Tell me about this 44...

[Eaglestroker]

I've been fortunate in dealing with a few folks that tend to recommend me to other friends. Received a phone call from a gentleman about 200 miles away trying to figure out what he had. While I have a general idea I'd prefer to ask the experts

-What I do know is the bore is clean.
-Good lock up
-Bad finish
-5 digit SN, he couldn't make the numbers out and I can't get a clear enough picture from him to try.
-Guy is in it for very little money and I could do the same.

The thought of an old 44 Special is enough to get me excited. Any insight or things to look for next weekend would be appreciated.

 

[lowhog]

3rd model of 1926. A.K. Wolf & klar. Very desirable collector when in nice condition.The one pictured has the most common barrel length.Mike

 

[handejector]

44-3rd Model, aka Model 1926, 5" from the 1930s IF the grips are original, and they probably are.
It looks righteous. (original nickel)

Serial numbers should match on butt, back of cyl, and inside barrel shroud. The right grip will have the number stamped on the back.

 

[rburg]

Wish you'd gotten it before the guy with the caustic sweat destroyed the nickel. Its a nice gun and would be great to own. Everyone wants the 6.5" barrel model, then the 4", and the 5" is the most common seen. A hot tip is to buy any you can find. They're in great demand these days.

 

[DWalt]

It's a 3rd model as others have said. One of the problems with a nickel plated finish is that once they begin to show wear and damage, they look much shabbier than they really are, unlike a blued gun.

 

[jjbrewst1]

Grips alone worth a pretty penny. Rob. Get her cheap.

 

[Eaglestroker]

Thanks folks! Now, is it a travesty to consider having this one refinished? More so I prefer blue? Food for thought

 

[jjbrewst1]

I usually say don't do it, but if you can pick it up for under 400. A Re-blue blue costs around 200. You have a beauty for 600 bucks. Then have Dan (dotdsd334) spice those grips a little. Win win in my eyes.

 

[handejector]

Don't refinish the old gun.
If you want a blue one, buy a blue one.
The appearance can be improved a LOT by making the brown metal white. Polish it with Flitz and keep working till it blends better with the nickel.

 

[Eaglestroker]

Don't refinish the old gun.
If you want a blue one, buy a blue one.
The appearance can be improved a LOT by making the brown metal white. Polish it with Flitz and keep working till it blends better with the nickel.

Thanks Lee. If I could find a blue one for $2-300 I'd buy two

If everything goes well I'll try polishing her up and go from there.

 

[DWalt]

I wouldn't. De-plating and bluing is expensive (and an unrecoverable cost) and you will end up with a refinished gun that won't shoot a bit better. Some people claim that a thorough Flitz treatment of the plating will improve its looks somewhat. You might try that.

S&W sells similar new grips for $55, and that would help, or you could have the existing grips restored for under $100.

My choice if I owned it would be between keeping it as a shooter or selling it and using the proceeds against the cost of a blued 3rd Model in better condition.

As you haven't yet bought it, a lot would depend on the negotiated price. I'd personally be happy to buy it for $400 and leave it pretty much alone as an ugly duckling shooter. I probaby wouldn't go much, if any, higher.

 

[g8rb8]

Let's see it after polishing.

Don't refinish the old gun.
If you want a blue one, buy a blue one.
The appearance can be improved a LOT by making the brown metal white. Polish it with Flitz and keep working till it blends better with the nickel.

I have never seen something in this condition cleaned up and polished with Flitz so I would be very interested in seeing the after pictures. Please post pictures after cleaning and polishing.

 

[alaskavett]

Go easy on it and don't get in a hurry. Flitz or Mothers Mag wheel polish in small doses and gentle rubbing with an old sock or "T shirt" will do wonders. No, it won't be new, but she will look much better and you will be happily surprised with the results. I would give her a home ether way. Kyle

 

[arjay]

Ive used a tiny bit of mothers on a q tip to remove small spots of rust.

 

[Muley Gil]

This one wasn't quite as bad, but it did clean up nice:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...38-m-p-model-1902-k-frame-finished-saved.html

 

[beagleye]

I have never seen something in this condition cleaned up and polished with Flitz so I would be very interested in seeing the after pictures. Please post pictures after cleaning and polishing.

I've done it. It improves the looks, but it's not like you can't tell the steel from nickel, it's just less of a contrast.

But if it shoots straight, a weathered gun gets used more and is more fun to use and cost less!

Here's 2 that started in similar shape-

 

[Jaymo]

I'd be tempted to have it hard chromed, because I'd NEVER sell it.
.44 Spl is my favorite round, and I'd shoot that one a lot.
With finish issues such is this, I'm not worried about collector value.
All I'm concerned with it what makes it more valuable, to me, as a shooter.

 

[Muley Gil]

I'd be tempted to have it hard chromed, because I'd NEVER sell it.
.44 Spl is my favorite round, and I'd shoot that one a lot.
With finish issues such is this, I'm not worried about collector value.
All I'm concerned with it what makes it more valuable, to me, as a shooter.

I agree. I have modified a number of my guns to better fit ME. I've roundbutted several new revolvers-a M19, a M25-5, a M24-3-because I have smallish hands and the RB fits me better. I sold the M24-3 (sure didn't want to!!) and didn't lose anything on it.

Sure, most modifications will lose money, but if I change one somewhat, I'm doing it to please me.

 

[JSW]

If it's the original nickel (and it looks like it is) I would leave it alone. Just a polish to make it look better. If you still want a blue one after that sell this one to help finance it.

 

[Jaymo]

If the original finish didn't look so crappy, I'd agree with keeping it original.
Lucky for the OP, someone else has already effed-up the finish.
He can refinish it without feeling bad.
If hard chrome and/or salt-bath nitriding had been available/practical when this gun was made, Smith would have finished it with that instead of nickel.

 

[inFALable]

Don't refinish it.

While its finish may seem very poor now in 20 years, when 3rd HE .44's go for 5000 plus, finding one with 50% will be vastly better than a refinished one which is 0% finish.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[ladder13]

I've got one that been refinished, even has the gold H/T treatment. Appears it has a "B" stamp on the right side of the grip, so probably originally blue. All collector value is gone either way.
Mechanics are very good from what I can see.
Someday I may send it to Ford's or Cogan for a blue job. Not a big fan of nickel.
It's only money.

 

[Hondo44]

I'm also in the camp to get the rust off and the tarnish off of the nickel. The stocks are not all that bad, scrub with a toothbrush and mild detergent, then give them a coat of Tru Oil. Once it looks a 100% better, and it will, sell it for a profit. Or just resell as it is for a smaller profit. Then shop for a blue one that you prefer.