LGS has a .44-40 Texas Wagon Train Commemorative, unfired with box. They want $756 for it. Standard Catalog 3rd, lists it as $550. But it is soooooo cool, and I want it. If that darn thing is there next time I go, it's going home with me. And, then, of course, I'll need a new set of loading dies. And some brass. Sigh.
Texas Wagon Train Commemorative
- Thread starter kbuckey
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That is the average recent selling price; the SCSW is pushing 10 years old and many values are outdated. .44/40 ammo has been difficult to find recently, not sure about components.
I think that is a really good price. Most of the ones I have seen have been $900 and above for the last couple of years. I bought a box of ammo for mine, but don't know whether I will shoot it or not. From what I have heard, they are good guns.
I'm not a fan of commemorative or other wise decorated guns but this one offers a cartridge S&W has not chambered in any other production gun since before WWII so I'd be tempted. I don't know what 544s have been selling for but over looking the decorations the price seems reasonable or lower than other NIB N frames.
Its biggest draw back for a reloader is there are no carbide resizing dies.
Its biggest draw back for a reloader is there are no carbide resizing dies.
At that price its REALLY reasonable!!!!!!!!
I just saw one on Gunbroker for $1250 or so. Guess, I'll pick the one at the LGS up if it's there tomorrow.
I load for the .32-20 so the thin bottle necked cases are a known problem. One does have to lube them and be very careful. Lyman lists .429" bullets for the .44-40. When I was looking for .32-20 cases not long ago it was tough to find any but everybody seemed to have .44-40. Now I can't find any. I'm sure I'll be able to eeventually.
And, yes I'm going to shoot it - I'm not a "collector" I'm an "accumulater" of firearms!
I load for the .32-20 so the thin bottle necked cases are a known problem. One does have to lube them and be very careful. Lyman lists .429" bullets for the .44-40. When I was looking for .32-20 cases not long ago it was tough to find any but everybody seemed to have .44-40. Now I can't find any. I'm sure I'll be able to eeventually.
And, yes I'm going to shoot it - I'm not a "collector" I'm an "accumulater" of firearms!
Not only the caliber, but is has a 5" barrel, something we all like.
$750 for any unfired, in the original box, N-frame is a fair deal in today's marketplace.
The standard model 544 Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative is hardly a decorated firearm as commemoratives go
It has one roll mark on the barrel along with a path of the Texas Wagon Train on the sideplate and it comes in a fairly bland looking basswood presentation case. The roll marks had a gold wash to them, but that has faded on most of them by now.
Probably one of the plainest commemorative firearms ever produced by S&W. It certainly was the worst selling commemorative.
The Texas Independence Association originally ordered 7,600 of the 544 with the first 150 to be deluxe versions. These sold so poorly that only 4,782 were ever produced. I am sure that the choice of chambering had something to do with that.
BTW, with the exception of the really expensive Dillon dies, there are no carbide dies for hand loading any bottle neck cartridge.
Many standard edition 544s have had regular 44 cylinders fitted to them. Most folks use them as 44 Specials but I have heard of a few that ran 44 Magnum (not me) through them as well.
The first 150 Deluxe model 554s are the best looking presentation S&W has ever done for the worst selling commemorative in their history.
High polish blue, hand engraved, gold inlays, signed and hand scrimshawed genuine Ivory coke profile grips in a HUGE presentation case with glass on 5 sides mounted on a lazy susan so it can be rotated. The case also houses a commemorative medallion and a signed Bronze Longhorn that the Texas Independence Association commissioned for the event. The Bronze is serial numbered to the revolver.
This Deluxe Model 544 chambered in 44-40 is serial number 44
The standard model 544 Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative is hardly a decorated firearm as commemoratives go
It has one roll mark on the barrel along with a path of the Texas Wagon Train on the sideplate and it comes in a fairly bland looking basswood presentation case. The roll marks had a gold wash to them, but that has faded on most of them by now.
Probably one of the plainest commemorative firearms ever produced by S&W. It certainly was the worst selling commemorative.
The Texas Independence Association originally ordered 7,600 of the 544 with the first 150 to be deluxe versions. These sold so poorly that only 4,782 were ever produced. I am sure that the choice of chambering had something to do with that.
BTW, with the exception of the really expensive Dillon dies, there are no carbide dies for hand loading any bottle neck cartridge.
Many standard edition 544s have had regular 44 cylinders fitted to them. Most folks use them as 44 Specials but I have heard of a few that ran 44 Magnum (not me) through them as well.
The first 150 Deluxe model 554s are the best looking presentation S&W has ever done for the worst selling commemorative in their history.
High polish blue, hand engraved, gold inlays, signed and hand scrimshawed genuine Ivory coke profile grips in a HUGE presentation case with glass on 5 sides mounted on a lazy susan so it can be rotated. The case also houses a commemorative medallion and a signed Bronze Longhorn that the Texas Independence Association commissioned for the event. The Bronze is serial numbered to the revolver.
This Deluxe Model 544 chambered in 44-40 is serial number 44
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I bought one on impulse a few years ago. I couldn't resist shooting it and glad I did. Guns are just not made to sit in a box. N frame, 5" barrel = shoot all day. If you reload you can make the most of the caliber. Aspects of reloading it are challenging but that adds to the enjoyment.
Good price on the gun too.
Good price on the gun too.
Well, it followed me home today. Yeah, .44-40 is hard to find and brass is hard to find but the only reason I bought it was that it was in .44-40, so it won't be changing caliber in my lifetime! Now to get some dies, shellholder and some more brass.
I did manage to score a box of loaded .44-40 so at least I can shoot it. I was going to photograph it, but it looks just like colt_saa's picture, except you can see the gold in the two right hand commemorative roll marks.
And it is definitely going to be shot - hopefully a lot!
I did manage to score a box of loaded .44-40 so at least I can shoot it. I was going to photograph it, but it looks just like colt_saa's picture, except you can see the gold in the two right hand commemorative roll marks.
And it is definitely going to be shot - hopefully a lot!
I sold 2 of them on GB last year. I stumbled into one at $550. Got tired of looking for 44-40 ammo so posted it up. Kicking around I stumbled into another one somewhere and about the same thing. The one I have now was at a gunshow on some dealers table. He said I was the only one that had stopped by all weekend that knew what it was. Gave him $600 for it. I actually managed to find a box of ammo for the last one but still haven't shot it.
gutterman
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Not a bad price at all. Shoot and enjoy it. If you ever want to sell it don't get your hopes up for a good profit as commemoratives are a hard sell. I found this out twice. Nice looking gun- have fun with it!
I bought (after about an hour on the internet) 200 rounds of Hornady .44-40 and a hundred rounds of brand new Remington brass. Think I'll be good for a while.
I seriously doubt I'll want to sell it: the next transfer will be when I die, as with the rest of my guns. But I do think I'll enjoy shooting it!
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