Model of 1950 44 Target Pre-Model 24, Question...

[Gun Relics]

After bidding a couple of times unsuccessfully on Gun Broker, I finally picked up a 1950 Target .44 special, pre-model 24. This one is made around 1955 and is near perfect with beautiful target grip (I think Cokes) showing very little use, serial S 142XXX. It's the same as in the catalog, with a trigger shoe and target stocks added.

I tried to find it in the Blue Book. I have the latest Blue Book and the online version as well. I simply can't find this model. Was it somehow overlooked? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Muley Gil]

Generally speaking, Blue Book values on S&W revolvers are "too"; either too much or too little.

Check auction sites and the "For Sale" section here on the Forum for more accurate values.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice Gun!
I have S147175.
Your Grips are a little nicer than mine!

 

[Truckman]

This one is made around 1955 and is near perfect with beautiful target grip (I think Cokes)

Maybe it's my eyes...The right panel looks like a coke, the left panel does not......Ben

 

[AC Man]

I bought a pre model 24 model of 1950 6.5" in excellent condition but not mint on Gunbroker last year. Came with optional factory target grips serial # 144166. Paid $1600. Hope this helps. What did yours cost?

I believe in sharing cost so we have a better idea of market value.

 

[Gun Relics]

Maybe it's my eyes...The right panel looks like a coke, the left panel does not......Ben

Camera angle - on the left I was tilted back to get rid of a shadow. I have a hard time telling anyway, they are so close. This one has the more oval shape looking at it from the bottom.

 

[Gun Relics]

I bought a pre model 24 model of 1950 6.5" in excellent condition but not mint on Gunbroker last year. Came with optional factory target grips serial # 144166. Paid $1600. Hope this helps. What did yours cost?

I believe in sharing cost so we have a better idea of market value.

I paid $1900 out the door. I thought that was a good deal. It was not on Gunbroker so there were no fees, no shipping, no (god forbid) tax. If I bought it on Gunbroker by credit card, $1900 quickly becomes $2280 for me, no kidding.

 

[22hipower]

Looks like "cokes" to me. Not what came on it, but even better from a value perspective. It likely shipped with diamond magnas. I have S 143742 which shipped in April of 1955 and S146001 which shipped in July of 1955 and S147326 which shipped in December of 1955. All have magna stocks, or did when I got them although only one set is actually numbered to the gun.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Gun Relics]

Looks like "cokes" to me. Not what came on it, but even better from a value perspective. It likely shipped with diamond magnas. I have S 143742 which shipped in April of 1955 and S146001 which shipped in July of 1955 and S147326 which shipped in December of 1955. All have magna stocks, or did when I got them although only one set is actually numbered to the gun.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I don't know why, but when nice examples of these come up for sale, it seems like there is all kinds of interest. I think the .44 special is a great revolver cartridge myself.

 

[Gun Relics]

Can anybody find this in the Blue Book? Seems like a pretty big oversight, they were made until the early 1960's.

Edit - just found the Model 24 but not the pre. It's on page 1910 and they're calling it Model 24 .44 Hand Ejector 4th model, 1950 Target. Prices are healthy. 98% is $2850 plus 20% for bright blue.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

After future inspection-
They do look like Cokes.
But maybe not a matching pair.
My cost?
Bought it in a package deal.
Depending on how you do your capitalization calculation,
Somewhere between cheap and free!

 

[AC Man]

My pre model 24 grips are optional period correct unrelieved targets. Go figure. LOL. Who knows? I have been told they were a thing. I have XXL hands so not a fan of the tiny Magna's I'm ok with it.

 

[Gun Relics]

My pre model 24 grips are optional period correct unrelieved targets. Go figure. LOL. Who knows? I have been told they were a thing. I have XXL hands so not a fan of the tiny Magna's I'm ok with it.

Those non-relieved grips seem to be rarer and authentic to the early 1950's. They're actually hard to find.

 

[22hipower]

Can anybody find this in the Blue Book? Seems like a pretty big oversight, they were made until the early 1960's.

Off subject but can't resist a response. I haven't opened a Blue Book in at least ten years and haven't bought one in perhaps twice that. It may be better now but it was not much help for S&Ws back when I did try to use it; information missing, wrong, and the pricing was rarely even close to the market prices observed.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Gun Relics]

Off subject but can't resist a response. I haven't opened a Blue Book in at least ten years and haven't bought one in perhaps twice that. It may be better now but it was not much help for S&Ws back when I did try to use it; information missing, wrong, and the pricing was rarely even close to the market prices observed.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I like to use it to extract information on options, barrel length rarity, features that add value, that sort of thing. As far as prices go, I found the Gun Broker completed listing advanced search feature gives a pretty good idea of what actual selling prices are like in the current market.

 

[austintexas]

grips

I think they are from two different sets of grips. look at the different height of the grip border between the butt an the start of the checkering. I think the left is a later grip panel and the right earlier.
SWCA 892

 

[Gun Relics]

I think they are from two different sets of grips. look at the different height of the grip border between the butt an the start of the checkering. I think the left is a later grip panel and the right earlier.
SWCA 892

Just a different camera angle. I had tilted the camera to avoid a shadow. They are exactly the same with very sharp checkering. Here's a shot from the back and the bottom. The bottom photo has the 1950 on the left and a pre-29 with targets on the right. Whoever used this gun was very careful with it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I’m also thinking mismatched Grips.
How bout removing the Grips, photograph them side by side, back to back.
The checking patterns appear to be different.

 

[Gun Relics]

I’m also thinking mismatched Grips.
How bout removing the Grips, photograph them side by side, back to back.
The checking patterns appear to be different.

Tough crowd!

 

[Truckman]

I think they are from two different sets of grips. look at the different height of the grip border between the butt an the start of the checkering.

I agree with you, Lyle...The OP's own photo shows the difference......Ben