S&W Model 1950 .44 3 1/2"

[kennethg]

Your 1950 3.5" Target 44SPL is truly a Gem.

 

[1869]

Thank you Ken. When I bought it in the late 70's I had no idea of it's rarity. Being a big fan of the .44 Special, any and all .44's were of interest to me. I was looking for a 6 1/2" at the time, and have since seen many, but never a 3 1/2". I've heard that only 6 were probably ever ordered. That was a damned lucky day for me!

 

[1869]

What a great gun. I too love the stocks and agree with you that the checkering was most likely done after it left the factory.

I assume that it is coated in wax, oil or cosmoline?

Thanks for sharing,

Yes It has a light coating of rust prevent. Sorry, I should have wiped it clean for the pictures. I guess I'm too overly protective of my guns.

 

[Iggy]

That is spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kthom]

Sir,
You already know it, but you have about as dandy a revolver as it's possible to have, at least in my books. It was indeed a lucky day for you when you bought it. Fired or not makes no nevermind. Yeah, the box would be nice, icing on the cake I guess, but wow! I'm thrilled for you, Sir!

 

[j38]

Fascinating gun! I too would like to know more about the grips. Perhaps you could get a little closer pic on the medallions, and are there any marks on the backside?

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[Joe Kent]

Super neat revolver! Thank you for posting and sharing.

 

[Marshal Kane]

Nobody can guarantee that a gun was unfired. Certainly they are test fired at the factory prior to shipping. Maybe "un-used" would be a better term. Only a very slight drag mark on the cylinder, and no case head marks on the recoil shield. On most post war S&W's I've seen over the years, the ejector rod hole in the crane is not a nicely finished hole, most are rough. Work the ejector rod a few times and the finish on the rod is marred. The gun is just as I found it some forty years ago. No touch up blue, no mods of any kind. Only lightly handled. Since S&W always gave president to law enforcement orders, it's possible an outside associate or friend of some cop had them order it on their letterhead, knowing that it would get priority. I just can't figure an officer carrying a non issue weapon. Who knows?

I agree with you about the ejector rod and the ejector rod hole not being nicely finished. Also, having just purchased a new ejector rod from Brownell's for my model 15-2, I noticed that there is little, if any, polishing is done to that part and the bluing is nowhere as nice as the bluing on my revolver. The ejector rod on your revolver would closely match the new rod I just received from Brownell's.
Congrats on being the owner of a truly rare and desirable S&W. Wish it were mine.

 

[Doug M.]

I just can't figure an officer carrying a non issue weapon. Who knows?

*
It varies. Some agencies issued sidearms; some specified what had to be carried, but allowed them to be personally owned; some specified the sidearms, but they were individual officer purchases (NYPD, for example); some mandated personally owned sidearms with only the broadest of specifications.

There are pros and cons to all of these systems. The worst arguments I have ever seen for uniformity, and the ones that prove that the command personnel need to be fired, are the concept of ammo/magazine exchange* (you waste all your ammo and expect me to give you mine? Hah!), or parade ground appearance silliness with the goal of every officer looking the same. I don't object to the honor guard looking the same - that's a goal of its own, but has nothing to do with being the police and doing the work. Shiny gear, Class A style uniforms and hats are clownshoes. My experience is that there is an inverse correlation between the appearance fetish of an agency and its core proficiency and integrity.

*For quite a while I was one of a few who qualified to carry a 1911, and I did buy a few Glock 21 mags, load them with my own purchase of the issue ammo, and keep them in the car just in case. I also carried my own AR and 4 magazines of my purchase of duty ammo in addition to the car's load, and likewise the our shotgun ammo. That was because I generally worked in a rural area, and L. Cpl. Din wasn't going to bring anyone anything in a timely manner.

 

[Muley Gil]

"There are pros and cons to all of these systems. The worst arguments I have ever seen for uniformity, and the ones that prove that the command personnel need to be fired, are the concept of ammo/magazine exchange* (you waste all your ammo and expect me to give you mine? Hah!), or parade ground appearance silliness with the goal of every officer looking the same. I don't object to the honor guard looking the same - that's a goal of its own, but has nothing to do with being the police and doing the work. Shiny gear, Class A style uniforms and hats are clownshoes. My experience is that there is an inverse correlation between the appearance fetish of an agency and its core proficiency and integrity."

To me, the worst example of "uniformity" was the Illinois State Police and their M39 S&Ws. The handguns were OK, but all of their troopers were required to carry them in cross draw flap holsters on the left side of the Sam Browne belt, EVEN THE LEFT HANDED TROOPERS!!!

 

[Doug M.]

That ended by the time I moved to Illinois as far as I can recall, but I think Michigan did that too, as did Washington State Patrol for many years. You can't fix that kind of stupid - all that can be done is a Loudermill hearing, a trespass notice, and a vigorous boot in the gluteal complex.

 

[1869]

"There are pros and cons to all of these systems. The worst arguments I have ever seen for uniformity, and the ones that prove that the command personnel need to be fired, are the concept of ammo/magazine exchange* (you waste all your ammo and expect me to give you mine? Hah!), or parade ground appearance silliness with the goal of every officer looking the same. I don't object to the honor guard looking the same - that's a goal of its own, but has nothing to do with being the police and doing the work. Shiny gear, Class A style uniforms and hats are clownshoes. My experience is that there is an inverse correlation between the appearance fetish of an agency and its core proficiency and integrity."

To me, the worst example of "uniformity" was the Illinois State Police and their M39 S&Ws. The handguns were OK, but all of their troopers were required to carry them in cross draw flap holsters on the left side of the Sam Browne belt, EVEN THE LEFT HANDED TROOPERS!!!

Many large dept's fancy themselves as a sort of military organization, so weapons standardization is the norm. A good friend of my mine who was on the Illinois State Police for many years carried a .38 Chiefs Special as a backup. He's retired now and that gun is always with him.

 

[rjh]

Very nice revolver. You are a fortunate person.

 

[sniper007]

Wow, very nice indeed! And thank you for your service as well.

 

[bob1956]

I had a 24-3 mint in the box a dozen years a go. Sold it thinking I would collect the pre model number 44 handejector s. Back they are he were around $1200. Then suddenly boom they are now 6k. Wish now I would of kept it.

 

[Jtown]

Fantastic. I can see what I am missing, and will never have. Thanks for sharing.
Walt

 

[muzzleblast]

All I can say about the revolver, is, "Wow!"
And, mine was the 85th "like" on your post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Muley Gil]

Many large dept's fancy themselves as a sort of military organization, so weapons standardization is the norm. A good friend of my mine who was on the Illinois State Police for many years carried a .38 Chiefs Special as a backup. He's retired now and that gun is always with him.

I started in LE as a deputy sheriff, where we all wore black basket weave leather and were told when to go to short sleeves or long sleeves. The department I retired from was much less strict. I liked the high ride, thumb break M29 Safariland holster. Others liked the Jordan style, with a safety strap. Some carried revolvers, others semi-autos. Some had speed loaders, others drop boxes or loops. Some officers wore short sleeves year round. At the end of the day though, everything got done, no matter what we wore or carried.

 

[hkcavalier]

The great grandpa to the Lew Horton 24-3 snubs!

 

[xray 99]

That's the neatest S&W I have seen in a long time.