smooth bore pre-war N frame

[K.38]

Just seen an interesting old S&W. Pre-war serial number, british proof marks all over it, counted about 4 different sets. Appeared to be a .44 but could have been a .45. Barrel was about 7 inches or so and looked like a colt but it had no markings or rifling. The vendor at the gun show said it was sent to England during the war to be used for varmint control in warehouses and such.

Has anyone heard of this or is this just one of those gun show stories to sell a butchered up old revolver? He wanted $550.

 

[K.38]

Just seen an interesting old S&W. Pre-war serial number, british proof marks all over it, counted about 4 different sets. Appeared to be a .44 but could have been a .45. Barrel was about 7 inches or so and looked like a colt but it had no markings or rifling. The vendor at the gun show said it was sent to England during the war to be used for varmint control in warehouses and such.

Has anyone heard of this or is this just one of those gun show stories to sell a butchered up old revolver? He wanted $550.

 

[azmick]

did the owner take it as down payment on some ocean front property in Arizona he was also selling?

 

[m-1911]

Some folks down in DC might take a dim view of a smooth bore with a short barrel.

 

[handejector]

Back in the 70's, I was at the gun show in Griffin, Ga,- at the National Guard armory. A tiny, little small town show that was ALWAYS fun.
A guy came in late Saturday morning, and threw some stuff out on one table.
One of the few items he had was a used Triple Lock barrel. Standard 6.5" blue, caliber marked '44 S. & W. Special', had a serial number, and showed moderate blue wear, AND was a SMOOTHBORE! I do NOT mean reamed out- I mean it was beautifully smooth in the bore, and you could see the CHOKE machined into it like in a high quality shotgun barrel with a fixed choke!!
The guy wanted $50. Bear in mind I'm in my 20's, the early 70's had seen a MAJOR Recession, and $50 was more than I had paid for some of the S&W's I had owned!
After 2 or 3 hours, I couldn't stand it- I had to have it. I went back to his table, and it was empty, and he was gone! I had never seen him before, and I don't think I have seen him since. I don't know if he sold it or not. I have never heard of it surfacing. If it ever did, I would GLADLY pay $30 to letter THAT number.
Oh well.............

True story, as God is my witness.

 

[cmj8591]

Although I’ve never seen them or read about them, I understand that Smith did make some smoothbores. What they were for I do not know. But it must have been so because the ATF thought enough about it to include them in their identification manuals. This is an old manual that I have. It is from 1969. I guess you should check before you put that smoothbore barrel on one of your guns. You might have to pay the transfer tax. I’m sure that it has gone up from the $5 printed here!

 

[cgt4570]

As long as it can be factory documented, or resonably assured that it is original, it is simply a matter of requesting it be declared a C&R and officially listed by serial number. Would be exactly the same as the many Colt smoothbores listed, and like the 15" Winchester and Marlin original Trapper models. As long as they are properly documented and declared C&R, then they are not an AOW. That way anyone with a C&R can own or transfer them without having to worry about Class 3 taxes, forms, and lengthy waiting periods (or 10 year prison sentences!).
Chris

 

[kwill1911]

They were popular with trick shooters (not all of those airborne aspirin tablets were hit with solid bullets). There were also a few hunters who liked them. I know of a Registered Magnum that was sent back to S&W to have a smooth-bore barrel installed for quail hunting.

 

[2152hq]

Still $5 transfer tax on an AOW,,, $200 manufactureing tax (on any NFA weapon). ctg4570 is correct, if you can document a smoothbore handgun as factory original configuration, the BATFE will remove it, by serial number, from the NFA restrictions and place it on the C&R list. They will require you to send the gun along with the documentation to the BAFTE Technology Branch for them to examine to make the determination of originality in most all cases. If it proves not to be original, the gun will not be returned. I know of two people that sent original trapper leveraction rifles in to get them taken off the NFA list. The only thing that may further restrict it is some state laws may not allow possession depending where you are.

 

[cmj8591]

I think there would be a problem if you just screw the new smoothbore barrel into you mod 24.

 

[TSQUARED]

Many years ago to my subsequent regret, I passed on a factory original Colt New Service in 44 cal smoothbore. I have heard of numerous Colt's in factory smoothbore configuration but have never seen a S&W.

 

[rburg]

Originally posted by handejector:
Back in the 70's,

Bear in mind I'm in my 20's, the early 70's had seen a MAJOR Recession, .

Too much to let pass without comment!

Lee, was that the 1870s or 1970s!

I once had a 455 T/L that was kind of a smooth bore. It came to me without a trace of any rifling. Where the bore probably had been at on time was the roughest, corroded mess I'd ever seen. My gunshowing buddy suggested I take it home, soak it in some penetrating oil, and see if I could "brush it out".

Oh, yeah, that one worked real well.... It didn't even brighten the shadows. I'd bought it as a parts gun, and resold it as such. That was at a show about 5 or so years ago.

It was the gunshow joke gun. I violated the rules against plastic tie wraps. I took a piece of copper wire, opened the cylinder, and wired it into a basket. Just a little wicker thing I'd picked up someplace. The inferrence being that it was a basket case. The guy that bought it didn't even blink. He wanted the moving parts and couldn't care less if the bore was there or not.

 

[handejector]

quote:

Originally posted by handejector:
Back in the 70's,

Bear in mind I'm in my 20's, the early 70's had seen a MAJOR Recession, .

Too much to let pass without comment!

Lee, was that the 1870s or 1970s!

Then, we come to the essence:

Dick Burg

Its quantity, not quality

plus 5700 6000 6300

Amen, my loquacious Brother, amen!

 

[BruceHMX]

There was a thread on the forum awhile back about one.

I think the auctioneer pulled it. Don't remember. Some of these were used by trick shooters to pop ballons and what not.

 

[kwill1911]

I have no connection to this auction but thought it was relevant to the discussion: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7726729
Although it is a Colt, it also has British proofs. The ATF letter sheds some light on how they view such a revolver.