My New 4 Screw Pre-model Marked 44 Magnum

[Retired W4]

I got got home with it and I'm still trying to catch my breath. It's closer to museum quality than any one I own. Sold as a model 29, I could tell from the pictures that it is a 4 screw and assumed it was a no dash. SN: S178491 appears to be unfired outside the factory. I was planning to clean it up when I got home but there's no cleaning to do.

And then there is the kicker. I wondered about the display case, but it came with the shipping box from Pocumtuck Wood Specialties to Smith & Wesson, Box 1 of 200. No date on the shipping box The wood box is beautiful in it's own right.

And yes, it's the plain old 6 1/2" blue version. The case colors on the hammer and trigger are absolutely radiant. The dark GA cokes are beautiful, with one chip behind the trigger guard.

You will have to excuse me, but pictures will be forthcoming tomorrow. Sorry.

 

[bigmoose]

Well done. Looking forward to seeing the pics.

 

[wcat94]

Nice! I have #178498. Mine is definitely used but well cared for with newer smooth targets. I call it my birthday gun (February 58).

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Congrats! It is not a dream. It's real and it's yours. Christmas came early, so it sounds. I've never seen one up close and personal. The pictures satisfy my needs. Trying to quit, and you show up with that.

 

[Retired W4]

Congrats! It is not a dream. It's real and it's yours. Christmas came early, so it sounds. I've never seen one up close and personal. The pictures satisfy my needs. Trying to quit, and you show up with that.

So many enablers here.

 

[BC38]

C'mon man! It's been 24 hour now!
Some of us are eagerly awaiting those pictures!
Don't be a tease!

 

[dobegrant]

Congratulations and another one hoping for some pictures

 

[Retired W4]

C'mon man! It's been 24 hour now!
Some of us are eagerly awaiting those pictures!
Don't be a tease!

Oh no, I didn't get home with it until 6:30 PM, and a guy's gotta' eat!

I'm now waiting for the sun to come up and putting thoughts together for my presentation.

 

[Retired W4]

Nice! I have #178498. Mine is defiantly used but well cared for with newer smooth targets. I call it my birthday gun (February 58).

That is pretty darned close.
My wife's birthday is April 1958, so I'm hoping. Of course, she could care less. She does tolerate my addiction well though.

 

[22hipower]

The dark GA cokes are beautiful, with one chip behind the trigger guard.

We're eager to see pictures. Cokes from the period often (always?) have what appears to be a chip behind the trigger guard but I've seen so many I wonder if they weren't made that way. Congrats!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Truckman]

My latest 4-screw 6 1/2" is S169944 with cokes intact...Maybe I'll be allowed to hang onto this one a while......Ben

 

[Hawg Rider]

Sounds like a great revolver, but we need pictures! Mine, s/n S177963, was part of a two gun shipment that shipped in July 1958 (per Doc44). I also had a chip on the r/h stock behind the trigger guard that I had repaired by Forum craftsman DWFAN (now enjoying retirement!). He said it was a common issue with the Coke Bottle stocks and recoil damage from the trigger guard. Your presentation box sounds very interesting, too. I bought mine with a later mahogany presentation case instead of the blue/black pebble case, but the revolver is in excellent condition and is one of my favorites. Enjoy!

 

[Retired W4]

Well these did not come out favoring the gun but I thought I would put these up until I get more favorable light. Too much shadow and reflection. The box is very interesting. The label says 1 of 200. I'm wondering if that was the total that S&W purchased for these guns or were there more.

I'll get some detail photos later..

 

[22hipower]

Maybe Doc44 or someone else knowledgeable will be along to comment but I thought the 44 Magnums shipped in that period came with the blue/black boxes. They did shift over to wooden ones for 29 no dash guns although some of those came with the blue/black case too. I have one that shipped in January of 1959 (S185134) that has the blue/black case. But the box is far less important than the gun which looks great. Enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[usm1rifle]

Well these did not come out favoring the gun but I thought I would put these up until I get more favorable light. Too much shadow and reflection. The box is very interesting. The label says 1 of 200. I'm wondering if that was the total that S&W purchased for these guns or were there more.

I'll get some detail photos later..

That is a wonderful 44MAG.

I'm pretty certain that box is a recent S&W accessory sold separately. I sold one at the spring Tulsa show for $100.

Best wishes, Al

 

[Rad29]

Jeff and others are correct. That is not the original case. It is a much more recent case. The black case with the blue cloth interior is correct.

Bob

 

[BC38]

Even without the original case that one is a real beauty! Congrats on your new acquisition!

 

[Doc44]

Very nice 44 Magnum!! As Rad29 stated the case probably dates to 2006 or later. The roll markings on the barrel are also about one inch forward from standard. This is seen on guns in this serial number range.

Bill

 

[Retired W4]

I'm planning to take more pictures today for posterity if my body is willing. The more I examine it the happier I get. Roy's ship date for it is April. 1958. I was 10 years old at that time. I will be requesting a letter for two reasons. One, to see if it was shipped on my wife's birthday, the 29th (like she cares) and secondly to get some insight on the previous owner who also had the two 1950's 357s I got with the 44.

As for the wood case, everyone above is absolutely correct. I thought it was interesting that the manufacturer shipped them (200 pieces) to S&W so I reached out to them for any information they could provide. No reply. On the label, under comments is Attention: M Ryan, who I assume was someone in S&W's shipping and receiving dept. More S&W trivia.

I probably will not shoot this one, as I have a very early 5 screw that has already seen plenty of service and begs to be shot.

 

[wcat94]

That is pretty darned close.

It is interesting that mine 7 numbers after yours has a different barrel roll mark location (as pointed out by Doc 44). Also Hawg rider's appears the same as yours. I will get a picture when my camera battery is charged.