S&W 3rd model .44 deal from Cabelas??

[BaylorCattleGuy]

I found a Smith "Hand ejector .44" on Cabelas site earlier this week for $999. Pictures weren't up, but I called and the employee texted me a couple of pictures. He said it was serial number 65xxx several times. I pulled the trigger as I had plenty of points. Surprise surprise when I showed up this evening at the Waco store to pick it up and the serial number was 29,140. All matching numbers.

Potentially a Wolf & Klar?

Now I just need to find some vintage stags or Ropers for it.

 

[19leben]

Pretty gun

Wow, that's a nice pre-war Third Model! That nickel looks incredible. Great acquisition!

 

[bigmtnman]

As Jackie Gleason would say at some breathtaking beauty ....... "Homina....homina ....homina". You have to be in a certain age range to get that

 

[Model19man]

Now I just need to find some vintage stags or Ropers for it.

As nice as that one looks you should buy S&W period correct stocks for it. It deserves them!

 

[raljr1]

Please forgive me for hating on you right now.

Man I wish i could find one like that.

Robert

 

[mh51]

Get a letter on that one! Good possibility that it went to Wolf & Klar, and that's always a plus for a Texas guy.
Congrats!!

 

[Dosgatos]

I'd be willing to bet that it is a Wolf & KLar. My 29179 letters as such.

 

[moosedog]

Wow. You did great. Thanks for sharing that and let us know what letter says when you get one.

 

[22hipower]

Most likely it is W&K and a fairly early one. First ones shipped in 1927, the 5 inch below (28757) in April of 1927.

That's a great price from Cabelas, usually they're overpriced by 50%, in this case I'd say underpriced by that amount even with the funky stocks. Finish looks original and in great shape from what we can see. If there's no B in the ejector shroud it may be the original nickel.

I'd look for some non-medallion service stocks or some W&K carved steer head MOPs. Nice buy, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2pMx6wx https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2pMtT2c https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[rct269]

I'd be willing to bet that it is a Wolf & KLar. My 29179 letters as such.

This (^^^^^) is likely as good as it's going to get!

I had a .44 3rd Target (54911), and was going to say if there's any data available to aid in back tracking from there, Jinks told me it was made in 1938---shipped January 28, 1941.

Ralph Tremaine

Apologies for the brain fade!

There is most certainly a way to back track this sort of thing! It isn't fool proof, but all the pre-war N frames are in the same serial number series. Granted they didn't necessarily produce or ship the guns in serial order, but it's close enough for government work!

Here's my contribution to the hunt: .44 H.E. 1st, #3976, produced in 1908, shipped February 23, 1909; .44 H.E. 1st, #10688 shipped October 9, 1915. 357 Magnum #47121, produced in 1935, shipped December 19, 1935; .44 H.E. 3rd, #54911 produced in 1938, shipped January 28, 1941; .44 H.E. 2nd, #58669, shipped May 14, 1940; 38/44 Outdoorsman, #59378, shipped June 7, 1940.

You get enough folks to give you enough of this stuff, and you'll be able to see a very convincing display of the what, when, and how high up is!!

 

[Shark Bait]

Beautiful gun. I'm glad cabelas answered the phone for you. I found some stores don't answer phones or emails.

 

[22hipower]

Beautiful gun. I'm glad cabelas answered the phone for you. I found some stores don't answer phones or emails.

At least they're consistent, they gave him the wrong SN. They've sold me a couple insisting that the assembly number was the SN.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[merl67]

Cabelas is amazing on price usually way overpriced you found a Unicorn among mostly overpriced guns congrats !

 

[BaylorCattleGuy]

Most likely it is W&K and a fairly early one. First ones shipped in 1927, the 5 inch below (28757) in April of 1927.

That's a great price from Cabelas, usually they're overpriced by 50%, in this case I'd say underpriced by that amount even with the funky stocks. Finish looks original and in great shape from what we can see. If there's no B in the ejector shroud it may be the original nickel.

I'd look for some non-medallion service stocks or some W&K carved steer head MOPs. Nice buy, enjoy.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2pMx6wx https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2pMtT2c https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

Thank you!

Did Wolf & Klar do the carved steer head in ivory? (Dare to dream)

 

[22hipower]

Thank you!

Did Wolf & Klar do the carved steer head in ivory? (Dare to dream)

Possibly but if so I've never seen a set that were attributed to W&K. You can identify the MOP as W&K by the large roman numerals carved in the insides of the panels. Haven't seen a definitive answer on whether W&K carved the MOPs in house as they did their "pawn shop" engraving, or bought them (Mexico?) and fitted them to revolvers as needed.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[quinn]

I had (past tense) a set of carved ivory steerhead grips with the same profile as my mother of perar steerheads that came on a lettered Wof & Klar. But there were no Romal Nummerals on the inside of the ivory. Don't really know if this tells us anything, though.

 

[handejector]

Potentially a Wolf & Klar?

Just always figure they are Wolf & Klar and you'll win most bets.
Is it a round top or flat top frame?
Good for you. Pretty.
It was refinished by the Factory in the 60s or 70s.

 

[A10]

This is two good deals I've seen coming from Cabela's lately. I'm thinkin' I need to spend some time in the gun library!

 

[handejector]

So, did you check the left side of the gripframe for the refinish date yet?

 

[BaylorCattleGuy]

So, did you check the left side of the gripframe for the refinish date yet?

Been out of town and I couldn't remember. Just looked again and it's 3 66. So March 1966