S&W 45 Cal. Model 1950 Information Needed

[0-65 Springfield]

I am new on this forum and would like some info on a S&W Model 1950 that i have.The blueing and bore on this revolver is in very nice condition for its age.I have personally fired it and it cycles with no issues.The only modification that i can see is that someone filed the front sight blade down and i would like to know why? The blueing looks original and the grips have not been refinished and do not have any cracks.The barrel measures 5.5 inches and reads 45 cal.Model 1950.I am assuming that this is a 45 ACP and not a 45 long Colt? I did use a moon clip when i fired it,so maybe i answered my own question?It has a 4 digit serial number starting 40XX.Can someone tell me what year this was made and what it is worth with the front sight blade filed down? And again why would someone file it? I am looking to sell it and would like a value.Thank you for your time.

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello 0-65, did you record the Sn. 40XX from the bottom of the grip?
It has Magnas on it so no removal is needed. Best

 

[samandglove1]

The correct serial number will be found on the butt of the revolver and will start with an "S". Also, please measure the barrel from the cylinder. It actually looks to be 6" or 6.5".

 

[0-65 Springfield]

I measured the barrel again from the front edge of the cylinder to the tip of the muzzle and it is 5 1/2 inches.Serial number on the butt is S 909XX.

 

[gmborkovic]

Thank you, that is what I was going for before I was interrupted.
S909XX makes sense. Best.

 

[steelslaver]

Wonder if barrel was cut down. Doesn't look like it, but, less time in barrel means less time under recoil and less muzzle rise. So would shoot low with normal height for 6 1/2" barrel. Maybe it just shot low or possibly the previous owner like to shoot longer ranges. Another is he like to hold at 6 0'clock on bullseye target and have bullet strike center. Maybe it was fired with very light loads. Lots of possibles.

Where did it group, with what ammo, on target at what range when you fired it.

 

[0-65 Springfield]

I used hand loads that came with it but they were not marked.I was shooting at about 25 feet and it was hitting high about 6 inches if i remember correctly.I would have to hold low about 6 inches to hit center.

 

[steelslaver]

If it was fired at a 12" bullseye using a 6 o'clock hold you would be in the x ring.

 

[0-65 Springfield]

Yes,that is correct.

 

[quinn]

I think that you have a post WWII model 1917. Or, are my eyes deceiving me? If I'm correct, that is a pretty scarce gun. Is the barrel marked "Model of 1950" or were you going on something you read here? The model of 1950 45 Military (Pre 21) would have a shrouded ejector rod. If 1917, the 5/5" barrel would have been correct. Anyway, welcome to the forum!

 

[raljr1]

1917 would not have the logo on the sideplate, would it?

 

[0-65 Springfield]

The right side of the barrel reads 45 cal.Model 1950

 

[raljr1]

hard to set a value on it for a couple reasons, not many on the market from what I can see, and someone butchered the front sight, which is integral to the barrel, so it cannot easily be restored. So, if the sight wasn't modified it's probably an $800 to $1000 piece in my humble guestimation. as it sits I'd say it's a $500 gun, and that's a shame. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me may have an opinion.

 

[Muley Gil]

This revolver is also known as the 1950 Army.

"The model of 1950 45 Military (Pre 21) would have a shrouded ejector rod."

No. the unshrouded barrel is correct.

"Pre 21"

The M21 and the pre M21s were fixed sighted .44 Specials. This is a pre M22.

 

[regularoldtom]

try to get a wonder sight it might help to adjust bullet impact

 

[quinn]

This revolver is also known as the 1950 Army.

"The model of 1950 45 Military (Pre 21) would have a shrouded ejector rod."

No. the unshrouded barrel is correct.

"Pre 21"

The M21 and the pre M21s were fixed sighted .44 Specials. This is a pre M22.

Of course, a 'pre-22'. Not sure where my mind is tonight. IIRC there were only about 4700 45 Armys made. Thanks for setting it straight. You just don't see many pre 21s or 22s.

 

[0-65 Springfield]

Ok,so this appears to be a pre M22.Can someone tell me what year it was made and its value?

 

[steelslaver]

Front sight could be fixed. Tig welder could slowly built it back up or weld a small piece on to git it a bit over correct height. The barrel would need to be clamped in aluminum or brass to bleed of the heat so barrel didn't get to hot. Then it could be CAREFULLY filed and sanded to correct contour and sides. But, then it would need blued. You could also have a piece of brass brazed on it. The sight is high enough of barrel that you could do it by setting up a good heat sink to keep the barrel from getting very hot.

It would not be original again, but it would shoot to point of aim.

 

[Tom K]

try to get a wonder sight it might help to adjust bullet impact

Nope. His gun is hitting high so he needs to either raise the front sight, or lower the rear sight. You can't get any lower with a Wondersight than the fixed sight channel that's already in the frame, so that wouldn't help at all.

 

[BUFF]

The gun is a .45 Hand Ejector Model of 1950, Military. 5-1/2 inch barrel, think of it as a newer 1917 now using the new (for 1950) short action frame. .45 ACP, but Roy Jinks writes the factory made up 203 of this gun chambered for .45 Colt.

S&W began shipping them in November, 1951 at serial number S76,000. They were dropped from the catalog in 1966, with only 4,976 made. Yes, they became the Model 22 in 1957, so model-marked guns are scare.

My gun, S94954, shipped in April, 1952. Likely your gun was shipped the same year as mine.

Why is your front blade shortened? Honestly, there are more reasons to do this than there are handgun shooters. They are usually in search of what they think is a better sight picture or a closer match-up for their point-of-aim and point-of-impact.

It is a true shame they butchered your front sight, otherwise it looks like it's in great shape. Depending on how deep you are into this gun, it might be worth some money spent for a GOOD pistolsmith to weld up the front sight blade, cut it back to it's half-moon shape and cut new striations on it. SCS&W IV puts values on these at $3,000 for excellent to $1,500 for very good.

That would be a great gun to start up a Bar-B-Que gun.

An odd fact about these guns is that the S&W Model 22 is a .45 caliber gun while the Model 45 is a .22 caliber gun.