Pre-24 four inch with mystery barrel

[Shotguncoach]

It seems to shoot ok

10 yards, two hands, single action, using 240 grain LSWC's and 6.5 grains of flammable dirt (Unique).

I guess I'll keep it.

 

[Doc44]

The best way to learn about your 1950 44 Target is to obtain a letter of authenticity from the S&WHF. The letter will state what barrel length the 44 was shipped with, the location, and shipping date. I believe your 44 Target was shipped with a standard finish as this model finished in bright blue usually has a B stamped on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame under the 4. I have three shipped in 1955 with this stamp and each letters as being shipped in bright blue.

Service records (repair and refinish) are very few in the post war records and there is nothing about your 44 in them (I researched it using the serial number).

Bill Cross
S&WHF

 

[Hawg Rider]

Shotguncoach: You definitely have a problem, and I'm afraid that you are in serious need of an intervention. Out of the goodness of my heart and to help out a fellow Forum member, you should immediately send me all 6 of those .44 Specials. I'll hold onto them for you as you complete your 12-step S&W revolver rehabilitation program. Unfortunately, there has been almost zero success with rehabilitation, so I may have them for awhile. Very nice collection!

 

[Truckman]

Out of the goodness of my heart and to help out a fellow Forum member, you should immediately send me all 6 of those .44 Specials.

Have I mentioned my free pick up service?...Plus the Texas climate is much friendlier to blued steel than Florida...I've even built a special 1950 model retirement wing in my safe for the seven that already reside there......Ben

 

[old bear]

O/P I'm surprised someone else has not mentioned this. Don't worry about this gun. Do get rid of that thief who lied to you and attempted to cheat you.

 

[Shotguncoach]

HawgRider and Truckman: Thank you for your kind offers. The Arizona climate is particularly well suited for the preservation of old iron and I'm enjoying the heck out of my addiction. Can I interest you in some Jeep parts instead? My wife would like that.

old bear: The thief is my best friend and we have a long history of "helping" each other that way. His wife has still not forgiven me for introducing him to the joy of Belgian Browning shotguns.

Doc44: Thank you for checking on the service history. I appreciate it.

I sent off my SWCA materials today via email/paypal. Once I get my number I'll add the SWHF membership and send off for a flurry of letters.

On another note, the stocks on this one look great and feel good in the hand when I'm not shooting, but they allow the gun to shift quite a bit under recoil if I don't keep an absolute death grip on it. I'm fresh out of N-frame diamond target stocks and my last unused pair of Culina's went onto a pre-27, so I'll be haunting the For Sale ads until a good pair pops up.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

It seems to shoot ok

10 yards, two hands, single action, using 240 grain LSWC's and 6.5 grains of flammable dirt (Unique).

I guess I'll keep it.

Great 44 Special load too. I have using that recipe for 40+ years.

 

[Shotguncoach]

All hail the best forum on the net! Less than 24 hours after my post SmithNut listed a pair of non-relieved diamond target stocks in the for sale area. Now we wait…

 

[Marksman]

About 15yrs. ago I went to a small local estate auction, it was being held the same weekend as the biggest gunshow in the state so there was little bidding competition. There was a 4" pre'24 in the auction, the bidding started out kind of brisk but the bottom feeders soon dropped out. I had set an arbitrary limit to how much I would bid, the limit was reached and there was only one other bidder and myself. I decided to make one more bid, much to my surprise mine was the winning bid. So the S & W in presentation case with cardboard box and original receipt were mine for the sum of $650.00. The story gets even better, I later traded it for an H.H. Harris 5" .44 Special. Every so often the stars are in alignment and you get lucky !

 

[Model19man]

I recommend keeping that one.

 

[Shotguncoach]

SmithNut came through and provided these....I think they'll do just fine.

 

[fleabus101]

I luv those unrelieved early N Target Stocks.. Now you got a handle on that Thang LOL..