Ed
The Army was not running Smith & Wesson during WWII.
Updated: Model 3 DA, Factory Modified in '49, The SWHF is awesome!
- Thread starter Modified
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The Army was not running Smith & Wesson during WWII.
OP
Modified
Member
Well, the SWHF comes through again.
I did...not expect this to have been factory modified.
When the documents arrive I'll put them here. I just have a run down on what is in them, but apparently the modifications were done in 1949 at the cost of $10.90, plus C.O.D. The 1943 stamp was a repair..
I did...not expect this to have been factory modified.
When the documents arrive I'll put them here. I just have a run down on what is in them, but apparently the modifications were done in 1949 at the cost of $10.90, plus C.O.D. The 1943 stamp was a repair..
This makes the 2nd time in two days that I have seen your Model 3 on the forum. And I have to say that each time I saw it, it simply took my breath away. That gun is some kind of special...
Ask anyone ... I am not a lover of the 1st model 44 DA yet I fell in love with this one from the day you posted it. It is my favorite modified S&W I've ever seen. That the repairs ... AND modifications ... were performed by S&W all makes perfect sense.
Even if you had not been able to verify the modifications by S&W, it clearly presents as being modified by a "Master's" hand.
Double congrats on that find. Bill Cross is a extremely qualified, dedicated,historian / collector and friend. There is no one better qualified nor more motivated to be in charge of the S&WHF research than Bill.
Even if you had not been able to verify the modifications by S&W, it clearly presents as being modified by a "Master's" hand.
Double congrats on that find. Bill Cross is a extremely qualified, dedicated,historian / collector and friend. There is no one better qualified nor more motivated to be in charge of the S&WHF research than Bill.
OP
Modified
Member
I will clearly need to be editing the original post.
SAFireman
Member
Congrats Caleb! That is outstanding news!
Congratulations and well done to all concerned with the information. I live in Spokane and have for most of my life, H.H. Dean is not a familiar store it predates my life experience, I am familiar with the location and could imagine a store front in that area. I will check with some of my older buddies and see if they have any information regarding the store and owner. I think the 1st Model D.A. in .44 Russian are beautiful and scored one awhile ago that was factory refinished and in near new original operation tightness. For their intended purpose I can see them as S&W pinnacle, sure there are modern snub nosed pieces that have more power and accuracy but I am very confident in the 1st Model's ability to get the job done, it is far from a plinker, all business...I love it.
The issue with my interest in H. H. Dean from the information posted by the O.P. is basically because it is my hometown. I asked a few of my "older" friends about the address location which in my time was used as a nursing home and most recently a drug rehab type of establishment. None of them can remember a "gun store" that they would visit. I did a little local research and came up with Mr. Dean's involvement with the Great Northern RR from construction through the Cascade Mountains and later as an engineer retiring in 1939, he also owned the H.H. Dean Motor Company from 1910-20. There is also a vault with some of his photographic interests, which combined with interest in hunting and fishing in his later years led me to believe this was the guy that owned the storefront and ordered the revolver. No other Harry H. Dean and son Dodge come up in local history. I'm still poking around, more old buddies to ask.
My further "poking around" did little to provide any actual information. A few of the old guys did remember a storefront but no real "gun store" that the common guy would be attracted to. As his business card specifies he sold cameras, opticals, firearms. In that era just about any storefront could sell firearms, I can remember gas stations and hardware stores selling firearms, I can remember my uncle pawning his rifles in the local beer parlor. H. Dean specialized in photography and fishing in retirement, being a business oriented guy he kept the storefront going and probably had customers that considered his place "one stop shopping". Order up a new flyrod, a nice camera and a handgun to protect yourself from the odd Grizz, best I can do...its a dead end with no other information worth going after.
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OP
Modified
Member
I don't think that's a dead end at all, I think you found as much of the Spokane story possible.
Sounds like H. Dean was what we might call today a "tabletop ffl", which as you note back then was so common place for anyone who any number of things would also deal in guns, even if it was just occasional.
I may also be able to come up with some more information, I have plans this summer to head back to my family's town in Fertile, MN, which is just about 40 miles south of Thief River Falls. I'll see if I can't find some folks who may be related to, or know/knew A.F. Jones.
It does seem that A.F. Jones was a bit of a trap shooter, at least according to this Fresno Bee news paper: The Fresno Bee The Republican from Fresno, California on March 14, 1948 . Page 38
and the Missoulian:
The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana on August 18, 1946 . 13
and the Winnnipeg Free Press:
Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives | Jul 17, 1940, p. 12
" iigh gunner of the championship however, was A. F. Jones. Thief River Falls, who broke 100 straight yesterday, which gave him .99 out of 200 in the two days of shooting."
Hmm, apparently he was a very *good* trapshooter.
StrawHat
Member
Actually, Colt’s used a frame mounted firing pin on the Richards Conversion of the 1860 from C&B to cartridge. This was in 1870 or so.
(edited after reading the entire thread and realizing Driftwood Johnsonsupplied the same information.)
Kevin
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I don't think that's a dead end at all, I think you found as much of the Spokane story possible.
Sounds like H. Dean was what we might call today a "tabletop ffl", which as you note back then was so common place for anyone who any number of things would also deal in guns, even if it was just occasional.
I may also be able to come up with some more information, I have plans this summer to head back to my family's town in Fertile, MN, which is just about 40 miles south of Thief River Falls. I'll see if I can't find some folks who may be related to, or know/knew A.F. Jones.
It does seem that A.F. Jones was a bit of a trap shooter, at least according to this Fresno Bee news paper: The Fresno Bee The Republican from Fresno, California on March 14, 1948 . Page 38
and the Missoulian:
The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana on August 18, 1946 . 13
and the Winnnipeg Free Press:
Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives | Jul 17, 1940, p. 12
" iigh gunner of the championship however, was A. F. Jones. Thief River Falls, who broke 100 straight yesterday, which gave him .99 out of 200 in the two days of shooting."
Hmm, apparently he was a very *good* trapshooter.
Interesting bit of information that adds historical background. I'm muzzle loading representative at the Spokane Rifle Club, we've been chartered with the state for over 100 years, before that the organization was referred to as the Spokane Rod and Gun club. They used to shoot trap in the area adjacent to Natatorium Park at the end of Boone Ave. in Spokane. I have a postcard from that era. We moved to our present location on 40 acres along the Spokane River right in the middle of Riverside State Park in the mid 20's on the site of railroad right of way and lead smelter property.
Its interesting to note the popularity of trap shooting back then and even to this day at a rifle club. We only have three traps today having closed those that shoot out over the river because of lead contamination. There is a larger Spokane Gun Club that specializes in trap shooting and was located out in the valley, they sold out to the school board for around five million and have relocated to the West Plains area which abounds in rocky open spaces, perfect for a trap range.
We have some historical pictures from the early days where in a group of a dozen characters that were members of a pistol team there are guys dressed like professionals in bowler hats alongside guys dressed in current military style clothing with campaign hats. I like the pictures showing the original North clubhouse with its attendant crapper and Model A's parked outside.
I had found most of the information on Mr. Dean through Google, which has the article referring to his gift of photographs to Washington State University in Pullman, Wa. I would imagine most of them were in regards to Spokane and Washington States railroad history. I think I mentioned his work with the railroad and the push through the Cascade range which took place before his interest in automobiles. He never got too far away from the railroad, his business was located in Hillyard which was named after a James Hillyard who was a local railroad magnate.
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