So who thinks .44s should be Special? pics...

[VonFatman]

I have to admit, I have the bug. This year I've picked up several special .44s....

In January...this 5 inch "pre-lock" 3rd Change....

This spring...a pair of the Ruger's limited run Flat-top New Model..."had" to have both 4 5/8 and 5 1/2 inch models...

Then, a month or so later this 6 inch (also a "pre-lock") 2nd Change called out to me...

And lastly (so far) this nice 624 Snubby came home and will soon be pounding plates...

Here are a few more pics...
A couple Lew Horton guns...circa 1985...

A Lew Horton "love fest"...

Group shot (the 5.5" Ruger is with Mr. Munden for a bit of tuning)...

Lew Horton guns lined up...

Close cousins...

624s...

Anyone else think .44s are Special? Pics?

Bob

 

[jimmyjoe]

I got one somewhere. Oh! Here it is, a 24-3...

 

[VonFatman]

Lookin' good jimmyjoe!!

Bob

 

[J. Galt]

.44s are Special! Here are a few of mine:

Mod 28 .44 Spl conversion with Bear Hug grips

Ruger Old Model .44 Spl conversion with ivory grips

696

 

[VonFatman]

Mr. Galt,
Ooooo...696!! I covet that beauty!! Your M28 and Ruger are also super looking guns! I've not ever had a gun converted to .44 Special or any other caliber.

Bob

 

[toroflow1]

Hey Bob, you need the 6.5" versions of the 24-3 & 624 to finish out your "herd". Luckily these aren't as expensive as the 3" or 4" versions!

And I don't believe the 4" were Lew Hortons. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Very nice spread of 44 specials!!!

 

[Dale53]

I wouldn't own a .44 Special!!!

Uh-h-h, but I do own FIVE of them!>)).

Original Model 24, a 624 (4", a 624 (6½"), a Cimarron 4 5/8" Colt Clone, and a Ruger 5½" .44 Special Lipsey.

There is probably something to Mike Venturino stating that the .44 Special is not so special. There are other comparable calibers TODAY, but when Elmer publicized the .44 Special, it WAS "Special". It was an unequaled power house when loaded in the original Colt SAA or the S&W's when reloaded compared to all of the other pretenders. The nearest was the .45 Colt but it could not be safely loaded to the level of the .44 simply because of the limit on cylinder size of the day - the .44 had a larger margin of safety. Using a modern "large frame" Ruger, the .45 Colt (when handloaded) can fill the same need.

I have several .44 Magnums and consider them "Special" in their own ways. However, even today, the .44 Special holds a "Special" place for me as it has been chambered in some really nice platforms (the 624 is half pound lighter than the comparable .44 Magnum) for most uses. I am aware of the Mountain guns and they DO "blur the lines a bit".

However, for most of what I need a powerful handgun for, the .44 Special properly handloaded will do it for me. I have a few of the "heavy hitters" but a good Special with Skeeter's load will do a LOT in the field if you can shoot (shot placement is nearly EVERYTHING).

You could argue that the .41 magnum, .44 magnum, or .45 Colt (in the right platform) will do the same thing and you would be CORRECT. However, nostalgia does have a place in my heart (if it will truly serve the purpose).

When I'm in the field with a good .44 Special, I'm kind of taking Elmer along with me...

I MUST comment on the fine revolvers displayed above my post - all I can say is WOW!! Simply outstanding!

Dale53

 

[ENH]

WOW, but I think you have cornered the market on them.

 

[bsaride]

Had a Lew Horton 3" 624 with Fuzzy Farant grips before.
This was the gun I grabbed the most often when heading out the door.

Currently have a 21-4 CCH 4inch

 

[panamajack310]

Does it count if I bought a 44 mag and I am going to shoot 44 specials in it...LOL

 

[VonFatman]

Dale,
Nice .44s!! I agree with your comments. I have been drawn to the caliber through my associations with like-minded friends and learning about the caliber. Thanks for the kind comments.

ENH,
Thank you. I fear there will always be another out there to seek!

bsaride,
I do not have any of the newer S&Ws but understand they are very good shooters!

Bob

 

[PALADIN85020]

I love the .44 special also. Here's a few of mine. First, a Colt SAA, 3rd generation, 1980, 5.5" barrel:

Next, a 624 Lew Horton special, 1985:

And, a 24-3, 6.5" barrel, made in 1983:

Another 24-3, 4" barrel, also made in 1983:

 

[Old Griz]

I just picked up a "new" 24-3 the other day. It has a few tiny spots of pitting on the side plate. What should I do about that on a blued gun?

Thanks for the help.

 

[keith44spl]

.44s are Specials.

Bob,

Gathered these in the corral just this morning...A couple or three may have jumped a low spot in the fence, I'll get 'em up later.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Marksman]

I have shot .44's since the early '70's, my first being a 6 1/2" M/29-2. I did the Dirty Harry thing back then, shot loads that smacked you in the palm like getting hit with a Louisville Slugger. My fascination with that was short lived, I soon switched to shooting .44 Special level loads in Magnum cases in my 29. I wanted a real .44 Special but even in the '70's they were hard to come by. I bought an old police trade-in .38/44 and a second model hand ejector .44 barrel from J&G Rifle Ranch and thus my first .44 Special was born. I shot that old gun with its glass bead blue finish for many years. i went to an auction several years ago and was extremely fortunate to be the winning bidder on a 4" pre-24. It had "Coke Bottle" grips and came in its original presentation case. The presentation case was still contained in the original shipping carton with bill of sale. OTD price was the princely sum of $600.00. I wanted the rarest of the pre-24's, a 5" and met a shooter on John Taffin's website that was willing to trade me a 5" pre-24 straight across for my 4". When pre-24 in nice condition became so valuable I felt it not a good idea using them for shooters, I had my present .44 Special built. One of our forum members was kind enough to sell me a pre-27 5" which formed the basis of my Hamilton Bowen converted .44 Special. The gun wears a set of keith Brown "Coke Style" grips in nicely figures walnut. In my mind it is the .44 Special that Smith & Wesson never made, the ne plus ultra of .44 Specials. Not only is the gun aesthetically pleasing, it locks up tight, indexes perfectly and shoots much better than my ability to shoot.

 

[patrolman]

Gentlemen the handguns in this thread are awesome, and the photos are excellent!

The Dude Abides
Semper Fi

 

[yankee7809]

Those are really beautiful .44s. I would just about give anything to find one of those 3" Lew Horton 624s next time at a gunshow. Unfortunately they don't grow on trees...

 

[Joni_Lynn]

Ok, what's a 44 Special?

 

[bmcgilvray]

I think the .44 Special is one of the most special handgun cartridges ever produced. Here's my 1932 vintage .44 Special beneath a 1980 vintage .44 Magnum.

 

[David LaPell]

Smith & Wesson 624 with chamfered cylinder

Nothing like the original, a .44 Special TripleLock