Re-nickled .44 special identification

[mopro]

I am a new member and have a question about a 44special hand ejector . It has been nickled and does not have adjustable sights. The grips are not original, they are stag. The barrel is 6.5 inches long and the Smith and Wesson logo is different than most I have seen. It is below the cylinder latch and is very small. I am curios as to model and approx. value. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. I will try to figure out how to post pictures.

 

[gunnails]

Need pictures and serial number.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! If you could provide the SN from the bottom of the grip frame and tell us whether the ejector rod has a metal enclosure or housing, or just locks up to a small lug on the barrel underside, we can give you an ID. From the small S & w logo you describe I think it likely dates from the 1920-'40 era. Hope this is helpful.

 

[mopro]

I am trying to familiarize myself with adding picture process. I will send serial in next post. As far as ejector question it is shrouded much like a pre model 27 , it is a five screw revolver.

 

[jjbrewst1]

Ok...Please answer the rest of the questions...

A Serial Number would be very helpful unitl you realize how to post pics...

I use Photobucket ot click the paperclip and just add the pic via your computer..

 

[jjbrewst1]

And welcome to the Forum You will Love it here...hope you stick around and gain some of the knowledge we all enjoy

 

[mopro]

Serial number 29775

 

[OFT II]

With that s/n and a shrouded ejector rod it's likely a 3rd model made soon after that model was introduced.

 

[arjay]

Looks like a late 20s gun

 

[mopro]

Thanks guys, Im not the most computer literate. I am still trying to send a picture. Will do so as soon as I can. Thank you for the great info.

 

[mopro]

Is it a pre -model model 21? Or can you tell w/ out pictures? Does the serial ## reveal model?

 

[arjay]

It's much earlier than the pre models.Those would be post war short action guns.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Thanks guys, Im not the most computer literate. I am still trying to send a picture. Will do so as soon as I can. Thank you for the great info.

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you have a 3rd model HE , also known as the model of 1926.


If you have the pics on your computer already, for the next post you type up, take a look up over the area you type in and find the paperclip icon. It's in the top row, and kinda small. Click on it and a widow will open that allows you to select a picture right off your computer. Make sure to click upload after you select the picture. Then just hit the post button as usual, but I believe you will still need to include some text to avoid seeing the message that the text you have entered is too short or something like that.

 

[murphydog]

It's named the .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, from the mid-late 1920s. The 2nd and 3rd models had overlapping SNs, so the number doesn't tell you the model in this instance.

 

[Art Doc]

Look familiar?

 

[mopro]

Success!

That looks exactly like it, but yours is much nicer.This one has the hammer and trigger nickled from the refinish and the different bone grips. Thank you all, I plan to be around alot. I've been trying to build a collection as I am able to afford them. Will need your expertise to do it wisely. I am away from my computer currently but will follow the excellent instructions when I return home.

 

[mopro]

With tight action, bone grips, refinish, good bore , would it be worth in the $1000 range.

 

[Art Doc]

I would not pay that much for one but others would, I'm sure. These are sought after and I have bought two. I paid $650 for the first one (and felt like the price was high but I wanted it) then a month later I found another in better condition for $400. Live and learn. Kept both for a couple years then sold the first one for about what I paid (I'm not the only fool, apparently).

The one pictured is from 1929 and went to Wolf & Klar in Huston. This gun is sometimes called the Wolf & Klar Model because they ordered a bunch of them. It is refinished but was originally in nickel. Yes, unfortunately the hammers and triggers usually get plated with the rest of the gun. Mine were, too, but I stripped the nickel and tried to make them look original. Not quite, but better than plated.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I would not pay that much for one but others would, I'm sure. These are sought after and I have bought two. I paid $650 for the first one (and felt like the price was high but I wanted it) then a month later I found another in better condition for $400. Live and learn. Kept both for a couple years then sold the first one for about what I paid (I'm not the only fool, apparently).

The one pictured is from 1929 and went to Wolf & Klar in Huston. This gun is sometimes called the Wolf & Klar Model because they ordered a bunch of them. It is refinished but was originally in nickel. Yes, unfortunately the hammers and triggers usually get plated with the rest of the gun. Mine were, too, but I stripped the nickel and tried to make them look original. Not quite, but better than plated.

May I ask how you stripped the Nickel off the Hammer and Trigger? I have been wondering how to do this myself in case I come across a old Smith with nickel plated parts.

 

[Muley Gil]

"The one pictured is from 1929 and went to Wolf & Klar in Huston."

SP made a slight error, as Wolf & Klar was a jewelry/gunshop in Fort Worth, Texas. The first hand ejector .44 Specials appeared in about 1908 and had the enclosed ejector rod shroud, plus a third locking device. These revolvers earned the nickname of Triple Locks. The shrouds were dropped in about 1915, due in part to cost. These are called the 2nd Model .44s.

In 1926, Wolf & Klar contacted S&W and placed a large order of .44 Specials with the shroud. The first shipment of the 3rd Models was sent to W&K in January 1927. It consisted of 75 nickel 5" revolvers.