S&W Model 24-3 .44 Special

[raljr1]

Nice acquisition! I own one as well.
Picture has been updated, had the wrong gun shown lol (44 mag)

I'd sure like to have one just like that!!

 

[mtgianni]

thoughts on 24-3 4" value.....
I saw this thread here a few weeks ago and realized we were probably nor far apart. I visited with Toad67 and agreed to meet in between our locations. I took possession of this beautiful revolver a short while later. Todd messaged me later that a box was on evilbay for this model and bbl length. I checked it out and made a lowball offer that was rejected but arrived at a middle point. We discussed my starting a thread on this model and then this one arose. The box is is decent condition with wear on one corner and other signs of age. The papers, tools and vapor paper were with the gun. Serial number doesn't match the box but is propably as close as I could hope for.

 

[Walter Rego]

I wanted one of the Model 24-3's ever since I saw the article in Shooting Times by Skeeter Skelton back around 1983. They sold out almost immediately and the people that bought them were hanging onto them.

Finally in 2012 I was at a gun show and spotted this one in one of those dealer's display cases with a plexiglass top that was so scuffed up that I couldn't tell for sure what it was other than a 4" N frame at first. I asked for a look. The price was very reasonable and I knew better than to hand the dealer back the gun and tell him I'd think about it.

After we did the paperwork I asked the seller if he had a gun rug to store the gun in while I was waiting for the prerequisite 10 day waiting period. I figured he must have brought the gun to the show with one. He said "oh wait, I have the box".

It always pays to ask. Sometimes I have gotten a nice suede lambswool lined gun rug. Sometimes just an old sweat sock. Or the original box.

 

[raljr1]

Wanted a Bulldog years ago.. never got one...local pawn shop had a couple a few years ago, could have gotten out the door under $350...did not pull the trigger...dumb.

Robert

 

[Gunaholic]

I bought a 6 1/2" and a 4" 24-3s all in 1984. A friend talked me out of the long barrel gun and I foolishly let it go.
I still have the 4" plus a 22-4.
These I'll keep!

 

[raljr1]

And just when I thought I'd stop buying for a while, someone posts a picture of a beautiful nickel model 24....Search begins anew.....Start stashing cash....Sometimes I hate this forum.....Just kidding.

 

[Venom6]

Shades of Elmer Keith!

 

[Dave.357]

This is another one that took a long time for me to obtain.
It is a unfired 24-3 that I bought off this forum .
Had every intention of shooting it but I got old suddenly .
I have never bought a gun to be a safe queen but some
Just do not need shot.
The one on the right is the 24-3

 

[T. McIntyre]

Friends,

What would be the current market value of a NIB 24-3 with a 6.5" barrel?

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I sold mine here on the forum a year or so ago, box, docs, and probably unfired for $1200, which I considered on the low side of it's value. I see them for more on Gunbroker but I'm done with that, fees are too high these days. Rather take a little less and sell here.

 

[bananaman]

You guys are sure lucky to have nice 24's! I looked for 2 years {at least}
Finally settled on a 29-3. Load .44 Special heavy loads in .44 magnum cases! The best I can do! Bob

 

[Pizza Bob]

Yeah, I kind of have a thing for the .44 Special also...

Adios,

Pizza Bob

 

[T. McIntyre]

As much as I love mine, I just recently wrapped up a divorce and now have to pay some big bills, including the worthless attorney. The punchline is that I am going to have to let my Model 24 go.

I had intended on keeping it for many years to come, but sadly life does not work out the way we want. So hopefully someone who really can appreciate such a classic and cool gun will get it.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Here's a blast from the past (1984). The S&W Model 24-3 was a remake of the Model 1950 target .44. As you can see, this model 24 does not have a pinned barrel. The revolver probably has less than 300 rounds through it, and it is in beautiful condition. I reload .44 Special, and have plenty of components, so ammo is not an issue. Nevertheless, I have retired this piece to the safe because I see the value of this gun only increasing with time. Three years ago, I bought a Ruger Blackhawk (flat top) in .44 Special at a local gun shop Ruger sale, and the big single action is now my .44 "shooter." Thanks for looking.

Value(resale) means nothing if you enjoy using that piece. Now you are just a warehouse for the next owner depriving yourself...I'll take happiness over $$$ ANY DAY...I have 2 guns like yours. One nickel. One blue.......Plus 6 other S&W 44 spl's......I tote "em" . "Shoot em" Carry them one the hip/tractor/atv/truck/hunting/shooting.....Mine are getting used and enjoyed......I feel sad yours is locked away in the dark.......BTW I have the 44 spl Rugers too.

 

[Drm50]

I got a 6" NIB that I haven't shot yet. I got enough others to shoot I'm not worried about pulling the trigger on it. In fact I bought several 44 WC molds for 44sp. One being a 213gr HBWC.

 

[T. McIntyre]

I developed a .44 Special load using a hardcast 240 grain SWC that does right at 900 FPS from a 5" barrel. I spent a good bit of time during development working, in search of a very accurate load right around that velocity range.

Just as an FYI, if anyone is not familiar, I have a small custom ammo business, and this was a load I was working on for that.

Anyways, after a good bit of R&D I settled on a load that really worked well out of both S&Ws and Rugers.

This was a group from my 4" 629 at (if I recall correctly) 20 yards:

and one from my 7.5" Flattop .44 Mag:

And that flyer was definitely me and not the ammo/gun. Just the loose nut behind it.

A nice tack driving .44 Special load in a gun like a 1950 Target, or whatever else makes you happy, is really one of the more enjoyable things in the shooting world!

 

[Tanners Owner]

I really enjoy my 44 spls. My modest collection includes a M24-3 and M21-4. I'd like to get a 4" M24, but having just moved, discretionary funds and very limited

 

[dickydalton]

One of mine