Pre Model 21 Or Pre Model 24 Help???

AC Man

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I own a pre model 24 6.5" Model of 1950. 44 special. They have the ramped front sight and rear adjustable rear sight. I found a Pre model 21 model of 1950 for sale and it does not have the front blade and gutter military sights. That is what makes it a Military pre model 21, but the add says pre model 21 with TRANSITIONAL SIGHTS. To me it is a pre model 24. My serial number is within 18 of the so called pre 21. What say you?
 
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I own a pre model 24 6.5" Model of 1950. 44 special. They have the ramped front sight and rear adjustable rear sight. I found a Pre model 21 model of 1950 for sale and it does not have the front blade and gutter military sights. That is what makes it a Military pre model 21, but the add says pre model 21 with TRANSITIONAL SIGHTS. To me it is a pre model 24. My serial number is within 18 of the so called pre 21. What say you?
Absolutely. It's a pre model 24, or model of 1950 .44 Target. I have one posted here that is similar to what you describe. This is from the 1957 flyer - they were still making them.

model 44 target.jpg
 
AC Man, there are folks that do not like to use the pre-model terminology. S&W called the gun that became the Model 24 "The 1950 Model .44 Target." The factory never used the term pre-model for anything.
The term is what many of us call "collector speak." A group of terms used by some collectors that were never used by the factory. I'm ok with it, but of course I am known to be a very tolerant person.
 
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AC Man, there are folks that do not like to use the pre-model terminology. S&W called the gun that became the Model 24 "The 1950 Model .44 Target." The factory never used the term pre-model for anything.
The term is what many of us call "collector speak." A group of terms used by some collectors that were never used by the factory. I'm ok with it, but of course I am known to be a very tolerant person.
Exactly. I refer to both of my ex-wives as "pre-model ". That way I can keep them sorted out between the older and newer models. They don't particularly care for it either but we need to keep track somehow, don't we? I couldn't exactly call them 44 hand ejector, could I?
 
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Absolutely. It's a pre model 24, or model of 1950 .44 Target. I have one posted here that is similar to what you describe. This is from the 1957 flyer - they were still making them.

View attachment 775047

S&W used the picture of the Outdoorsman for the .44 Target and the 1950 .45 Target. The front sights on those two were higher than the one on the Outdoorsman. Also, look at the proper headspace gap on the 1955 .45 Target.
 
Exactly. I refer to both of my ex-wives as "pre-model ". That way I can keep them sorted out between the older and newer models. They don't particularly care for it either but we need to keep track somehow, don't we? I couldn't exactly call them 44 hand ejector, could I?
As another one with two ex-wives I can appreciate your solution to this problem. Neither of them were 44's.
 
Oh, boy...this thread disintegrated fairly quickly! Like Muley Gil and Retired W4, I finally found one that would put up with me, but it took awhile! Nonetheless, I must say I'm lucky... my current bride of some 30 years as well as both my ex-wives came to my 80th birthday party!
 
AC Man, there are folks that do not like to use the pre-model terminology. S&W called the gun that became the Model 24 "The 1950 Model .44 Target." The factory never used the term pre-model for anything.
The term is what many of us call "collector speak." A group of terms used by some collectors that were never used by the factory. I'm ok with it, but of course I am known to be a very tolerant person.
I use terms such as "Pre-war", "Transitional" (1946-1949), "1950 Model", "Target" or "Military", proper names such as ".38/44 Heavy Duty" or "Outdoorsman", and "Model xx". Sometimes "pre-Model xx" creeps into a conversation. My .44's are "First Model" or "Triplelock", 2nd, and 3rd Model (or 1926 Model, W&K, or Transitional). Then there's "round top", "flat top", "single-line", "four-line", and various descriptions of hammers, triggers, and ejector rods. It all comes naturally but it looks confusing as I write this.
 
I use terms such as "Pre-war", "Transitional" (1946-1949), "1950 Model", "Target" or "Military", proper names such as ".38/44 Heavy Duty" My .44's are "First Model" or "Triplelock", 2nd, and 3rd Model (or 1926 Model, W&K, or Transitional). Then there's "round top", "flat top", "single-line", "four-line", and various descriptions of hammers, triggers, and ejector rods.
Wow, you have more ex-wives than any of us! :)
 
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