Why own a Model 24?

[75Vette]

Those "Morado's" on that M24 are simply beautiful! The pronounced variation of grain-ing and deep reddish hue really make those the nicest set of 90's Combat OEM "Morado's" I've ever seen. Are they Morado wood Vette or some other species cut in the same profile as the 90's Morado's are? I think they are Morado wood but either way, beautiful grips, beautiful guns!

ETA:
Also, it appears those grips have a chamfer or beveling at the heel/bottom area of the grips... Very, very cool; Especially for CCW and for even less printing than the flat Morado style offers.

Hammy the flatside grips on the 624 (not the 24-3) are, as far as I know, regular ol Morado wood. I just got lucky and got a pair with nice coloring. Those aren't original to that gun, the older Goncalo Alves like on my 24-3 would've been correct. As to the tapered base I don't quite know the whole story behind them but S&W made a handful to go on a few choice guns. Farely rare. I saw the first pair other than mine the other day on a 1 of 500 629 Mountain Lion on GB.

 

[Muley Gil]

I love that top strap stippling! Should be standard on any serious use Revolver! None of mine have it but maybe my M629-3 "MBP" will receive 25lpi treatment along the top strap all the way until the barrel screws in, in the future.

That is not stippling; the top strap has been checkered. S&W only did this to the pre-war Registered and Non-registered Magnums, the post war .357s and the M27s. Even the strap part of the rear sight has been checkered.

 

[Green Frog]

Dave, every time you post a picture of that Outdoorsman-cum-Triplelock my little Froggie hand starts to twitch. I’ve about reached the conclusion that N-frame Smiths are too big for me, but I’d sure enough figure out a way to hold onto that one!! Thanks for the ongoing inspiration.

BTW, I bet you can tell me without having to look it up... was there a Second Issue 44 HE Target Model? Just idle curiosity, but that would be a nice holster gun, I bet.

Froggie

 

[junglefighter]

I would like to know about the holster in the SAA photo. Thanks.

 

[HamHands]

First time I have heard that wood called "Morado".
Thank you. It's good to learn something new every day.
I never really knew what the wood on my 3" 624 was until I looked up "Morado".
Now I know it's also more usually called Pau Ferro.
Libidibia ferrea - Wikipedia
The set on my 624 do not have the beveled bottom pictured above but look more like the ones on the 3" 24.
Was that a modification?
Kind of unusual for S&W combats of that era.

Those grips have never really fit my hand at all.
The finger grooves are in the wrong place.
I got a set of Spegels (ebony) that work much better.
The quality of that picture is not so good as it was taken off a mirror.

The holster is the one that came with the gun and is about as perfect as can be (BLW).
Notice the cylinder is completely above the belt.
Rumor has it they were made by Gould & Goodrich.
It also works for my beloved L frame 44's so I am really happy I bit for that holster way back when (mid 80's).

The "Morado's" actually fit my Hands even better than the Lew Horton Special 80's OEM Combats do so the Morado's are my favorite for form and function... and they look good and carry even better while printing less. The one's on 75Vette's I commented upon... that reddish hue, (if in fact they are true Morado's... Vette will chime in for sure)... that deep red usually only comes from the heartiest heart of the Pao Ferro "Morado" tree stock. Most of the tree is made up of the traditional brownish, with dark strikes coloring.

I just sourced an original, never used one of those M24 OEM holsters exactly like you pictured that came with the Lew Horton Specials thanks to "Shark-Bait" here. Holster rides nice and high without printing as well which is the whole point/mantra... "flying under the radar." It's super quality stitched and the leather is fantastic. You can't source a new holster for a 3" N frame that is anything of this quality and believe me, I tried. DeSantis makes one but I wouldn't give it half the rating I'd give the M24 OEM Smith holster!

 

[HamHands]

That is not stippling; the top strap has been checkered. S&W only did this to the pre-war Registered and Non-registered Magnums, the post war .357s and the M27s. Even the strap part of the rear sight has been checkered.

Wrong word choice on my part! I have several 1911's I've had 25LPI checkered. It certainly takes some talent to do correctly by hand and then of course the refinish.

 

[HamHands]

Deleted... Double Tap

 

[Muley Gil]

Dave, every time you post a picture of that Outdoorsman-cum-Triplelock my little Froggie hand starts to twitch. I’ve about reached the conclusion that N-frame Smiths are too big for me, but I’d sure enough figure out a way to hold onto that one!! Thanks for the ongoing inspiration.

BTW, I bet you can tell me without having to look it up... was there a Second Issue 44 HE Target Model? Just idle curiosity, but that would be a nice holster gun, I bet.

Froggie

Yes, there were target 2nd Model .44 Specials built. Most were 6 1/2", but there were also 5" targets built.

 

[Nemo288]

I just sourced an original, never used one of those M24 OEM holsters exactly like you pictured that came with the Lew Horton Specials thanks to "Shark-Bait" here. Holster rides nice and high without printing as well which is the whole point/mantra... "flying under the radar." It's super quality stitched and the leather is fantastic. You can't source a new holster for a 3" N frame that is anything of this quality and believe me, I tried. DeSantis makes one but I wouldn't give it half the rating I'd give the M24 OEM Smith holster!

Man a NOS BLW is as rare as hen's teeth.
Nice find!
I have the 4" version of that DeSantis and have worn it only a few times.
I'll use if I need to carry a magnum which isn't often.
For 4" or anything longer I like the chest carry for woods bumming or even a shoulder rig.

 

[Valmet]

Suddenly I feel like I need a few more .44 Specials...

 

[HamHands]

Man a NOS BLW is as rare as hen's teeth.
Nice find!
I have the 4" version of that DeSantis and have worn it only a few times.
I'll use if I need to carry a magnum which isn't often.
For 4" or anything longer I like the chest carry for woods bumming or even a shoulder rig.

Yes sir I most certainly did. Within the last month I scored a real deal M24 Lew Horton Special that I've been looking for at least 2 years. Three times I was outbid on Gun-Broker bids time after time within the last 20 minutes or so of each bid. So I went with an M29 Lew Horton and shot my favorite cartridge, the .44Special but I still wanted an M24. Then 2 weeks ago I commented on how I'm going to have to go full custom with one from Milt Sparks or Lobo, etc. and then wait out the production when Shark-Bait P.M.'d me and said he actually had (2) NOS Smith & Wesson branded, OEM Holster that originally came with the M24LHS. Shark said he only needed one and offered to sell me the other for exactly what he bought it for, (Class-Act thing to do in my opinion), and sent pics. I PayPal'd him a little extra atop what we agreed just to show my gratitude and to thank him for not price gouging me as he could have because he knew exactly how bad I wanted an Original Smith M24 holster. Several days later it arrived! Shark-Bait is a great forum member! Here is a pic or three of my Favorite "Woods-Gun" and Suburban Carry Rig with my new M24 LHS Holster.

 

[HamHands]

Man a NOS BLW is as rare as hen's teeth.
Nice find!
I have the 4" version of that DeSantis and have worn it only a few times.
I'll use if I need to carry a magnum which isn't often.
For 4" or anything longer I like the chest carry for woods bumming or even a shoulder rig.

I missed the enboldened part the first time I read your post...

My DeSantis 3" is for my M629-5 Mountain Back Packer. This holster took almost 2 months of daily wearing it 8-10 hours a day before it became broken in (unheard-of.) Mine is nowhere near the quality of the M24 S&W holster in the stitching, fit, carry cant, and ride height departments. But the DeSantis is good enough for "Government Work" and has rolled and walked many miles with me and my girls in the Nantahala National Forest and keeps the Mountain Back Packer deliberately snug against me and offers a very quick deployment. I'm just glad I have one secure holster with a thumb snap for the M29/M629 and one for the M24 broken in and ready to roll.

 

[Nemo288]

The DeSantis I have looks a little different than yours.
It's not a bad rig.
My main gripe is that it doesn't ride high enough to the point where almost all of the cylinder is on the belt.
This makes it somewhat more uncomfortable to wear long term at least for me.
Most pancakes do this IMHO.