Model 56

[HH940]

A friend of mine recently got a model 56 in .44 Special that has a smooth barrel. The cylinder is nickel plated but the rest of the gun is blue.
The cylinder is not recessed and a .44 mag case will fit into the cylinder. Were the barrels pinned, and the cylinder recessed?

 

[Fullmetaljacket]

Are you sure about the model number? The model 56 is a rare piece, .38 Special, K Target frame, 2" barrel, USAF issue from 1962 ish. I've never seen one in the wild. There is a pic in SCSW, that's as close as I'm likely to get.

 

[JP@AK]

I wonder if is a bored-out Model 58? That would make more sense.

 

[CH4]

I wonder if is a bored-out Model 58? That would make more sense.

I’d like to see that…

 

[JP@AK]

I’d like to see that…

For a skilled gunsmith, it would not be much of a challenge. We know it has been done with the Highway Patrolman - from .357 Magnum to .44 Magnum. Why not from a .41 Magnum Model 58?

Am I missing something?

 

[CH4]

For a skilled gunsmith, it would not be much of a challenge. We know it has been done with the Highway Patrolman - from .357 Magnum to .44 Magnum. Why not from a .41 Magnum Model 58?

Am I missing something?

True and also the Python

 

[HH940]

Yes it is a model 56 he got it from a reputable Auction House, What is throwing me off is the cylinder will take a .44 mag. with the tip of the bullet flush with the front of the cylinder, also the cylinder is not recessed. I will not be able to get any pictures of the gun it is 800 miles from me! The cylinder is 1.55" long

 

[JwesleyN]

If he is a friend that has it why not have him take some pics and send them to you? That way we can all see what this is

 

[HH940]

If he is a friend that has it why not have him take some pics and send them to you? That way we can all see what this is

I will do that, he has a letter from the ATF exempting the pistol, It was sold to a congressman, go figure!

 

[st regis]

Are you sure about the model number? The model 56 is a rare piece, .38 Special, K Target frame, 2" barrel, USAF issue from 1962 ish. I've never seen one in the wild. There is a pic in SCSW, that's as close as I'm likely to get.

A fellow has a pristine model 56 for sale in GA. Not mine; don’t know the guy. I think he is on here, though …

 

[HH940]

Here it is. I have the cylinder to work up some shot loads

 

[VM]

Here’s a pre 21 in post number 11 that is similar
Looking at the grains in the grips, it appears to be same gun)

M

Post in thread '1950 Model .44 Military 6.5" blue - Does it exist?'

Aug 15, 2024

I have one that appeared on the cover of a couple S&W Journals. It's a 6 1/2" two-tone with factory birds-eye maple grips, red post front sight blade, smooth bore, and a screw-on choke. It letters as a 44 Military Model of 1950 pre-model 21.

Here are all the pictures that I have in the folders. Some of the pictures are a lot better than others, and they were taken by Bill Cross. The grips on the gun were covered with some kind of dark shellac, that I subsequently removed...

• mikepriwer

• 
• 

 

[RebCop]

A rare gun indeed.

 

[Riposte1]

For a skilled gunsmith, it would not be much of a challenge. We know it has been done with the Highway Patrolman - from .357 Magnum to .44 Magnum. Why not from a .41 Magnum Model 58?

Am I missing something?

Catchy idea. In fact I made one around 2001, I had intended to do a 58 in .45 Colt (which I like better than.44 Mag) but I ran into some parts too cheap to turn down.

The barrel is 3.5" and the B/C gap is tight so the Federal 240 gr. JSP gets 1350 fps - yes it hurts! The triton group is on the left, the Federa 240 JSP on the right - groups are at 25 yards off a bench.



Not to worry, it was a well used old 58, I saved my pristine 58!

The idea wasn't original, I shot Tommie Campbell's 58 that had a J-frame sized grip-frame and a 2" .44 Mag barrel/cylinder - that was a "romper stomper"!

Riposte

 

[HH940]

Does anyone have any info on making a shot load for the .44 special? A few years ago I made up a carpenter bee load for ,44 mag it was 3g of Unique with a .38 special case full of #8 shot topped with a foam wad. It shot well out of my TC Super 14 but the primer would back out and lock up my Ruger Blackhawk. I was told to enlarge the primer hole and that would solve the problem.
I have some shot capsules that weigh 240 g the directions that came with them says to use 7 g of Unique is that too hot for a .44 special? I have shortened some .44 mag cases to load.

 

[JP@AK]

yes it hurts!

Only two revolvers have actually hurt my hand when I shot them.

One was a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk with the 5 1/2" barrel. When I first got it, I put Pachmayr grips on it and fired it with heavy .44 Mag loads. The Pachs sent all the recoil right into the base of my thumb. Hurt like heck. I took the Pachs off and replaced the original walnut stocks on it and everything was fine after that.

The other one was an original early .454 Casull. It belonged to a friend, and he lent it to me just to try it out. I fired one cylinder full and gave it back. My hand was sore for a few days. I have not fired one since.

 

[handejector]

A friend of mine recently got a model 56 in .44 Special that has a smooth barrel. The cylinder is nickel plated but the rest of the gun is blue.
The cylinder is not recessed and a .44 mag case will fit into the cylinder. Were the barrels pinned, and the cylinder recessed?

THIS is a Mod 56---

 

[Hawg Rider]

Here it is. I have the cylinder to work up some shot loads

Wow! Very interesting modification. There aren't that many model-marked Model 56s that survived since the gov't destroyed most of them. I'd be interested to see the yoke recess area to see the model number and the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. The original 2" bbl. would have been pinned, and only magnum and rimfire cylinders were recessed prior to 1982. S&W eliminated pinned barrels and recessed magnum cylinders after that. Not sure that I would want to shoot .44 Magnum rounds in a small K-frame, but it must work.

 

[handejector]

Wow! Very interesting modification. There aren't that many model-marked Model 56s that survived since the gov't destroyed most of them. I'd be interested to see the yoke recess area to see the model number and the serial number on the bottom of the grip frame. The original 2" bbl. would have been pinned, and only magnum and rimfire cylinders were recessed prior to 1982. S&W eliminated pinned barrels and recessed magnum cylinders after that. Not sure that I would want to shoot .44 Magnum rounds in a small K-frame, but it must work.

The OP's gun is NOT a Mod 56.
It is NOT a K frame. It is an N frame.

 

[JP@AK]

It is NOT a K frame. It is an N frame.

Thank you, Lee. I've been tempted to say this since the picture showed up. The shrouded extractor rod with the serial number stamped in it makes this fact abundantly clear. It is noteworthy that the MOD stamp has never been shown.

 

[Hawg Rider]

The OP's gun is NOT a Mod 56.
It is NOT a K frame. It is an N frame.

 

[RMFnLA]

Only two revolvers have actually hurt my hand when I shot them.

One was a .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk with the 5 1/2" barrel. When I first got it, I put Pachmayr grips on it and fired it with heavy .44 Mag loads. The Pachs sent all the recoil right into the base of my thumb. Hurt like heck. I took the Pachs off and replaced the original walnut stocks on it and everything was fine after that.

The other one was an original early .454 Casull. It belonged to a friend, and he lent it to me just to try it out. I fired one cylinder full and gave it back. My hand was sore for a few days. I have not fired one since.

Back when I ‘smithed we had a customer come in with a T/C Contender. I think the first rifle barrel they offered was .30-30, which is what he had, and he was getting misfires because of the harder rifle primers.

T/C wasn’t offering upgraded springs yet so I did a simple mod on the OEM spring.
Of course, when one fixes misfires one must test fire. Our shop had a range (actually three) so I grabbed five rounds and a shooting glove.

The gun fired just fine but the glove didn’t do squat. I’ve never shot a handgun that I couldn’t handle, but a rifle cartridge is a whole ‘nother thing, even a mild one.