cgt4570
Member
Just curious. Anyone know how many non-Texas commemorative Model 544 .44-40's were made? I know they completed some overruns as standard production types, but I haven't found a reference to it in SCSW3.
Chris
Chris
How many non-Texas 544's were built?
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surveyor_nm
Member
Never heard of any, but I've been wrong before...and probably will be again.
Any I've seen are the commemorative edition.
Calaveras Slim
US Veteran
the answer to your question is ZERO, zilch, nada, none, zip..... 
S&W has made, on their own, only 5 commeratives over the years. The last was the M544 Texas Wagon Train comm. in 1986 to celebrate of the 150th anniversary of the state of Texas. 1836-1986.
Before I get flamed about comm from S&W, there have been a number commissioned by others but only 5 by S&W on their own.
S&W has made, on their own, only 5 commeratives over the years. The last was the M544 Texas Wagon Train comm. in 1986 to celebrate of the 150th anniversary of the state of Texas. 1836-1986.
Before I get flamed about comm from S&W, there have been a number commissioned by others but only 5 by S&W on their own.
Actually the Texas Independence Association commissioned the model 544.
The revolver commemorated the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Texas Wagon Train, not Texas statehood. Texas was not annexed as the 28th US State until 1845.
In 1836 Texas won it's Independence from Mexico. The Declaration was signed in March and The Wagon Train began it's 3000 mile journey around the state of Texas. This trip took 6 months to complete.
7,800 revolvers were commissioned though S&W only produced 4,782.
Of these 4,782 that all went to the Texas Independence Association, the first 150 revolvers were further embellished as Deluxe Commemoratives. These 150 revolvers were engraved and gold inlaid. Ivory scrimshawed grips were mounted and the revolvers went into a giant presentation case with glass on 5 sides. Also shipped with each revolver for placement into the presentation case was a bronze Longhorn and a commemorative coin.
I have not heard of any of the revolvers being shipped by the factory unembellished. This is most likely due to the under-run of this particular commemorative.
The revolver commemorated the Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the Texas Wagon Train, not Texas statehood. Texas was not annexed as the 28th US State until 1845.
In 1836 Texas won it's Independence from Mexico. The Declaration was signed in March and The Wagon Train began it's 3000 mile journey around the state of Texas. This trip took 6 months to complete.
7,800 revolvers were commissioned though S&W only produced 4,782.
Of these 4,782 that all went to the Texas Independence Association, the first 150 revolvers were further embellished as Deluxe Commemoratives. These 150 revolvers were engraved and gold inlaid. Ivory scrimshawed grips were mounted and the revolvers went into a giant presentation case with glass on 5 sides. Also shipped with each revolver for placement into the presentation case was a bronze Longhorn and a commemorative coin.
I have not heard of any of the revolvers being shipped by the factory unembellished. This is most likely due to the under-run of this particular commemorative.
mkk41
US Veteran
Oh they're out there. I've seen a few. They bring pretty high prices. Almost bought one , but what's the use of an underpowered N-frame? Can't really improve the ballistics of the 44-40 due to thin cylinder walls. S&W should have made it a dual cylinder offering with extra .44 Mag cylinder
What's the use you ask? 5" N frames are the best!
bmcgilvray
Member
As a revolver round there are no flies on the grand ol' .44-40.
bk43
Member
Sooooooooo...who commissioned the 50th Anniversary 27 in 1985 and the 50th Anniversary 29 in 2006?
Bob
mkk41
US Veteran
I agree wholeheartedly! I wish they made a Mod.57 in 5in. But still , with a .44 mag , ya can still shoot .44 Specials.
Not much variety in the grand old 44/40 WCF. And back when the 544 came out , ammo was kinda hard to find and expensive. Only the 200gr JSP from Remington and Winchester. Todays cowboy craze has improved things. But putting it in an N-frame? I've heard they used a standard .44 tube and throats , meant for .429-.430 bullets. 44/40 factory ammo uses a .427 bullet. 44/40 is also a pain to reload. Thin cases and ya can't use carbide dies for the semi-bottleneck cases.
Yeah , it's a cool nostalgic round , best left to Colt and Remington single actions.
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westkybanded
Member
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I had a 544 and regret selling it worse than any firearm I've ever owned.
I wish that I had the foresight to have a .44 special crane and cylinder made up for it.
I wish that I had the foresight to have a .44 special crane and cylinder made up for it.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Later tonight I am going to check clyinder lengths and compare. I have all three, a 24-3, 29-2 and a 544. I think I did compare the three once about 20 years ago when I bought the 544. I seem to remember all three clyinders being different lengths, makeing any changes difficult or next to impossable. I have never shot the 544 commemerative. I bought it used from a guy at work that needed money, dont think he fired it either, but he also gave me a full box of ammo. It could make a beautifull project as you cannot tell the differance between it and my 29-2 that is also 5"s. Report later.
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I bought an M-544 to only shoot; where else was I going to find a D.A. revolver that was not at least 50 years old, like my Colt New Services, with adjustable sights to boot!
According to one report, in G & A, the bore was .427-428. Mine slugs .429. The gun has been very accurate with .427-.429 lead bullets.
Several years ago, I found an M-29 cylinder assembly at a gun show for $20.00.
Your right, feralmerril, those 3 caliber cylinders are different lengths, so I "simply" faced the front of the M-29 cyl. to fit the M-544, and I have a convertible revolver.
The cylinder is long enough to handle all loads, except a Keith type bullet(421429) seated all the way out. BUT because I do NOT know if the 544 got the same heat treatment in the frame as the M-29, I keep the 44. Mag handloads to the old 1200 fps. or so, that Keith liked on the .44 spec.
Still, its a great shooting gun, very versatile.
As an aside, I wonder how many M-544's were really intended to shoot, as the action on mine, from the factory, was as rough as any S&W I've seen. It did respond to some tuning & TLC.
Bud
According to one report, in G & A, the bore was .427-428. Mine slugs .429. The gun has been very accurate with .427-.429 lead bullets.
Several years ago, I found an M-29 cylinder assembly at a gun show for $20.00.
Your right, feralmerril, those 3 caliber cylinders are different lengths, so I "simply" faced the front of the M-29 cyl. to fit the M-544, and I have a convertible revolver.
The cylinder is long enough to handle all loads, except a Keith type bullet(421429) seated all the way out. BUT because I do NOT know if the 544 got the same heat treatment in the frame as the M-29, I keep the 44. Mag handloads to the old 1200 fps. or so, that Keith liked on the .44 spec.
Still, its a great shooting gun, very versatile.
As an aside, I wonder how many M-544's were really intended to shoot, as the action on mine, from the factory, was as rough as any S&W I've seen. It did respond to some tuning & TLC.
Bud
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Okay, I checked and compared the clyinder lengths on 5 N frames in .357, .44 special, 45 colt, 44-40 and .44 mag. Here`s the way it went.
Model 24-3 .44 special was the shortest. Quite a bit!
Model 27-2 .357 next shortest.
The next two are exactly same length:
Model 544 44-40 Texas wagon train and
Model 25-5 .45 colt
Model 29-2 .44 mag was the longest.
I can not tell the 29-2 in 5" and the my 544 in 5" apart except for the gold lettering etc. Blue level is about the same, front sight heigth is the same, target trigger & hammer, both have the same rr/wo sights.
The rear of the clyinder is set ahead slightly more than the 29 on the 644.
I say that if one had a 544, and wanted a model 29-2 in a 5" barrel, all they would have to do is get a 29 clyinder and a good gunsmith! I cant say positively, but I belive the bore on both is the same.
Model 24-3 .44 special was the shortest. Quite a bit!
Model 27-2 .357 next shortest.
The next two are exactly same length:
Model 544 44-40 Texas wagon train and
Model 25-5 .45 colt
Model 29-2 .44 mag was the longest.
I can not tell the 29-2 in 5" and the my 544 in 5" apart except for the gold lettering etc. Blue level is about the same, front sight heigth is the same, target trigger & hammer, both have the same rr/wo sights.
The rear of the clyinder is set ahead slightly more than the 29 on the 644.
I say that if one had a 544, and wanted a model 29-2 in a 5" barrel, all they would have to do is get a 29 clyinder and a good gunsmith! I cant say positively, but I belive the bore on both is the same.
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