1950 Target 45 with a 5-inch barrel and target stocks. One of eight shipped to H. H. Harris in Chicago in 1960 and one of nine known.
Bill
Bill
The Model of 1950 .45 Target
- Thread starter DCWilson
- Start date
As for where the concept of the 1950 45 target originated, consider the post war K22. Aside from caliber differences (between the RM and 1950), the 1950, with the "new" short action, had the post war micrometer sight and a standard (non-checkered) barrel rib. The K22/40 was the first S&W revolver to have the short action, and the first S&W revolver to have the micrometer rear sight, which was standard for nearly all adjustable sight post war guns (except for the transitional 22/32 kit guns). In the post war period, the K22 had the new post war style barrel rib, coupled with the short action and micrometer rear sight first, by 1946. I would have to think that the King rib was round before the RM, and likely influenced the concept of a factory rib from S&W on a target revolver. In conclusion, it makes a lot of sense to call the 1950 targets enlarged versions of the post war K22. Of course, 1950 45 target, since its an N frame, was given the shrouded ejector rod treatment, as a continuation of the RM and model of 1926 44 spl.
The 1950 targets certainly borrowed many concepts from previous thoughts and designs, to add up to one great S&W revolver. Congrats David on a very fine gun.
The 1950 targets certainly borrowed many concepts from previous thoughts and designs, to add up to one great S&W revolver. Congrats David on a very fine gun.
semperfi71
US Veteran
I was six months old when that revolver was shipped. I wonder if I could have had a holster made so I could carry it then!
Very educational post and succeeding pictures of other M1950s.
One of these days I want to go to Doc44's house and play with his guns!
Very educational post and succeeding pictures of other M1950s.
One of these days I want to go to Doc44's house and play with his guns!
Doug M.
Member
Bill, I hate you. Really. You have all of these fine 5" N frames that are one of few/one of one. Would you adopt me? I want that 1950, and I think you have posted a 5" 629 that cranks me up, too.
bmg60
Member
Hi
Here is a Model 25 made for Skeeter Skelton by S&W it has the 1950 barrel cut to 4 inch and a 1950 45 Colt Cyl. the frame is a 4 screw frame but when they shipped it in 1963 they marked it 25-2.
Jim
Orginal Invoice
Here is a Model 25 made for Skeeter Skelton by S&W it has the 1950 barrel cut to 4 inch and a 1950 45 Colt Cyl. the frame is a 4 screw frame but when they shipped it in 1963 they marked it 25-2.
Jim
Orginal Invoice
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bmg60
Member
Hi
Here is the brother to Bill's 1950 5 inch. We know of 3 of the 8 that were shipped.
Bills, mine, and one more that is owned by a SWCA Member.
Jim Fisher
Here is the brother to Bill's 1950 5 inch. We know of 3 of the 8 that were shipped.
Bills, mine, and one more that is owned by a SWCA Member.
Jim Fisher
Jim,
Do you know what the twist is on the M25 .45 Colt?
Same as the M25 .45 ACP?
Do you know what the twist is on the M25 .45 Colt?
Same as the M25 .45 ACP?
bmg60
Member
Hi
STCM
I don't know but the barrel is from a 1950 45 colt from the 50,s
but here is a Target it shoots 275 grain keith bullets better than I can hold.
Jim
STCM
I don't know but the barrel is from a 1950 45 colt from the 50,s
but here is a Target it shoots 275 grain keith bullets better than I can hold.
Jim
Doug M.
Member
I dunno, Jim, looks to me as though you did your part of making that nice target.
Catshooter
Member
Nice write up and beautiful sixgun.
As I don't have the equipment that will measure how "shallow" the rifling is in barrel I won't comment on their rumored lack of depth.
However, I have pulled some lead bullets from Remington/Peters 45 Auto Rim ammo and measured them. All were right at .448 in diameter. No wonder they lead badly and or shot poorly.
My "1950" 45 is a Franken gun with parts from three different guns. But it shoots very well and doesn't require bullets cast hard to do so.
Cat
As I don't have the equipment that will measure how "shallow" the rifling is in barrel I won't comment on their rumored lack of depth.
However, I have pulled some lead bullets from Remington/Peters 45 Auto Rim ammo and measured them. All were right at .448 in diameter. No wonder they lead badly and or shot poorly.
My "1950" 45 is a Franken gun with parts from three different guns. But it shoots very well and doesn't require bullets cast hard to do so.
Cat
rck281
Member
I don't know about the twist but there are some differences in the rifling of the 45ACP barrels and of the 14 45 Colts that were shipped around June 1959. The usual Pre-Model 25 45ACP barrel has 6 narrow grooves while the 45 Colt barrel utilizes 5 wide grooves.
Thanks Dick, as I posted the converted M28-2 with a 1955 45 barrel shoots the ACP FMJ round better then a .45 Colt 255 gr KSWC.
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bigl1911
Member
That's a beautiful pair.
It's interesting to me that when S&W produced their "Classic" line of old model reproductions, they produced a version of the Model 1917 Military Model with a shrouded barrel which was never made.
It's interesting to me that when S&W produced their "Classic" line of old model reproductions, they produced a version of the Model 1917 Military Model with a shrouded barrel which was never made.
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beagleye
Member
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What is that non shrouded n frame, model 22? Are those stocks original to it?
Yes Model 22. Never came with PC Magnas, only N frame PCs came on the model 58 IIRC.
CptCurl
Member
David,
Thanks for the informative thread. I am envious of your M1950 and the other fine examples posted here.
While I've not owned a pre-26, I have had a good number of N frames in the 1950 Target configuration, including numerous M27s and pre-27s, several M28s, and a few pre-24s. The pre-24s would be most similar to the pre-26 in shooting, balance, and handling. I must say that in comparison, I truly love my Model 1955 Target pre-25. Over the years, the pre-25 has become my favorite N frame for shooting. The extra weight out front really helps me, and I do need help. S&W got it right with the M1955 Target!
Thanks for the informative thread. I am envious of your M1950 and the other fine examples posted here.
While I've not owned a pre-26, I have had a good number of N frames in the 1950 Target configuration, including numerous M27s and pre-27s, several M28s, and a few pre-24s. The pre-24s would be most similar to the pre-26 in shooting, balance, and handling. I must say that in comparison, I truly love my Model 1955 Target pre-25. Over the years, the pre-25 has become my favorite N frame for shooting. The extra weight out front really helps me, and I do need help. S&W got it right with the M1955 Target!
Don't forget the model 520 NYSP guns. They came with PC magnas too.
bigl1911
Member
I totally agree with this. I sold a 1950 Target .45 (and have regretted it ever since) about six years ago to finance a different gun. At the time I owned a Model 624 and had the opportunity to shoot them back to back. I didn't find the .45 any more accurate than the .44, and the .44 was much more pleasant to shoot. On the other hand, the 1950 Target .45 is a very collectible gun, as only 2,768 of them were manufactured (the reason for my regret). You won't run into them very often! I eventually sold the M624 but recently purchased a 1950 Target .44 to satisfy my .44 Special addiction. BTW: Great article, David!
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