what is it ?

[FieldgradeSXS]

Just Joined a few days ago. The site seems very cordial. I'm just learning the navigation techniques... I'm not too electronic. I do have a question concerning an S&W. I purchased 2 S&W's from a 91 yr. old friend of mine. One I have identified but the other is still a mystery to me. It's a 44 special CTG and came in a box marked 1926 Target Revolver. He said he shot 9 rounds through it. Internet research shows it may be a 1950 model, (I think)...still not too electronic. Serial # is S 980XX. I'm mostly a long gun guy but these pistols intrigue me. Sooo...what is it ?

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. You identified your gun correctly as a .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model Target Revolver (Model of 1950). Don't be too alarmed if the box says something different. We are told S&W never threw anything out, and if they had leftover boxes at the time they introduced a new model, they would just ship in the boxes they had on hand.

Your serial number indicates the gun probably shipped around 1953 or 1954. In 1957 that gun would renamed the Model 24, so you can refer to your gun for short as a Pre-24.

Lots of .44 lovers here. Can you post pictures?

 

[gkitch]

Those older Smiths are true classics. Do not permanently modify it in any way! Please post some pictures?
So....what is the other gun? Your friend seems to have good judgement in firearms.

 

[Art Doc]

The gun you describe would sell for upwards of $2,000. What did you give the old man for it?

 

[FieldgradeSXS]

My old friend was just a died in the wool hunter..."last of the breed" kind of guy. The other revolver was an old 38SW break open, and I will be purchasing his old K-22 next week. I won't be keeping all 3...I'm going to have to sell one of them because of the cost. BUT...I do like the feel of these old revolvers. The 44sp. looks like new and has 3 sets of grips with it but I don't believe any of them are original. The feel of this heavy handgun is awesome. Is it really worth 2K ?

 

[FieldgradeSXS]

I'm gonna try and do pics...my sons usually do my technical stuff.

 

[DCWilson]

The company did not manufacture a huge number of the Model of 1950 .44 Targets before the .44 Magnum was introduced, and the more powerful gun became the center of .44 attention after that. A Pre-24 NIB or ANIB is an uncommon thing, and prices can rise to surprising levels.

What is the barrel length? They exist in 6.5", 5" and 4", and some are more in demand than others. (But I'm going to let others tell you which barrel lengths are pricier because I am not that familiar with this model.)

 

[Sebago Son]

"BRITE" finished models will command a premium. These are a higher polish than the satin finish which was standard at the time. I would want to see the gun before I would assign a $2,000 value to it, but it's not impossible it the gun his perfect, original and of a barrel length other than 6 1/2".

Looking forward to the the photos...

Drew

 

[FieldgradeSXS]

The barrel length is 6 1/2. I don't believe it's "Brite" finished. But I do believe my old friend when he said he fired 9 round through it . He gave me a box of cartridges with 9 missing. How do I do pics ?

 

[Sebago Son]

You can e-mail them to me if you'd like and I can post them for you, or you can go through the excercise of opening a photosharing account. Not much bother either way...

dlperez(at)pivot.net

Sunstitute the @ for (at)

Drew

 

[s&wchad]

Posting photos without a hosting site: Attachments and Images

 

[Biker Bill]

Welcome aboard from WI!

 

[Jebus35745]

Can't wait to see the pics. Like you're name, next to S&W's, SXS's are a weakness for me.. Larry