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

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BaylorCattleGuy

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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.
 

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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/
 
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Dosgatos said:
I'd be willing to bet that it is a Wolf & KLar. My 29179 letters as such.
Click to expand...

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!!
 
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22hipower said:
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/
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Thank you!

Did Wolf & Klar do the carved steer head in ivory? (Dare to dream)
 
BaylorCattleGuy said:
Thank you!

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

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
 
So, did you check the left side of the gripframe for the refinish date yet?
 
Shark Bait said:
Beautiful gun. I'm glad cabelas answered the phone for you. I found some stores don't answer phones or emails.
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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.
 
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shovelhead said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
shovelhead said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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Muley Gil said:
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.
Click to expand...

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?
 
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.
 
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handejector said:
BaylorCattleGuy said:
Potentially a Wolf & Klar?
Click to expand...
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. ;)
Click to expand...

BaylorCattleGuy said:
handejector said:
So, did you check the left side of the gripframe for the refinish date yet?
Click to expand...

Been out of town and I couldn't remember. Just looked again and it's 3 66. So March 1966
Click to expand...
I'm surprised no one has asked me how I knew that it was refinished, and by the Factory, and when. :D ;);)
See if you can figure it out and I'll answer later.
There is an obvious tell....
 
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