If you're a member of the SWCA, you're able to access the private forums where Mr. Roy Jinks occasionally posts interesting tidbits and questions for the members. It was one of these threads that came up when I searched for the serial number of a 1926 I found on Gunbroker. His thread described the first shipment of 1926's and that they didn't go straight to Wolf & Klar but to a jeweler in Providence, RI. With that info and a couple emails exchanged with Mr. Jinks, I hit the Buy It Now.
This 1926 shipped on January 22, 1927 (first shipment to W&K was 5 days later). A group of 10 of the first 1000 were pulled out of the first production run to be sent off for engraving at Hudson & Co. From there they went to W&K and it's anyone's guess from there.
Typically the trail goes cold after W&K but this one luckily sports a star next to the serial and the SWHF was able to find service records corresponding to the July 25, 1929 date stamp on the grip frame. This 1926 was sent back for a re-nickle, new hammer, and polishing of the pearl grips by Hampton's Hardware in Port Arthur, TX. Unfortunately the hardware store didn't list the name of the owner, but nonetheless, I know this gun traveled further south and potentially worked alongside the NRM I posted about a few days ago (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/620577-port-arthur-tx-police-nrm.html).
First time I've seen the explanation of the star on the butt from the service department to the customer:
Together with my other two 1926's. The chopped nickel one is from the first shipment to W&K and is 11 higher on the serial number. The blued one was shipped September 26, 1941 as a 6.5" and headed over seas at some point (British proofs). It is now chopped to 4.5" and I'm curious if it's in the last shipment of pre-war 1926's. It would be awesome to have one each from the first and last shipment of the pre-war 44 Reinforced model.
Thanks again to the SWCA and SWHF for all the information!!
This 1926 shipped on January 22, 1927 (first shipment to W&K was 5 days later). A group of 10 of the first 1000 were pulled out of the first production run to be sent off for engraving at Hudson & Co. From there they went to W&K and it's anyone's guess from there.
Typically the trail goes cold after W&K but this one luckily sports a star next to the serial and the SWHF was able to find service records corresponding to the July 25, 1929 date stamp on the grip frame. This 1926 was sent back for a re-nickle, new hammer, and polishing of the pearl grips by Hampton's Hardware in Port Arthur, TX. Unfortunately the hardware store didn't list the name of the owner, but nonetheless, I know this gun traveled further south and potentially worked alongside the NRM I posted about a few days ago (http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/620577-port-arthur-tx-police-nrm.html).
First time I've seen the explanation of the star on the butt from the service department to the customer:
Together with my other two 1926's. The chopped nickel one is from the first shipment to W&K and is 11 higher on the serial number. The blued one was shipped September 26, 1941 as a 6.5" and headed over seas at some point (British proofs). It is now chopped to 4.5" and I'm curious if it's in the last shipment of pre-war 1926's. It would be awesome to have one each from the first and last shipment of the pre-war 44 Reinforced model.
Thanks again to the SWCA and SWHF for all the information!!
) that S&W made just 3rd models for a while and in numeric serial number order, I have the 6th one built. It shipped to Wolf & Klar in the first shipment directly to them, on 27 January 1927.
