Letter Arrived .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model with Pearl Handles

[Modified]

If you are buying at low prices, yes, longer barrel guns are good buys too. Obviously not as desired, but still awesome guns.

Any pre-war N Frame in any barrel length "holds its value".

 

[shown50]

If you are buying at low prices, yes, longer barrel guns are good buys too. Obviously not as desired, but still awesome guns.

Any pre-war N Frame in any barrel length "holds its value".

In my area prices are still what I consider to be high for the most part. Locally I’ve seen Prelock Model 19s without the box for 1200-1500, model 36 3 inch for $750, 67-1 and 15-3 both 4 inch $725 all sale locally within the last month. Any 4 inch 357 prelock is gonna be 1000-1500 pre Covid all of them would’ve been $200-300 less. You can still find some deals but most are at retail or significantly above and I can’t afford to pay that for shooter grade stuff. What got me interested in this guys stuff is he’s selling them for precovid prices and most are really nice just no box. The .44 was what made me jump on meeting him, I hadn’t ever seen one for sale at our local gun shows(3-4 a year) or on armslist.

 

[Retired W4]

After reading through this interesting thread I thought I would add one other observation on the rear sight of the 44. The aft screw appears to be one that was originally used with a bug screw as seen on old 22 pump handles. Not something that one might see on a professional installation, but then, what do I know?

 

[Hondo44]

Neat old 44.
I’ve read that Mother of pearl grips were not supplied by the factory on N frame guns because they’re a bit fragile and could crack with recoil. The flush mounted gold plated medallions are very interesting because after the 1920s decade of no grip medallions, the recessed gold medallions of the 19 teens were introduced again for about a month then the flush mounted gold for only two months before changing to the flush silver medallions thru the 1930s. So if they’re factory medallions, they are very rare.

 

[shown50]

Neat old 44.
I’ve read that Mother of pearl grips were not supplied by the factory on N frame guns because they’re a bit fragile and could crack with recoil. The flush mounted gold plated medallions are very interesting because after the 1920s decade of no grip medallions, the recessed gold medallions of the 19 teens were introduced again for about a month then the flush mounted gold for only two months before changing to the flush silver medallions thru the 1930s. So if they’re factory medallions, they are very rare.

Thanks! I wasn’t expecting this much info on it from the forum it’s been really helpful. I’m going to send off for a factory letter(expecting to hear it was probably a blued gun, standard sights, wood handles) and am including color photos so maybe they can add some info on the handles? I’m not sure if they do that or not. I wasn’t really sure how to go about getting info on them. I’ve had fake mother of pearl grips and these do not feel like those. With these on the gun they have a narrower grip than any of my k frame prewar guns. I don’t have much experience with prewar n frames so not sure how narrow they are from factory. The medallions are flush fit in the handles.

 

[DARE]

The factory letter will tell you what grips were on it when it shipped. Probably will not have anything to say about the MOP (mother of pearl) grips if it shipped with something else. The MOP grips I have seen have all been a bit thinner than wood grips. Have not seen all that many pair, maybe one of our experts will weigh in.

 

[StrawHat]

Thanks! I wasn’t expecting this much info on it from the forum …

Collectively there are several thousand years of knowledge on this forum. I come here to learn and share what little I know. Fortunately, there are other, more knowledgeable folk, also willing to share.

Kevin

 

[shown50]

The factory letter will tell you what grips were on it when it shipped. Probably will not have anything to say about the MOP (mother of pearl) grips if it shipped with something else. The MOP grips I have seen have all been a bit thinner than wood grips. Have not seen all that many pair, maybe one of our experts will weigh in.

If I had to guess I’d say they’re some aftermarket replacements from some years ago I’m normally not that lucky haha. With all the stuff done to the gun like the “Cockeye” hammer, whatever gold bead front sight with 2 pins in the mount(all I’ve seen researching were one pin)and adjustable rear, with the refinish job it’s hard for me to believe they’d be real S&W pearl handles.

 

[shown50]

Collectively there are several thousand years of knowledge on this forum. I come here to learn and share what little I know. Fortunately, there are other, more knowledgeable folk, also willing to share.

Kevin

Over the years I’ve made some post and everyone has had people help out which has been great it’s unlike other forums(classic cars,guitars,amps, etc) I’ve been on and makes collecting much more fun.

 

[TheTinMan]

I recently found a 1940 Colt Shooting Master 357 with a King Cockeyed hammer, rear sight and (apparently) action job. A fellow forum member was kind enough to point me to an eBay auction for a 1939 King Gun Sight Company Catalog reproduced by Cornell Publications. They were located in San Francisco if you can believe that!

Here’s a pic of the rear sight:

Although mine is a Colt, I think King fitted the same rear sight to Smith & Wessons. Also you can see the quality of the fitment King did. Bottom line - I don’t think the rear sight on the OP’s revolver came from King although the hammer certainly did.

 

[shown50]

I recently found a 1940 Colt Shooting Master 357 with a King Cockeyed hammer, rear sight and (apparently) action job. A fellow forum member was king enough to point me to an eBay auction for a 1939 King Gun Sight Company Catalog reproduced by Cornell Publications. They were located in San Francisco if you can believe that!

Here’s a pic of the rear sight:

Although mine is a Colt, I think King fitted the same rear sight to Smith & Wessons. Also you can see the quality of the fitment King did. Bottom line - I don’t think the rear sight on the OP’s revolver came from King although the hammer certainly did.

I tend to agree, it makes more sense that it was modified post factory. I’ll take some better pictures of the top/sides on the front/rear sights.

*edit post factory meaning by an individual not King etc

 

[shown50]

Here’s pictures of the sights

 

[handejector]

What I see:
1> The grips are not Factory. The escutcheons are not the same as Factory parts and the recesses cut for the medallions are not precise. I think the medallions are regular 1/2" silver medallions from the 30s that were gold plated by the "customizer".
2> The gun is refinished, but not by the Factory.
3> The barrel was not fitted by the Factory. The "S <>" may mean it was in Service Dept parts inventory, or perhaps the Service Dept had it plated to fill an order for the barrel.
4> That MAY be a King rear sight. King sights evolved over the years. I have seen many variations in them. King would sell sights and hammers, so they MAY or MAY NOT have done the work of installing them. I doubt the work is by King.

I think it is a gunsmith built gun, or perhaps it was built by the owner who had the skill and machinery.

 

[shown50]

What I see:
1> The grips are not Factory. The escutcheons are not the same as Factory parts and the recesses cut for the medallions are not precise. I think the medallions are regular 1/2" silver medallions from the 30s that were gold plated by the "customizer".
2> The gun is refinished, but not by the Factory.
3> The barrel was not fitted by the Factory. The "S <>" may mean it was in Service Dept parts inventory, or perhaps the Service Dept had it plated to fill an order for the barrel.
4> That MAY be a King rear sight. King sights evolved over the years. I have seen many variations in them. King would sell sights and hammers, so they MAY or MAY NOT have done the work of installing them. I doubt the work is by King.

I think it is a gunsmith built gun, or perhaps it was built by the owner who had the skill and machinery.

Awesome! Thanks for the info that’s about what I figured with all the help from everyone else. That’s interesting about the service department it makes more sense why it doesn’t have a serial number after the S<> like another person had mentioned. Should the medallions measure .500 top to bottom? I’ll measure them with a set of calipers when I get home. Is it possible to find out if King did the work? Was doing the short action a popular modification? Thanks for the reply.

 

[handejector]

I missed the short action. That indicates King is likely to have done it. I know of no records for King work.

 

[shown50]

I missed the short action. That indicates King is likely to have done it. I know of no records for King work.

Thanks I didn’t think there would be but figured I’d ask.

*edit I measured the medallions and they’re .500

 

[shown50]

Sent off for a factory letter today, I included some pictures of the gun and handles. I’ll post a picture when I receive it.

 

[shown50]

Was going to make a post asking about a grip stamp of 42 on a 1905 M&P 4th change when I decided to pull the rear sight off the .44. Here’s some pics all holes are tapped in the frame, and I can’t find anything stamped on the rear sight.

 

[Hondo44]

It would only be stamped with the serial # if it was factory original to the gun. Hmmm, an extra screw hole at the front.

 

[shown50]

It would only be stamped with the serial # if it was factory original to the gun. Hmmm, an extra screw hole at the front.

Yeah I figured that would be the case, the extra screw hole wasn’t expected but if the sights were added later who knows what else was on it. Ive sent off for a letter and when it comes back I’ll see if there’s any records on it coming back for a service on the barrel.