Trifecta 44HE

[raljr1]

My first 44 HE was a steal that came with a nice set of cokes on it. A very accurate piece that fired up my interest in N frames..


then I got lucky and found a decent Triple Lock for a price I could justify.


And, thanks to a fellow forum member, i found myself a 3rd model. Ok, it is re-nickeled, and at some point I will get the nickel off of the hammer and trigger. It came with a set of pearl grips, which I did not really like, so I started looking for correct replacement. Those are few and far between, and pricey. So a set from Altamont suits my fancy.

Robert

 

[kennethg]

Very nice trio. 44SPL S&W revolvers of any vintage are very special and coveted by many forum members. Myself included.
Well done!

 

[quinn]

Just love those 44s. Now, you can start looking for the 4th model 44 (pre 21). It can be kind of skittish to catch though. Congratulations on your trifecta! BTW, those pearl grips may have come with your 3rd model when it left Wolf & Klar (if it was one of their guns) so don't be too quick to dismiss them. They don't have a carved steerhead on one side, do they?

 

[raljr1]

Just love those 44s. Now, you can start looking for the 4th model 44 (pre 21). It can be kind of skittish to catch though. Congratulations on your trifecta! BTW, those pearl grips may have come with your 3rd model when it left Wolf & Klar (if it was one of their guns) so don't be too quick to dismiss them. They don't have a carved steerhead on one side, do they?

I knew that one of my fellow enablers would help me identify the next piece in this group. Thank you. I am not sure if the pearls are factory, but I think not. Anyway, Mrs Raljr1 says they look nice on my "black" Model 27, so we may find a home for them on another N frame, maybe my 1917.

 

[CptCurl]

Don't stop with just those three. You should add a Model of 1950 .44 HE.

Curl

 

[The Gila Bender]

Robert, nice set of .44's ya got there! The 3rd Model looks like a very early example given the location of the small trademark stamp on the left side (pre-1937 production) and the shape of the ejector rod channel, which is more "square" on the end. What are first few digits of the serial number?

 

[raljr1]

Interestingly, according to Mr. Jinks it shipped 4 years earlier than my second model. Just checked and it is within 260 serial numbers of the first one.

 

[Muley Gil]

"Interestingly, according to Mr. Jinks it shipped 4 years earlier than my second model. Just checked and it is within 260 serials numbers of the first one."

The 2nd and 3rd models were built side by side until 1940, when the 2nd model was dropped.

I have a similar "collection", except that mine are all 5". My post war .44 is a M27 that I had converted to .44 Special.

I was blessed to find my 3rd model at a gun show in Chantilly VA back in 2006. It was in the first shipment to Wolf & Klar on January 1927.

 

[rct269]

And I got what had to be one of the last .44 HE Second Targets shipped (May 14, 1940)------------"This shipment contained 39 units of this model in the target configuration and they were billed at $17 each." (You may recall Bill Cross recently told us it cost $17 to make a Registered Magnum.)

Talk about a close out deal!! You can figure S&W made maybe a dollar or two on each gun. You can also figure the distributor who then sold those 39 units at the regular price made out like a fat rat!!

It is the way of the world!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[raljr1]

It was in the first shipment to Wolf & Klar on January 1927.

Mine shipped in March of 1927

 

[The Gila Bender]

Mine shipped in March of 1927

Yep, I "need" a first year 3rd Model .44. My father's birthday is July 18, 1927. That would be a really sweet find.

 

[usmc2427765]

It don't get much better than that.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Robert, would you show us the top strap/rear sight of your .44 HE 3rd Model? I'm curious to know if it is the round top/U-notch "dimple" rear sight or flat top/square notch rear sight. The flat top strap production order occurred in October 1927, one year after the order to produce the 1926 Model .44 HE for Wolf & Klar. Early 1926 Model .44's would have the round top strap and dimple rear sight.
See pic of round top vs flat top here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/886891-post8.html
Now I really want a first-year production .44 HE 3rd Model!

 

[Muley Gil]

Robert, would you show us the top strap/rear sight of your 3rd Model .44? I'm curious to know if it has the round top/U-notch or flat top/square notch rear sight. This change occurred about 1926/1927.

Mine has the dimple rear sight.

 

[raljr1]

Robert, would you show us the top strap/rear sight of your .44 HE 3rd Model? I'm curious to know if it is the round top/U-notch "dimple" rear sight or flat top/square notch rear sight. The flat top strap production order occurred in October 1927, one year after the order to produce the 1926 Model .44 HE for Wolf & Klar. Early 1926 Model .44's would have the round top strap and dimple rear sight.
See pic of round top vs flat top here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/886891-post8.html
Now I really want a first-year production .44 HE 3rd Model!

Visiting my son this weekend, so I don't have access to the pictures. I will post one when I get home.

 

[raljr1]

Mine has the dimple rear sight.

Looks U shaped to me, and looks like I have the shakes.

Robert

 

[Muley Gil]

"Looks U shaped to me, and looks like I have the shakes."

Mine looks the same.