There is nothing like a 44 special

[Venom6]

Here is my pair, a 1st and a 2nd. They have had a hard life, but I enjoy them.
Maybe I will have something as nice as yours one day.
Thanks for your post.

I actually prefer them with some wear on them, like yours, Dave. It adds to their history and romance. I shoot ALL my guns, so when they already have some street cred it makes it easier for me to do so without worrying about adding another nick or scratch. Plus, when we're back home I can relax in front of the fire with Henry McKenna and we can wonder about the history as the flames reflect off the deep blue or nickel finish.

 

[Venom6]

Agreed. My quest started with 6 loaded cartridges that were in my safe. Don't know where they came from, but I needed a revolver to shoot them from. I love my 44 Specials/

OK, Robert, that does it. Finally after 70 years I know what I want to be when I grow up: I wanna be you! (Dang, 'em are nice!)

 

[bill-in-texas]

It's good to see these ol' .44 Spcl. treasures are still surfacing…
Shotgunner, yours is very nice, indeed! Thanks for sharing.

I came across my 1927 example in a Texas Hill Country pawn shop, on my first visit. Suffice it to say, I stop in whenever I'm in the area.

5" Bbl., Shown with KB Stocks


-Bill

 

[raljr1]

It's good to see these ol' .44 Spcl. treasures are still surfacing…
Shotgunner, yours is very nice, indeed! Thanks for sharing.

I came across my 1927 example in a Texas Hill Country pawn shop, on my first visit. Suffice it to say, I stop in whenever I'm in the area.

5" Bbl., Shown with KB Stocks


-Bill

That is a very pretty revolver.

 

[Muley Gil]

I actually prefer them with some wear on them, like yours, Dave. It adds to their history and romance. I shoot ALL my guns, so when they already have some street cred it makes it easier for me to do so without worrying about adding another nick or scratch. Plus, when we're back home I can relax in front of the fire with Henry McKenna and we can wonder about the history as the flames reflect off the deep blue or nickel finish.

Skeeter Skelton would approve, fer sure!

 

[jyo]

Have grown to love the 44 Special cartridge in my two Colt SAAs and also shoot a lot of it in my Old Model Ruger Flattop 44 Magnum... Still shooting a huge batch of 44 Specials using the old Keith/Skeeter reload of 7.5 grains of Unique under a 240 grain LSWC for approx 950 FPS that I produced many years ago...

 

[bruce5781]

My 2nd Model Target with HBH.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Grayfox]

I love the .44 Special. Its my favorite cartridge.
I currently own 9 of 'em and always looking for more.

 

[bruce5781]

Here is a 44 2nd built on a leftover 1917 frame. I added the grip adapter and magnas.

Regards,
Bruce

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[CH4]

Wow, some beautiful pieces here.

I am relatively new to the 44 spl club. I've always looked at 44 mags like I do 357s, as having the best of both worlds; a gun that you can shoot magnums and specials. Other than my ugly 296, and already having myriad 44 mags, I saw no need for a another 44 spl.; until last Valentines Day when I wandered into the Vegas Bass Pro. Sitting forlornly on the shelf next to a rough Detective Special, was a beautiful 3" 24-3. I quickly paid her bail, less my GI Joe discount, and headed home.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Congratulations, beautiful 2nd Model. I consider the 2nd Model my favorite of the H.E. line, I like the lines without the ejector shroud. There is still enough protection for the rod with the stud attached to the barrel, unlike the way Colt has it hanging out in the breeze.

I couldn't have said it better, myself.
I love the look and feel of the 2nd Model, not to mention, the balance in the hand.

Including the Model of 1917… Target



-Bill

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Seeing this thread I had to go put some rounds through one of mine today

 

[Muley Gil]

I'm pretty sure I was still peeing in my diapers in 1959! But I have grown to love a 44 special anything. So far I'm only the caretaker of a S&W 696, a Blackhawk Flattop and a first year Charter Arms Bulldog in 44 special. A 624 was on my Xmas list to Santa, but he only brought me a lump of coal.........

Unfortunately, I'm afraid we may all wind up doing that in our old age too.

As the saying goes, once a man, twice a baby.

 

[PeteC]

Where should the serial numbers be on a 2nd model .44 Hand Ejector?

I saw one this weekend at a show, refinished and with two sets of S&W factory stamps on the grips (so NOT a collector specimen), and with a Patridge-looking front sight. No visible hole for a lanyard ring, but s/n off to the side as if there should be one.

Priced to be a shooter. I've seen this seller before, and he made it known it had been to the factory "at least twice", and had unknown (to him) work done besides the refinish. The looks of the barrel flat and no place for a lanyard ring made me pause a bit too, but I am not familiar with this model.

Thanks.

 

[mod57]

All beautiful revolvers to be sure! I would love to have one of these but I cannot exist in the rarified air that these live in. It's really too bad that the company that literally invented the .44 caliber cannot see their way to making more, available models chambering it.
Anyway enough of my carping! Nice revolvers all and thank you all for posting them up and sharing them!

 

[Muley Gil]

Where should the serial numbers be on a 2nd model .44 Hand Ejector?

I saw one this weekend at a show, refinished and with two sets of S&W factory stamps on the grips (so NOT a collector specimen), and with a Patridge-looking front sight. No visible hole for a lanyard ring, but s/n off to the side as if there should be one.

Priced to be a shooter. I've seen this seller before, and he made it known it had been to the factory "at least twice", and had unknown (to him) work done besides the refinish. The looks of the barrel flat and no place for a lanyard ring made me pause a bit too, but I am not familiar with this model.

Thanks.

IIRC, the SN range starts around 15000 and goes up into the 50K range. Starting in 1927, 2nd models and 3rd models were both produced at the same time.

It is often hard to tell that a lanyard loop hole has been plugged. With the grips removed, look for the LL retaining pin or pin hole.

Front sights can be cut into a Patridge style or possibly the half moon is filed flat and a blade is inserted.

 

[H Richard]

Great looking gun. Hmmm, 1959, I was in Texas attending a USAF Tech School, learning how to repair Jet engines. Boy, that's a long time ago.

 

[M_conrad_0311]

The .44 HE is one of my favorite caliber S&W. I have owned a few 1st, third and fourth Models, but never a 2nd in .44. I would love to have a 4-5" 2nd.
Here are a few of my current and previously owned .44s.

 

[Tom K]

Here are my only two 2nd Model .44s, one plain and one target. (I have lots of other .44 Specials as well though!) They are "finish challenged" but still go bang just fine.

 

[bill-in-texas]

I love the .44 Special. Its my favorite cartridge.
I currently own 9 of 'em and always looking for more. …

Holy smokes! Nice group!
So far, I've scared up 2 in .44 Special.

-Bill

No 1st or 3rd Model, Yet