Understanding the .44 Special obsession

[Art Doc]

I can do some 44 Specials.

A pair of poorly refinished 1926s.

And a pair of pretty 1950s.

 

[buffalo4star]

I'll srare mine.

#1) A 2nd. Mod. HE with British proof marks.It appears to be unfired but does have a few handling marks (less than that you might expect from a 80 yr. old gun that has crossed the sea a couple of times).Bright crisp bore ans dark blue recoil shield.

#2)Blue 5" 1926.Stag grips.

#3) Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.Genuine ivory grips.

#4)1950 .44 Target 6.5".Keith Brown Ropers.

#5) 1950 44 Target 5" that the seller told me had been cut.Reasonably priced shooter.

 

[DCWilson]

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

 

[Muley Gil]

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

 

[Bacon]

Originally posted by DCWilson:

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

Isn't it also supposed to be in a certain serial # range? I have a 24-3 that fits your description but never thought it was a LH.

 

[tbury]

My only 44spcl so far. But I do have an Uberti 44 Russian.

Hand Ejector Second model DOB 1931.

 

[buffalo4star]

Originally posted by Muley Gil:

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

 

[ladder13]

Originally posted by buffalo4star:
You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

Beautiful gun Buffalo4star.

 

[buffalo4star]

Originally posted by stbryson:

Originally posted by buffalo4star:

Originally posted by Muley Gil:

Nickle 4" 1926.Need to letter this one since the ser.# 232XX is below what is the stated ser.# range for the 3rd. Mod.

You probably have a 2nd model that has been rebarrelled. I've run into several like that.

Of course, about the only difference between the two IS the shrouded barrel.

You may be correct.What puzzles me is the barrel is numbered to the frame as is the cyl. and the underside on the ratchet.Also I don't know if the frame itself needs to be altered for a proper mating of the bbl. with the ejector housing.

Hello buffalo4star,

I hope I don't start a flame war or get accused of trashing a member's gun, but if the complete serial number is 23250, the gun shipped as a Second Model .44 Hand Ejector.

When serial number 23250 was listed on AuctionArms about a year ago, I contacted Roy Jinks, because of the lower than usual serial number (for a Third Model .44 H.E.).

Mr. Jinks advised me that "the revolver in question shipped as a .44 Hand Ejector Second Model and has been converted to a Third Model. I have lettered this gun before so who has it is not telling the full story."

If they are not the same gun, please disregard my post.

Take care,

Steve:
23250 IS THE SER.# ON MY 44.THE PRICE I PAID WAS DEFINITELY TOO MUCH FOR A 2ND. MOD.THE QUES. IS WHAT IS THE VALUE (W/O THE IVORY).THESE WERE ADDED LATER.THE GRIPS THAT CAME WITH THE GUN DO NOT MERIT MENTION.NEED TO HAVE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT IT LEFT THE FACTORY AS A 2ND. MOD.IN ORDER TO RECOUP SOME OF MY MONEY.SHOULD YOU HAVE A LETTER THAT WOULD SAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME.LET ME KNOW.
APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND THERE WILL BE NO WAR, JUST A WORKOUT OF THE $ INVOLVED.

 

[DCWilson]

Originally posted by Bacon:

Originally posted by DCWilson:

Originally posted by Emerson:
How can you distinguish the Lou Horton M-24 from a non-Lou Horton model?

Product code 100787. The LH 24-3 is distinguished by the 3" barrel and round butt.

DW

Isn't it also supposed to be in a certain serial # range? I have a 24-3 that fits your description but never thought it was a LH.

Off the top of my head, the LH three-inch combat models were mostly in the AEL and AEM series. Mine is AEM11xx. I remember a thread with a lot of detail about this; I will try to find it and post the link here. One of the wrinkles (if I remember correctly) is that LH ordered 5000 of these, but could not move them all. I believe S&W moved some of them directly. But I am now rummaging in corners of my memory without benefit of caffeine, so I am going to shut up until I find the additional information. More later.

DW

 

[handejector]

SaxonPig said:

And a pair of pretty 1950s.

SP,
That is a neat pair of 1950's. Five inch? Do they letter?

 

[KSCowboy]

OK, I finally got some pictures taken of my Specials.

24-3 with McGivern Gold Bead.

624 with McGivern Gold Bead.

SAA 44 Special #1

SAA 44 Special #2

 

[semperfi71]

M24-3 with Hunter holster

Colt 3rd with COWS leather

 

[netfotoj]

KSCowboy and semperfi71

As Doc Watson would say, "Mighty pretty needlework."

Those are some of the finest .44s I've ever seen.

Maybe someday I'll find a Lew Horton 24...

 

[Carolina Tom]

Here's my .44 Specials. A couple of 24-3s, a four inch and a three inch. A pre model 21 made in 1956 with five inch barrel and number matching grips. Sometimes it's called a fourth model hand ejector military.

 

[starbuck]

For those of you that like the larger bore and smaller frame I understand Charter arms is coming out soon with a .45 ACP in their bulldog size frame. That should be interesting to carry/shoot.

 

[dick44]

Question on rebarreled 2nd models
Was this done by choice or was S&W
out of 2nd model barrels?

dick44

 

[KSCowboy]

I like the idea of a 45 acp Bulldog. I didn't find anything about it on their website. Where did you hear about this?

 

[starbuck]

Click your mouse on the right where it says rimless revolver in red.

 

[KSCowboy]

Thanks Starbuck I found it. I like it! But I guess I can sell all that 45 AR brass I have socked away.

Wish I could find a doggy old 25-2 in the mean time to chop the barrel off and make a snubby.