Pinto Question

[Dnovo1]

I am new to the forum, albeit a longtime collector, so I apologize if this is either in the wrong section or if this has been dealt with before. I have two Pintos in my collection, one a 27-2 6" and a 27 3.5". I am curious as to the origin of the Pintos. A friend suggests they were done in the pre-Performace Center Custom shop at the request of an East Coast dealer and in small runs. I can't find any reference in the literature nor have I seen many other Pintos. Most of those I have come across are Model 27s, which would seem to support my friends hypothesis.

Any information that you could provide would be appreciated.

Dave

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Probably jeremyws1 will notice your post. If not, you could make contact by use of the PM (private mail) feature of this site. Jeremy is rather interested in pintos.

I know of at least one that was apparently done at the request of an individual. Jeremy has it now. I also saw a number of new J-frame pintos (36, 38, 40, perhaps others) in a pawn shop in Jacksonville FL in the early 60's.

 

[dacoontz]

Check out the albums above. He has a section with just pics of pintos, but like Model520fan posted, he is the resident expert around here.

 

[Doc44]

Two-tone revolvers [blue frame with a nickel cylinder and barrel, or a nickel frame with blue cylinder and barrel (rarely seen)] are usually special order revolvers. In the 1950s, S&W made (relatively) quite a few ".357" Magnums configured this way as well as a few Model 29s. Often, these guns were Class A-engraved. I also owned an early Combat Magnum that lettered as a two-tone.

S&W made relatively few two-tones when compared to either blue or nickel finished guns, so they are quite collectible.

The photo below is of a two-tone Model 29-2 that was shipped in October 1972.

Bill

 

[Tired Gunsmith]

Back in the 1950's when I was the Gunsmith at Rex Firearms in NYC we would reeive "pinto" revolvers on a regular basis.

We sold good number of the 1950 .44 Spl. revolvers with 4" barrels in that configuration as well as the .357 and .44 Magnums and some "Chiefs Special" models.

Some of these guns in later years WOULD NOT "LETTER"
( I know from personal experience).