Lettered Pre-21 with Target sights

[ronnymc204]

A friend of mine purchased Model of 1950 44 special serial number S105205. A letter from Mr. Jinks came with the revolver. I will upload a copy of the letter later as I left it at work.

In a nutshell the letter explains this revolver shipped to Quantico, VA as a Pre-21, but was returned to the factory where target sights were added.

The revolvers top strap and barrel is checkered like a “Model 27”. The barrel is roll marked “.44 S&W Special CTG”.

Did Smith & Wesson perform this kind of specialty work, converting a pre-21 into a pre-24 with pre-27 top strap and barrel checkering?

 

[ronnymc204]

More photos

Here are more photos.

Sorry all photos were taken with my phone.

 

[Göring's S&W]

That is an interesting revolver. Notice in your pic #3 that has the SN in the barrel shroud is a different style of marking (electro-pencil?) than is normally seen. Based upon that, and the barrel rib itself, this gun was re-barreled for the conversion, using either a 44 spl model 1950 target barrel (pre 24) but then applying checkering, or taking a S&W 357 magnum barrel (pre 27) that was done, and boring it out to .429 aka 44 spl bore diameter. Originally, the rib and rear sight would have been grooved. The rear sight is of course the same as found on a model of 1950 357 magnum (pre 27).

While definitely an unusual feature to see, esp. upon send back, S&W would have done that for a price for a customer. One possibility for the old "why" question is that the original owner had a model 357 mag that matched (5in barrel) and wanted thus his 44 spl to be nearly identical.

 

[murphydog]

Cool gun. At that time S & W would do custom/owner request work for a price, and running the .44 HE frame through the process of checkering the top strap would have probably been relatively simple.

The SWHF might have records about the gun in their "deep dive" archives.

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

 

[Shark Bait]

Recessed chambers on a 44 Special is quite unusual. Pre 27 bored out to 44 Special?

 

[22hipower]

S&W certainly could do it. Would they do it in the early '50s, maybe. If so there should be supporting service department records showing that the work was performed.

Is there a number in the ejector rod housing and if so does it match that on the butt of the gun? The back of the cylinder should have the same number as on the butt too. If the factory changed the barrel I would expect the barrel to be stamped with the same SN as is on the butt.

I have a commercial 1917 from 1927 which was converted to a target in 45 Colt in 1949 and there is documentation from the factory confirming the work.

These conversions didn't happen often though, by the factory anyway.

Looking forward to seeing what the letter says.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[ronnymc204]

Recessed chambers on a 44 Special is quite unusual. Pre 27 bored out to 44 Special?

I didn’t even catch that. The letter from Mr. Jinks is what makes this intriguing to me. I’ll get the letter posted tomorrow. It specifically says this revolver shipped as a pre-21 and was returned to the factory to have target sights installed.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Very cool gun and with a cool barrel length!
Looks like the extractor rod doesn’t have a knurled end or the pic is out of focus right there.

 

[quinn]

Note: Who operates in Quantico, VA, that might be of interest? Maybe, FBI?

 

[Tom K]

Recessed chambers on a 44 Special is quite unusual. Pre 27 bored out to 44 Special?

Definitely. This is NOT a factory rollmark but a neatly done re-stamping. You can also see that where the stamping is, that the barrel has been flattened slightly by the removal of the original .357 Magnum rollmark.

 

[series guy]

You can also see in the second photo of the second group that the frame profile doesn’t match the barrel rib. Definitely a way cool gun.

 

[bower]

Gun was probably shipped to Evaluators Limited in Qauntico.Va.

 

[Truckman]

Recessed chambers on a 44 Special is quite unusual. Pre 27 bored out to 44 Special?

My guess would be a .44 Magnum cylinder...The cylinder photo posted by the OP above indicates the depth of the chambers are magnum depth......Ben

 

[daddio202]

Beautiful gun, but I think it's a very nicely done conversion of a pre 27. I would be happy to own it.I have a 28-2 with original box and all the paperwork for conversion to 44 special by a talented gunsmith shop. Of course my gun was most likely converted at a later date than the OP's, it too has recessed chambers and there is no way to tell by the looks of inside the barrel and chambers. Looks like all factory done, buts stampings slightly different.

 

[Doc44]

The tip of the extractor rod is also extensively modified (no knurling on the tip). I would think S&W would have retained this feature if the company had done the work.

Bill

 

[Retired W4]

I am certainly no expert on what S&W would or would not do for a customer but it looks to me that SOME of the modifications were not done by them. Can't wait to see the letter, although I'll bet it does not tell the whole story. I have been known to be wrong on occasion.

 

[ronnymc204]

Letter

Here is the letter.

 

[Retired W4]

I have a very early Highway Patrolman that shipped to Evaluators Ltd, but that's a different subject. The "deep dive" might be a good idea for your 44 but I still think some of that stuff was done outside the factory. That's just me of course.

 

[ronnymc204]

Beautiful gun, but I think it's a very nicely done conversion of a pre 27.

I agree the frame appears to be a post war 357 magnum, but the letter identifies the frame with serial number S105205 as a .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model or Model of 1950 Military (pre-21) that was returned to the factory to have target sights installed. Would it have been possible for Smith and Wesson to perform all the other modifications?

 

[ronnymc204]

My guess would be a .44 Magnum cylinder...The cylinder photo posted by the OP above indicates the depth of the chambers are magnum depth......Ben

44 magnums will not chamber.