Pre 24 3 1/2" .44 SPL--Thoughts needed.

[bravastar1]

The one I posted is a S145xxx serial number ranage. Looks like my buddy is getting a good one.

 

[RKmesa]

The gun was posted for sale on our local forum- here are some more pics:

The front sight does look like it was replaced- there was a lot of uncertainty over the barrel length- was it chopped from a 4" or was it maybe a special order with a 3 1/2"- the crown looks to be rounded in the same manner as my pre 27 3 1/2"- and as others have said, the rollmark isn't conspicuously off..

The OCD in me had to edit and turn the photos a bit to compare, but I've looked at a ton of 3.5" 357s, and that beauty looks righteous to me. Notice how the front sight base is recessed into the rib - that is exactly how the factory does it... If it were anywhere near me, the title of my thread would be "Look and My New to Me Cool 3.5" 5-Screw 44 Special" I'd be all over that.

My guess is that it was a special order and shipped to H.H. Harris (Chicago), Rex Firearms (New York), or Oshmans (Houston).

 

[lestert357]

Where’s the “Buy Now” button?

 

[fleabus101]

If your good buddy pays 7,8, or 900 clams and gets that ...what I call a treasure find. Im gonna
be looking at every Colorado gun site I can scope out online That is just one of those
S&W finds you gotta love his luck getting a chance to buy it.
Please keep us posted on what happens
on this neat deal .
To be clear..not your buds deal but might be
other Smiths for sale in Colorado maybe Im missing....
I dont play that way on guys current deals !!
Best Randy..

 

[gkitch]

LETTER IT!!!!

 

[Raiders_wife]

Charlie had one very similar with a square butt except this was a model 24. We had it lettered twice, got 2 different results, but neither would admit a 3 inch square butt model 24. We sent Smith enlargements of pictures, but the only answer was that it had to be a round butt Lew Horton model. If it could even be done, why would anyone have the butt shape changed especially in a way that no evidence showed the modification? So, the lesson is that sometimes a letter does not solve a mystery. You guys had majors discussions back then I think in 2008, because Charlie was going to meet with dealer from Alabama in San Antonio. Hurricane Ike made it impossible to go. Today the gun is either sold or on consignment.

Raiders_wife
Joan

 

[ddixie884]

I really like it. I like it if modified and I really like it if original..........

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

I like it. I love it. I want some more of it.

Buy now and keep forever in one's lifetime.

Of course, I love the Model 24 line. .44 SPL

 

[Kinman]

I like it. I love it. I want some more of it.

Buy now and keep forever in one's lifetime.

Of course, I love the Model 24 line. .44 SPL

I'm with this guy, my two favorite carry revolvers are a Lew Horton 24-3 and a modified cut down 1917. A 3.5 or 4" pre model 24 is a thing of beauty, I have a satin finished 6", its nice...just not as usuable as one to carry.

 

[wbraswell]

I don't get why the 3.5 barrel was just on the .357. I like it so much more than the 3" N frames, because of the full length ejector. A fixed sight, round butt .44spl. or .45 would have been sooooo sweet!

 

[bigwagon]

I don't get why the 3.5 barrel was just on the .357. I like it so much more than the 3" N frames, because of the full length ejector. A fixed sight, round butt .44spl. or .45 would have been sooooo sweet!

Like this?

 

[rck281]

Here is another post about a 3 1/2" 1950 Target

S&W Model 1950 .44 3 1/2"