Nickel 1938 .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model

[TheTinMan]

This is a story of the good, the bad and the ugly. The good is that I finally got a 2nd Model Hand Ejector. The bad is that I probably paid too much for it. The ugly is a ding in the barrel that barely showed in the seller’s photos. It clearly was there, just not as obvious as it is in person. I don’t think I’ll buy another nickel plated gun based on photos again.

Here is the ding:

I’ve never owned a nickel firearm before. If the metal got hit that hard, wouldn’t the plating come off? At this point, I am guessing that the gun was nickel originally but refinished. However, I don’t see any clear signs of a refinish job other than that ding.

The serial number appears on the bottom of the grip frame, the back of the cylinder, and inside the barrel shroud. No “B” anywhere and multiple “N”s on the right side of the grip frame.

Do you think this was refinished?

If you don’t mind, I also would like estimates of market value.

Thanks,

Chip

 

[mojave30cal]

Is the long barrel rare?

 

[TheTinMan]

Is the long barrel rare?

I believe that 6-1/2” was the standard barrel length.

 

[murphydog]

Looks nice aside from the barrel ding and original. I’d be happy to have it and you can make up some sort of cool story to go with the damage, maybe something involving pirates and deflecting a saber thrust.

 

[22hipower]

Looks like original finish to me, at any reasonable price it would have come home with me. Here's a picture of the only nickel one I have; from 1921 I think.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2nPnSzF https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[S42N8]

Looks nice aside from the barrel ding and original. I’d be happy to have it and you can make up some sort of cool story to go with the damage, maybe something involving pirates and deflecting a saber thrust.

Arrrr matey!

 

[quinn]

That looks pretty fine to me with original finish and correct (numbered?) wood. I bought a 3rd model a while back that had a ding i hadn't noticed. Kicked myself a bunch until I realized how rare it was, especially in original finish. We are sometimes, own harshest critics.

 

[rct269]

Put me down for original finish.

That said, I did it once before on my one and only nickel----then I took it apart for its welcome bath---and found FIVE teeny-tiny little stars well hidden in every place it had a place (frame/cylinder/yoke/barrel/sideplate)---and everything under the sideplate looked to be brand new! It was right about then I figured it had been completely rebuilt and refinished---a masterful job!

As an aside, and not knowing near enough about plating, I'm thinking a ding such as you have isn't going to dislodge plating---it ain't like it's paint!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Muley Gil]

Is the long barrel rare?

Most of the second model .44 I've ever seen were nickel plated & had 6 1/2" barrels.

"...inside the barrel shroud."

2nd Models didn't have barrel shrouds. I presume you meant "under the barrel." Blue revolvers built before WW II had a "B" prefix to the SN found on the underside of the barrel or in the barrel shroud. The lack of a "B" indicates the revolver shipped with a nickel finish.

 

[TheTinMan]

OK assuming original finish, was $2,500 within the realm of reason for a private sale?

Most of the second model .44 I've ever seen were nickel plated & had 6 1/2" barrels.

"...inside the barrel shroud."

2nd Models didn't have barrel shrouds. I presume you meant "under the barrel." Blue revolvers built before WW II had a "B" prefix to the SN found on the underside of the barrel or in the barrel shroud. The lack of a "B" indicates the revolver shipped with a nickel finish.

<face palm> yes, under the barrel.

 

[6string]

OK assuming original finish, was $2,500 within the realm of reason for a private sale?
.

There will always be love for a nice, pre-war N-Frame .44 Special as long as blood flows through the veins of real men.

It's a nice gun, probably about 100 years old. That age has to show somewhere!