Well, Lee asked for a 3rd Model Hand Ejector .44 thread, so let's start one.
I'll kick it off with one. Back in my college days, I read Elmer Keith's Sixguns and decided I needed a .44 Special. By chance, a invitation to a local gun club meeting introduced me to a fellow student, who then became a very close friend.
Another friend and I were waiting for the meeting when a feller rolled up in a '66 Chevy II, jumped out, and said, "Hey! I'm .44 Special and I have a Frank E. !" Well, that's what several of us told him over the years was the way that he introduced himself.
Anyway, Frank did indeed have a .44 Special. It was a post WW II 3rd Model, 5" with an aftermarket nickel finish (including the hammer and trigger, unfortunately) and Magna grips. It was the first one I had ever seen. Later trips to the range proved that it could still shoot.
Well, of course, I lusted over his revolver. I started looking for one of my own. Now, this was about 7-8 years after S&W had dropped the .44 Special and they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I would occasionally see one at a gun show, but they were always out of my price range.
I did have a M27 converted to .44 Special in 1976, after reading every article that Skeeter Skelton ever wrote on the subject, plus Major George Nonte's book on pistolsmithing. But, I still wanted a 1926.
Fast forward to 2005. I was working in Afghanistan and timed my leave around the big gunshow held near Dulles, Virginia. I walked the show once, and decided to make a second time around before going to my motel room. That's when I spotted a nickel N frame in a dealer's case. Yep, it was a 1926 .44. 5" barrel, wearing 1930's service grips. I looked it over good, had the dealer pull the grips, and then then talked him down $50.
Once back at my room, I called fellow Forum member tennexplorer. He and I go back to early college days at Auburn and he actually has the guts to blame ME for his .44 Special addiction!
I started telling him about my purchases-a Colt .32, some scope mounts, ammo, a .44 Special.............. That's when he interrupted me, wanting to know the gory details.
Those of us that love these old .44s know that the first 1926 was serial number 28358. Well, the one I found is serial number 28363 and it is the lowest known numbered survivor in the 1926 series.
My letter from Mr Jinks says that mine was in the first shipment to Wolf & Klar on January 27th, 1927. That order was for 75 nickel 5" revolvers. Mine went back to the factory in February 1942 and it was refinished and received new grips.
Enough reading; let's see some pictures. It is now wearing non-medallion grips, which is what it wore when it was shipped.
I'll kick it off with one. Back in my college days, I read Elmer Keith's Sixguns and decided I needed a .44 Special. By chance, a invitation to a local gun club meeting introduced me to a fellow student, who then became a very close friend.
Another friend and I were waiting for the meeting when a feller rolled up in a '66 Chevy II, jumped out, and said, "Hey! I'm .44 Special and I have a Frank E. !" Well, that's what several of us told him over the years was the way that he introduced himself.
Anyway, Frank did indeed have a .44 Special. It was a post WW II 3rd Model, 5" with an aftermarket nickel finish (including the hammer and trigger, unfortunately) and Magna grips. It was the first one I had ever seen. Later trips to the range proved that it could still shoot.
Well, of course, I lusted over his revolver. I started looking for one of my own. Now, this was about 7-8 years after S&W had dropped the .44 Special and they were as scarce as hen's teeth. I would occasionally see one at a gun show, but they were always out of my price range.
I did have a M27 converted to .44 Special in 1976, after reading every article that Skeeter Skelton ever wrote on the subject, plus Major George Nonte's book on pistolsmithing. But, I still wanted a 1926.
Fast forward to 2005. I was working in Afghanistan and timed my leave around the big gunshow held near Dulles, Virginia. I walked the show once, and decided to make a second time around before going to my motel room. That's when I spotted a nickel N frame in a dealer's case. Yep, it was a 1926 .44. 5" barrel, wearing 1930's service grips. I looked it over good, had the dealer pull the grips, and then then talked him down $50.
Once back at my room, I called fellow Forum member tennexplorer. He and I go back to early college days at Auburn and he actually has the guts to blame ME for his .44 Special addiction!
I started telling him about my purchases-a Colt .32, some scope mounts, ammo, a .44 Special.............. That's when he interrupted me, wanting to know the gory details.
Those of us that love these old .44s know that the first 1926 was serial number 28358. Well, the one I found is serial number 28363 and it is the lowest known numbered survivor in the 1926 series.
My letter from Mr Jinks says that mine was in the first shipment to Wolf & Klar on January 27th, 1927. That order was for 75 nickel 5" revolvers. Mine went back to the factory in February 1942 and it was refinished and received new grips.
Enough reading; let's see some pictures. It is now wearing non-medallion grips, which is what it wore when it was shipped.
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