Identification of S&W Hand Ejector 44 Special

[Buff86InATL]

I need help identifying my grandfather's 44 special hand ejector. Its serial number is 44XXX. It has a 5 inch barrel length, fixed sights, a strain screw on the front of the grip, is a five screw and is a shiny nickel finish. The same serial number is on the bottom of the grip, on the back side of the cylinder (toward the rear of the gun) and on the frame beneath the ejector rod (when the cylinder is closed). I have pictures of all of these item. My grandfather was a deputy sheriff and purchsed this gun used in the early 1950's. Any help identifying when this gun was made would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Buff86InATL]

I need help identifying my grandfather's 44 special hand ejector. Its serial number is 44XXX. It has a 5 inch barrel length, fixed sights, a strain screw on the front of the grip, is a five screw and is a shiny nickel finish. The same serial number is on the bottom of the grip, on the back side of the cylinder (toward the rear of the gun) and on the frame beneath the ejector rod (when the cylinder is closed). I have pictures of all of these item. My grandfather was a deputy sheriff and purchsed this gun used in the early 1950's. Any help identifying when this gun was made would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DARE]

You have a .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model. The 3rd Model has a shrouded extractor. Here is a photo of my 2nd Model which does not. Your gun was blue to begin with and was refinished in nickel. They were manufactured between 1926 and 1941. Someone here might be able to narrow down the year for you.

 

[Buff86InATL]

You have a .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model. The 3rd Model has a shrouded extractor. Here is a photo of my 2nd Model which does not. Your gun was blue to begin with and was refinished in nickel. They were manufactured between 1926 and 1941. Someone here might be able to narrow down the year for you.

View attachment 760659

Thank you very much. Thats a lot more than I knew before. I first fired this gun when I was 12 in 1975. My father and I last shot it about 5 years ago. We had a lot of fun shooting coke cans and water jugs. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away 55 years ago, and my father is 86 and in a memory care unit and is of no help as to where and when my grandfather procured this firearm. Again, thank you.

 

[DARE]

Found a chart that says 1934 for your serial number.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! .44 Hand Ejectors with serials around yours were shipping in late 1938 and early 1939. However, other N frame revolvers with serials close to yours were shipping in 1934/35. The '30s was a tough period for gun sales. Also, the 3rd Model N frames were not cataloged until around 1940 and most sales were through Wolf and Klar in Texas.

 

[DARE]

Page about your gun from the 1941 S&W Catalog.

 

[Retired W4]

Great serial number for a 44!!!

 

[22hipower]

Nice gun, certainly like that serial number! If it were mine I would take those rubber grips off as they can retain moisture and contribute to rust and corrosion on the frame. Correct grips are probably as shown below (the ones without medallion shown above were not used after 1930) would cost about $200+/-. The value these days is probably about $800, maybe a little less with the rubber grips, and a little more with the correct ones. Had it been my grandfather's though it would be priceless to me. Many of us here very much like the Third Model Hand Ejectors; and First and Seconds and Fourths for that matter. As Guy noted many of these went to Wolf & Klar in Fort Worth, so many in fact that they're often referred to as W&K models. It was Wolf & Klar who convinced S&W to add an ejector rod housing to the 2nd Model along the lines of the original First Models. They ordered, if memory serves, some 5000 of them to convince S&W to build them. You might want to order a historical letter but likely all it will tell you is the date it shipped and that the destination was W&K. They were favorites of police officers, Texas Rangers too, so your grandfather was in good company with his choice. Oh, and welcome to the Forum.