Old 44HEs

[delta-419]

I love to tinker in my garage, it brakes up the routine of retirement. My obsession with all things old and in 44 caliber has led me on some wild pursuits for parts, along with a continuing education on old Smith & Wessons. I love the all matching numbered 44s and have a fair number in my collection but, the real stepchildren are the ones cast aside, parted out, and left in the dustbin of history. They have attracted my attention, perhaps the ghosts of adventures past with wars, outlaws, and conflicts. What stories they could tell. When I find one, regardless if it is just an old derelict or just a parted out frame it beckons my attentions. Here are a few of them:



The last photo shows a 44 that will remain un-refinished, it has all matching numbers. The 5" 44HE is a work "in progress" because of timing issues with the cylinder stop. The target 44 is a great and very accurate shooter. It continues to be a lot of fun to save these old guns. Just thought I would share!

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

LOVE the .44spl Target Pinto,Thanks for sharing.Can you give a rundown of the parts used to make it please?

 

[A10]

Thanks for sharing.....there's something about ol' #3 there that I just plain like. Maybe it's the apparent history. There's a lot that gun could say!

 

[Modified]

You are a man after my own heart.

The truth is that among my very favorite S&Ws, if not my favorite one after I put a bunch of rounds through it, is my S/N 18XX Triple lock:

It's so dang accurate and nice to shoot. The upgraded sights are really very good. The re-blue is nice and I believe factory, and the pre-war magnas really suit the gun when you are shooting it.

The work that was done on the sights is nothing short of amazing. Whoever did this work was extremely skilled.

As much as I love original guns, I think that this particular gun is always going to be a favorite of mine. I love how the 5" barrel balances, I love how these sights work, I love the magnas, I love shooting .44spl, and I love that the gun is pretty but not so pretty I can't shoot it whenever I please.

 

[delta-419]

Target 44

The target 44 was fashioned from a 44HE that I found for a very reasonable price ($385) that had been poorly refinished in nickel, but had a great lockup. The frame had a cut across the top for a rear drift sight that was never installed. I thought long and hard about how to hide the cut and after looking at a lot of photos of target 44s decided on a prewar reproduction sight sold by Clements Custom Guns of Woodlawn, VA. The sight was modified to accept the tiny screws as used in the originals. The barrel is an original target barrel for the 2nd model 44 and the front blade is a gold dot found and added to the barrel. The cylinder was peeling nickel and refinished in master blue to match the barrel by Fords.
The #2 photo is a modified .455 frame that I found at a local gun show. When I got her the barrel had been cut to just passed the locking stud and the front sight silver soldered in place. The cylinder was shaved to accept a 45acp clip. There was no lock work. Barrel is a factory new (old stock) 5". Cylinder is a parts find here on the Forum as are most of my parts. This gun ia s rebuild from the ground up!
Amazing, the #3 gun only needed a new bolt, oversize hand & cylinder stop and a frame stud. She shoots great and is one of my backup house guns. It took a lot of work to clean out the leading in the barrel but it looks great compared to the outside holster wear.

 

[A10]

You are a man after my own heart.

The truth is that among my very favorite S&Ws, if not my favorite one after I put a bunch of rounds through it, is my S/N 18XX Triple lock:

It's so dang accurate and nice to shoot. The upgraded sights are really very good. The re-blue is nice and I believe factory, and the pre-war magnas really suit the gun when you are shooting it.

The work that was done on the sights is nothing short of amazing. Whoever did this work was extremely skilled.

As much as I love original guns, I think that this particular gun is always going to be a favorite of mine. I love how the 5" barrel balances, I love how these sights work, I love the magnas, I love shooting .44spl, and I love that the gun is pretty but not so pretty I can't shoot it whenever I please.

Hey Sixgun, lets get some of the local members together for a prewar revolver competition! I'd love to see your target gun in action!

 

[Retired W4]

Sounds like a call out to me. May the best gun win.

 

[rhmc24]

You are a man after my own heart. I'm partial to the big old revolvers, S&W Triple Lock,
S&W .44 DA topbreaks & Colt New Service. Here is before & after of a TL I bought for
$135 1982 gun show, then DIY TLC.



This one is a work-in-progress 1904 .44 Colt New Service with a piece of new .44 Mag
barrel in it. I'm turning 90 next week so about all it will get is prep & refinish. At least
it will be saved from oblivion.