were made than some of these guns.
3. They were made at the height of the Clinton HUD Agreement boycott. The agreement to make these guns for Les Horton was before Saf-T-Hammer purchased Big Blue from the Brits. But these guns were made during the boycott and during the change in ownership. Thus, the boycott killed the sales of just about everything S&W and also Saf-T-Hammer didn't want to really continue making these guns since the lock was their thing.

 

[Valmet]

Any wheel gun in .44 Spl is awesome IMO- particularly the Heritage series guns. Very nice OP