Xfuzz
Member
Pulled a very good price for the seller...
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1146855755
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1146855755
Nice pre 29...
- Thread starter Xfuzz
- Start date
Howie, I know that much money didn't squeeze past those tight fists of yours...Had to be somebody else... 
...Ben
...Ben
The 4" 5 screws are becoming the grail. Let me check the safe to count mine. That was easy: zero.
The pebble grain 4" case is "da nuts" even if the cloth looks like it's been replaced.
When you add it all up, the price is understandable.
Got to say it's a beautiful gun. But the the photography is excellent and really sells the gun. Nicely done.
Wow! I have that same setup, except mine has a brass brush on the end of the rod. Dunno if it came that way. Shipped in February 1957, a little earlier than the one shown here.
Transparency Alert: After removing the cokes, I am seeing a stamp on the frame which is a rectangle with "R - B" in the middle of it, and a 4 - 74 stamp. I guess this means it was refinished at the S&W factory back in 1974.
I wonder what the value of this is now, due to the factory refinish. Might be important when I resell it. BTW, that is just some oil on the frame below the thumbpiece.
Transparency Alert: After removing the cokes, I am seeing a stamp on the frame which is a rectangle with "R - B" in the middle of it, and a 4 - 74 stamp. I guess this means it was refinished at the S&W factory back in 1974.
I wonder what the value of this is now, due to the factory refinish. Might be important when I resell it. BTW, that is just some oil on the frame below the thumbpiece.
Rusty parrot
Member
The records indicate, according to Doc 44, that there were approximately 675 four inch 5 screw Pre-29’s produced from a total of about 6500 5 screw Pre-29’s. Given the minimal number of the 4” guns and adding in condition one might expect these guns to stand out to collectors of this model.
My guess is that the few that come up for sale is the driver of pricing.
Beautiful gun and thanks for sharing the listing and information.
My guess is that the few that come up for sale is the driver of pricing.
Beautiful gun and thanks for sharing the listing and information.
Very nice example of a 4-inch 44 Magnum and pebble grain case. Is the serial number of the 44 written on the bottom of the case in white grease pencil? Just curious.
Bill
Bill
My guess is that the case might be a little later than the gun, as it has a smooth finish and the clasp has the 'ears'.
TheTinMan
Member
My 5-screw 4” 44 Magnum returned to the mothership for refinishing in 1976. While there is some discount for a factory refinish, I don’t believe it reduces the value much provided the condition is excellent now.
22hipower
Member
I don't discount a factory refinish much, maybe 10%. While there were some 600+ 5 screw 4 inch guns produced (as noted above) a far smaller number (168 if I remember correctly) are first year 1956 guns. If yours is one of those first year guns I'd guess $4k+, maybe a little less if not first year. Not many actual sales to go by though, especially of factory refinished guns.
Here's my first year 4 inch 44 Magnum, not refinished but not pristine either. It's not for sale but if it was it would take more than $4k to buy it.
Jeff, for my own educational purposes, just curious if you think the cloth is original? It's the right color but the originals have a distinct crosswise rib weave to the fabric similar to "faille", a weave commonly used in silk, similar to that shown below. The other tell tale sign is the original fabric oxidizes and changes shade to a purple, especially when contacted by gun blue over time, like the photo shown at the bottom.
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OP
Xfuzz
Member
I really need to get a deep dive letter on this 5 screw.
Grip frame is stamped 3/72...hope it was for a factory refinish.
But there is no star stamped at the serial number.
Grip frame is stamped 3/72...hope it was for a factory refinish.
But there is no star stamped at the serial number.
TheTinMan
Member
At $5,300 I “bought too early” on this factory refinished 4” 44 Magnum, especially since I had to provide the “Coke” grips separately. It did come with a decent box and tools. Fortunately it appears to be the second 4” ever shipped in July of 1956 - I need a letter!
22hipower
Member
There wouldn't necessarily be a star if it is factory refinished. I'd go by the service stamp and I think there might/should be an R/N or some version of that, stamp on the left side of the butt.I really need to get a deep dive letter on this 5 screw.
Grip frame is stamped 3/72...hope it was for a factory refinish.
But there is no star stamped at the serial number.
You guys are freaking me out. An asterisk I would notice but I need to start checking the frames closer for date stamps. I haven't noticed any but I don't look very hard.I really need to get a deep dive letter on this 5 screw.
Grip frame is stamped 3/72...hope it was for a factory refinish.
But there is no star stamped at the serial number.
22hipower
Member
I assume the lining in my box is a replacement, it is in far too good condition to be original. Almost every original one I've seen shows wear/tears/stains. The lining in the one sold on GB appears to be a replacement too. Kind of a toss up in my opinion as to whether a replacement lining is better or worse, value wise, than a torn and stained original lining.
Tom K
Member
C'mon people! If you're going to go to the effort create a thread about a GunBroker auction, post a screenshot of it and pictures from the auction. The link by itself is inadequate because AFTER A FEW MONTHS, GUNBROKER AUCTION LINKS GO DEAD. Future readers will have no idea what might have been notable about the auction, and isn't S&W information what this site is all about?
After my last show in December, I decided to pull the grips on all mine, check for service marks and codes, then post new pics of both sides of the grip frame and stocks for my website...I remember some having date codes but I want to check for any I missed...It ain't easy being this detail obsessed...
...Ben
Here is my old dog. Shipped December 14, 1956.
SCSW 5th says VG $3000 and add 25% for 4-inch barrel. That comes to $3750.
VG is 85% remaining finish. Think mine is 90% or so.
Maybe a little add for condition, maybe a little add for 1st year.
I would turn down $4000 for this one (unless I could get something I wanted more for the $4000).
SCSW 5th says VG $3000 and add 25% for 4-inch barrel. That comes to $3750.
VG is 85% remaining finish. Think mine is 90% or so.
Maybe a little add for condition, maybe a little add for 1st year.
I would turn down $4000 for this one (unless I could get something I wanted more for the $4000).
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Top quality collector grade has not in my mind seen any softening in price, and this is just one example. It's interesting to see pristine 5 screw .44 Magnum complete package (cokes, case, tools) approaching and even some Registered Magnums.
Thanks for that. If I replace a bad lining, what I'm doing is keeping the old stuff (if original), then if I sell it, the new owner can decide which way to go.
After reading some of the replies here, I went back and took a harder look at the box. It actually is a pebble grain, but has no number written on the bottom in grease pencil. Also, here is a picture of the cloth, which I hope is original, but not sure.
So few have the original cloth, to me it makes no difference. I think having the correct box is important. These pebble boxes in 4" have to be super rare. By the way, all your tools look correct to me. I think you've got the whole enchilada!
22hipower
Member
Yes, there can't be all that many of the "pebble" boxes for the 4 inch guns but I don't think I've seen any estimates on the number that exist. There's also the variation in the latches, three different kinds. The earliest (bottom in the picture of the three latch types, photo credit jcelect) on the pebble boxes but the 2nd type also shows up on some of the 4 inch
"pebble" boxes. If anyone has dates on when S&W shifted from the type 1 lock to the type 2 that would be interesting to know.
The rarest box, for 1950s production revolvers anyway, I believe is the "pebble" style for the Combat Magnum. Which also has the type 1 latch and as I understand it only a dozen or so are known.
Presentation cases with a pebble grain exterior were used until sometime in January 1957. I don't know when the change was actually made, but cases with a smooth exterior were in use by early February. The maximum number of pebble grain cases shipped with 4-inch 44 Magnums is estimated at 390.
The first 44 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel, serial number S130884, was completed in late February 1956 and taken to the Mid-Winter Matches in Tampa, FL as part of the factory display. The factory display guns were sold to Jesse E. Harpe after the matches. The 44 Magnum with serial number S130884 has not been reported by collectors and it still waiting to be discovered.
Bill
The first 44 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel, serial number S130884, was completed in late February 1956 and taken to the Mid-Winter Matches in Tampa, FL as part of the factory display. The factory display guns were sold to Jesse E. Harpe after the matches. The 44 Magnum with serial number S130884 has not been reported by collectors and it still waiting to be discovered.
Bill
TheTinMan
Member
FWIW here is the mark on the left side of the grip frame indicating refinish in bright blue February 1976
Roy Jinks confirmed this.
Roy Jinks confirmed this.
Thanks for that. I'm going to check my collection for unusual stamps like this when I have a few hours to kill, but I don't recall seeing it.
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