Smith & Wesson 45 cal Model 1955

[sentient333]

Hi folks, I have inherited this firearm from a family member who had it from another family member after he passed in 1976. It has S+5 Digit Serial # 98xxx. It was bought from a Washington State Trooper earlier in 1976 who had retired. The cylinder and butt of frame both have the same serial #. Calibers are 45acp and 45 auto rim, double action revolver built on square butt N target frame with 5 screws having a 6 1/2" pinned barrel. Heavy barrel, with 1/2" target hammer/target trigger with target stocks. Barrel marked Smith & Wesson 1 side and "45 CAL. MODEL 1955" on other, no half-moon clips, It has partridge sights with micrometer rear.
I took the grips off recently, (1st time) and discovered an odd angle to bottom of the grip. I have a few pics on Gunbroker Auction # 437353666 (which started 8/24/2014) and shows the pic. I am wondering why this was there. The more I look at it the more I think it has been modified but I do not know. My brother did not have it very long so I wondered if this was done by the Washington State Trooper or their gunsmith or even what the purpose would be? I do not think it was done by S&W. I also would like to know it's worth in this state as I am looking to sell it. I am thinking I have it to high at $999. I sure would appreciate any help and hope I am not breaking any rules here. Thanks Eric

 

[Art Doc]

Something is wrong. That serial would be from long before 1955. No idea about the grip angle problem since I can't see it.

Oh, it's Patridge, not partridge. Named for a man named Patridge, not the bird.

PS: Links to auctions are prohibited.

Selling it already? I guess you weren't close to the relative who left you his gun?

OK, I looked at the auction. The frame was cut for combat stocks. Most unfortunate modification that is sometimes seen. Also, those appear to be "Coke" target stocks. They are not original to this model but are highly sought after and will sell for $400-$700 all by themselves. With these stocks your starting price is about right, IMO. A 90% gun is a shooter and will not attract collectors with deep pockets so with the correct stocks I think it would have been high. Still the problem with the serial you gave. Not possible for this model to have that early number. Either you copied it wrong or someone took a 357 or 44 Special and rebuilt it into the 45 caliber revolver using 1955 parts.

 

[sceva]

Looks like they may have had a set of Fuzzy Farrant style grips on it at some time in the past. The angle cut was a modification done for that style of grip.

are these fuzzy farrant grips.

The frame on you revolver has been cut.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

There should be a serial number inside of the barrel shroud and it should match the serial number stamped on the butt and the rear of the cylinder. Can you confirm for us if those three numbers match? Also, is the top of the frame grooved like the top of the barrel?

The SCSW 3rd shows that S98xxx would fall into the 1953-54 time period. Could this be a 1950 .45 Target rebarreled with a 1955 barrel?

 

[DWalt]

S95,000 – S102,999….…..Late 1953 – Early 1954 (Manufacture)
Definitely something is not correct.

 

[sentient333]

Hi guys and thank you for the info on it. Have checked the serial # and it is indeed correct. Unfortunately I am in the position that I have to sell a few of the firearms I own. It is this with wooden case or a S&W model 29-2 /44 mag gloss in about 98-9% with the wooden presentation case. I will definitely take your advice. Any one interested let me know. No 3 numbers are there and yes it is grooved on top of barrel. Thanks guys...Eric

 

[Muley Gil]

Hi guys and thank you for the info on it. Have checked the serial # and it is indeed correct. Unfortunately I am in the position that I have to sell a few of the firearms I own. It is this with wooden case or a S&W model 29-2 /44 mag gloss in about 98-9% with the wooden presentation case. I will definitely take your advice. Any one interested let me know. No 3 numbers are there and yes it is grooved on top of barrel. Thanks guys...Eric

I may be misreading this post. Is there a number inside of the barrel shrould and does it match the number on the butt?

 

[Nightowl]

I looked at the cut frame. It would appear from the side view that some of the serial number was sacrificed. I would want to see a picture of the butt serial number before I committed ten cents to it.

 

[sentient333]

The top of the frame is grooved like the barrel as well as the grip front and back. The serial # is indeed 98xxx. It does not have the 3 #s. I do see some #'s on the side of the frame. A Y then under it a 5 next to the spring. There are some #'s on the inside of the crane assy #11582 and across on the inside of the shroud same#. Top inside the shroud is the letter Y under it lower down are the #'s 11582 and the #8 under those #. Thanks

 

[Doug M.]

I suspect that a lot of good photos would help those who actually know something (not me) give you better answers.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Another thing that is not correct for a 1955 Target is the Hammer and Trigger are the standard service style and not the Target style found on 1955 Targets.I think this Gun started life as a 1950 .45 Target and was converted to the heavy barrel 1955 Target.Like others have said the Frame has been cut for Fuzzy Farrant style Stocks.Your best bet would be to pull the auction and sell the Cokes separately from the Gun.Selling a shooter grade Gun with high end Stocks is not the best idea to maximize profit.

 

[sentient333]

Thank you for the info 05. I will think about this for a while before I decide to let it ride or pull it off. As I said earlier if this does not sell I may have to put the 8 3/8" gloss 29-2 up and I really do want to do that yet.

 

[sentient333]

Also I thought the trigger and hammer were the target style? Both are 1/2' wide and case hardened. (As you might have noticed I do not know much about the Smith & Wesson firearms.) But I am learning thanks to you folks!

 

[sentient333]

05 once again you were correct, the trigger and hammer are not what I thought they were. What grips would be for this pistol? Also where would I look for them?

 

[Art Doc]

"Diamond targets" would be correct. But a set of those just sold on ebay for $760. Nothing is cheap about collecting S&Ws.

 

[Art Doc]

I'm convinced that gun started out as something else. A pre-27 would have a checkered topstrap so it can't be that. Might have been a 38/44 or a 1950 44 Special Target Model. But it is not an original 1955.

Hard to put a value on a modified gun. But I'm surprised someone hasn't bid on it just to get the stocks. Hell, I thought about it for a moment but I don't buy guns to part them out and I don't have a gun needing Cokes.

 

[DWalt]

Is the ENTIRE SN on the butt legible? You may have a bigger problem than you think if it is not. And it ain't a good problem.

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm convinced that gun started out as something else. A pre-27 would have a checkered topstrap so it can't be that. Might have been a 38/44 or a 1950 44 Special Target Model. But it is not an original 1955.

Hard to put a value on a modified gun. But I'm surprised someone hasn't bid on it just to get the stocks. Hell, I thought about it for a moment but I don't buy guns to part them out and I don't have a gun needing Cokes.

In the OP's 1st post, he said the cylinder and butt SNs matched. It would have to be a rebarreled 1950 .45 Target.

 

[VM]

Is the ENTIRE SN on the butt legible? You may have a bigger problem than you think if it is not. And it ain't a good problem.

This is sentence #2 and #4 from post #1

"It has S+5 Digit Serial # 98xxx."

"The cylinder and butt of frame both have the same serial #."

 

[DWalt]

I am well aware of that but am still asking the same question. It's the difference between a legal revolver and a contraband item under Federal law.