Miss January, 1956

[29-1]

Originally posted by curt hanshaw:
29-1,glad to see how far you have come.i have been watching over the past two years as you got closer to your dream project.that is truly a great collection.do you happen to know where i could find the ad that says power and accuracy and shows the 44 in the case.or can you have a copy made of yours?i would be willing to pay for one.thanks curt.

Curt, email me an address and I'll send you one. It was also in the May or June '56 issue of the American Rifleman, off hand not sure which without going to look. The one pictured is an original factory model circular/flyer which is duplicated in the AR ad.
Regards
Chuck

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by JayCeeNC:
This is an awesome endeavor you've undertaken, Chuck.
It affirms once more that this Forum is THE place to see, share, and learn about Smith & Wesson handguns.
Folks like you contributing their knowledge and information make it my #1 stopping place every day.

John, just noticed your location. Stay safe brother.
Chuck

 

[donaldw870]

Beautiful collection and display. Thank you for sharing.

 

[NT430]

Chuck, as always, Thanks! and once again, I'm in awe.
Put me down for an "autographed" edition of your calendar!
Geez - what an onslaught for the kick-off of what I expect to be the most anticipated monthly postings this Year!

 

[catdad]

What a way to wake a guy up on a Sunday morning, that's the nicest RACK I've ever seen.

Outstanding beauty, I'll be looking at this thread all day, and can't wait to see the calender.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[NT430]

Chuck, as I leer at S130938 -the bottom end of the stocks appears to have a slightly less oval shape than it's 11 brothers - is it my eyes?

 

[29-1]

J.C., no you're eyes are still good. The earliest .44 Mags appear to have been fitted with target stocks cut along the same lines and dimension as the earlier targets with a more pronounced flair on the tail, more oval on the bottom, actually shorter than the regular cokes we are most familiar with. Thay are more narrow/thinner as well. Bill would be the one to describe these in much greater/more understandable detail. I'll definately save a calendar for you.

Chuck

 

[Doc44]

The profile of the stocks on S130938 look exactly like the profile of the stocks on the 44 Magnum shown in the advertisement that was made December 1955 or January 1956 using S130927, the first production 44 Magnum. This style of stocks was also used on S147213 that was sent to Pete Kuhlhoff in early 1956 (date unknown). From the photo of S130942 (shipped 1/20/56) that appeared in the American Rifleman, this 44 Magnum also had a pair of these early type stocks. By sometime in February, the profile was changed slightly to that seen on the remainder of Chuck's 44s. I have S130847 (shipped 1/31/56), but the stocks were changed to the smooth type on it (or it may have been shipped that way). Regardless, the stocks on the first 44s were slightly different than what came later.

Bill

 

[NT430]

Chuck - Bill,
Have you ever known there to be any correlation between "assembly numbers" of guns manufactured within the same time frame, ex. these very early .44's? Is there any correlation? Were the inspection numbers assigned to individual assemblers/ testers? Where did the stamping of these numbers fall in the manufacturing processes?

 

[curt hanshaw]

29-1,tried to e-mail you my address,window popped up and says i dont have permission i must not be set up to e-mail other members.i will try and fiqure it out.my address is curt hanshaw,1009 battles ave.akron, ohio, 44314.i would love a copy and i will cover any costs to send.thanks curt.

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by Pre-64:
Chuck - Bill,
Have you ever known there to be any correlation between "assembly numbers" of guns manufactured within the same time frame, ex. these very early .44's? Is there any correlation? Were the inspection numbers assigned to individual assemblers/ testers? Where did the stamping of these numbers fall in the manufacturing processes?

J.C., there appears to be a closer correlation to a timeframe a gun is produced and then shipped by tracking the assembly number than by the hit or miss serial number method. But again, they are not in an exact sequence either, but do appear to have been closer than the serial number.
Chuck

 

[handejector]

Wow.
reminds me of the quotation in Roy's book:
"No thing of importance will come without effort."
Sometimes I thimk people don't realize what you guys put into seeking, assembling, researching, documenting, and displaying these fabulous, historical guns.
Congratulations.
I've already learned something here- I did not know the first month's Cokes were a different variant! Thanks, Bill.
Now, being an unrepentant bibliophile, I have to know more about that book in the first post.
What's up widdat?

 

[Doc44]

J.C. ...Chuck and I have studied assembly numbers extensively and I have discussed their significance with Roy on more than one occasion. Normally, N-frames with serial numbers in the S130000 range have an assembly number in the 45000 range, but the 44 Magnums with serial numbers in the S130000 range have assembly numbers in the 73000-75000 range, suggesting these serial numbers were held back for some of the early 44 Magnums since the assembly numbers date to 1956 when most would have been made. However, it is only the S130000 guns that are unusual since the early shipped 44 Magnums with other serial numbers also have "normal" or expected assembly numbers (i.e. S166065, shipped on 4-2-56, has an assembly number of 79218 and S160304, shipped on 5-8-56, has an assembly number of 74583). Some of the earliest 44 Magnums also have a 7 and the letter X or H stamped in the yoke cut.

You can drive yourself to distraction with all of these numbers

.

Bill

 

[1Aspenhill]

Chuck,
Great collection of .44 Mags as well as the history to go with it. I always love to see you and Bill post your .44s as they are always wonderful examples of the best from S&W! Thanks for sharing and a big HOOAH to you!
Bill

 

[29aholic]

Chuck what a beautiful collection. I thought you were still looking for 1 month, guess yopu found it. Put me down for a calendar as well.

BTW I got the sponsorship letter you sent me and will be mailing my check this week. Would have done it sooner, but work has been a "B" lately with sub-freezing temperatures and the 2" of ice that got dumped on us.

Thanks again Chuck you are a credit the gun world.

 

[Kobold_27]

Chuck,

As always, very impressive! Thanks for sharing!

Best,

Michael

 

[29-1]

Originally posted by handejector:
Now, being an unrepentant bibliophile, I have to know more about that book in the first post.
What's up widdat?

Lee, if you are referring to the blue album, I had that made up to keep Roy's factory letters in as well as some other pertinent 1956 paperwork.

Chuck

 

[NT430]

Chuck,
Can you tell me the date of the first S&W 1956 Model Circular the .44 was noted in? Is there an earlier one than pictured below?
Thanks,

 

[29-1]

J.C. the one you picture is the second that I know of. The first is actually dated January 1st, 1956 and the second is May 1. The third change is the Sept 15th price change to 140.00 which is the one you have pictured.
Regards
Chuck

 

[NT430]

Thanks Chuck - I have new a new "grail" search in the works......