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

[shovelhead]

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

Standing in the Dundee Gun Library directly to the left of the desk with a guy sitting in it. Nobody in the Library except him, my six y/o grandson and myself in the middle of the week on a rainy cold day. He couldn't even look up at me let alone greet me. In fact the store was eerily almost empty.

I was interested in a old and well worn Colt Police Positive in .32-20, looked to be pre-WWII vintage. Interested but not interested enough to ask him to open the showcase. I'm at the point in my life that I'm not begging anyone to take my money.

 

[BaylorCattleGuy]

Standing in the Dundee Gun Library directly to the left of the desk with a guy sitting in it. Nobody in the Library except him, my six y/o grandson and myself in the middle of the week on a rainy cold day. He couldn't even look up at me let alone greet me. In fact the store was eerily almost empty.

I was interested in an old and well worn Colt Police Positive in .32-20, looked to be pre-WWII vintage. Interested but not interested enough to ask him to open the showcase. I'm at the point in my life that I'm not begging anyone to take my money.

I grew up in my family's small town western wear business so I'm right there with you about sorry retail employees. Those were also the type that complained about not getting raises.

 

[Muley Gil]

Standing in the Dundee Gun Library directly to the left of the desk with a guy sitting in it. Nobody in the Library except him, my six y/o grandson and myself in the middle of the week on a rainy cold day. He couldn't even look up at me let alone greet me. In fact the store was eerily almost empty.

I was interested in a old and well worn Colt Police Positive in .32-20, looked to be pre-WWII vintage. Interested but not interested enough to ask him to open the showcase. I'm at the point in my life that I'm not begging anyone to take my money.

To the best of my knowledge, Colt didn't build any double action .32-20s after WW II. I've owned a number of PPSs in the .32 WCF chambering. Down to just one now. My real prize is a 5" Official Police .32-20. It shoots really good and best of all, I can actually see the sights, which is a problem with my pre World War ONE S&Ws.

 

[shovelhead]

To the best of my knowledge, Colt didn't build any double action .32-20s after WW II. I've owned a number of PPSs in the .32 WCF chambering. Down to just one now. My real prize is a 5" Official Police .32-20. It shoot really good and best of all, I can actually see the sights, which is a problem with my pre World War ONE S&Ws.

Big reason I was interested is that I reminded me of one that I let get away from me in 1976. I know it's said "buy the gun not the story" but the reason I didn't buy the gun was the legal/logistical problems for me back then as I was barely involved in firearms at that time in my life.

The story was as follows. I met my parents elderly neighbors in a small Southwestern town back then. Paul had an interesting life as a merchant, a baker and for awhile a deputy town Marshall. The story was that the gun was used in a "high noon" situation in 1928 and at the conclusion of the trial (acquittal) was given the gun as the defendant left town.

I knew no one with a FFL at the time in either state, last person in Michigan I did closed up and moved. Combine that with Michigan's handgun registration I was at a dead end. Three years later I moved to that state but Paul and his wife were long passed at that time so where it ended up who knows?

 

[pasound]

I found my 1923 2nd model 6 1/2" nickel .44 Hand Ejector at the local Cabelas for $899 2 1/2 years ago. Lettered to 9/12/1923, so it just turned 101. Pre Wolf & Klar, though it did go to a midwest hardware store, and from the 90%+ condition, it was mostly stored, never carried or shot much, if at all.

 

[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.

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

I'm surprised no one has asked me how I knew that it was refinished, and by the Factory, and when.
See if you can figure it out and I'll answer later.
There is an obvious tell....

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Lee did you own it at some point and whoever got it from you and passed it on… and on… ended up selling it to Cabelas?
A guess…

 

[handejector]

Nope. Never saw it before it was posted here.
as I said-

See if you can figure it out and I'll answer later.
There is an obvious tell....

 

[raljr1]

Nope. Never saw it before it was posted here.
as I said-

I gotta know! I have compared that one to my 3rd model which was refinished outside and I can't see anything. I looked at the ejector nut, the Made in USA stamp. I give. The only thing I see is the front sight is frosted, not shiny.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I'd say front sight looks different but hard to tell based on looking at pics from my phone.

I chickened out though and sent that initially to Lee as a PM.

 

[handejector]

The only thing I see is the front sight is frosted, not shiny.

I'd say front sight looks different but hard to tell based on looking at pics from my phone.

You guys nailed it.

I'm not sure when S&W started sandblasting front sights on fixed sighted guns, but I do not believe it occurred before the very late 50s or early 60s. I have oly seen it on refinished guns in the 60s, and MAYBE the 70s. Don't remember.
It was never done on Pre War guns. It was not done on fixed sight Transition guns.


Another probable Tell is the amount of "silvering" of the case colors, and the subsequent browning on the hammer and trigger. While it is possible that it could happen while a nickel or blue finish remained pristine, it just ain't likely!

Another less obvious tell is the sideplate screws. Pre War screws have a bright polish like the rest of the gun. See the satin finish on these? The screws were replaced with new Post War screws when they refinished it.