I'm a great fan of Smith & Wesson .44 Specials and regret having sold at least three of them. I swear I'll never do that again (one was a re-nickeled Triple Lock!). I've always wanted a 3rd Model Wolf & Klar, but it seemed every time I found one it was too expensive and I finally gave up looking for one. Last summer I stumbled across an internet auction with a Nickel 5" Wolf & Klar that no one seemed to be bidding on. I put in a "high bid" I was comfortable with and ended up winning #29179 which Roy said had shipped in April of 1929. The gun appears to be original nickel with sharp lettering, pins that have not been polished flat, and no sideplate dishing, Oddly enough the trigger and hammer appear to have been plated, so if it is a refinish, it is a very good one. The grips are wrong with gold rather than silver medallions, and probably originally came on a Triple Lock. The bore is flawless, but the cylinder lock needs to be replaced. Fortunately I was able to source one from Jack First. I paid a reasonable price and the gun is a great shooter. I'm waiting for a letter.
Within a week of receiving this gun I came across yet another 5" Wolf & Klar in another auction and bought it for almost the same price as the first one. Again a nickel gun #34451, which Roy says shipped in March of 1930. I don't think I'll bother paying for a letter for this one, as the odds of it having gone somewhere other than Wolf & Klar are about zero. That's a pretty good guess based on the "pawnshop" engraving and the grips. It has obviously been re-nickeled. The bore on this one is great and the action is flawless. The left grip and the sideplate are engraved "H.C. McM". I imagine H.C. wore it to a barbeque or two.
I've just reloaded a few hundred rounds of .44 Special, and I think I'll be doing a lot more this winter.
Within a week of receiving this gun I came across yet another 5" Wolf & Klar in another auction and bought it for almost the same price as the first one. Again a nickel gun #34451, which Roy says shipped in March of 1930. I don't think I'll bother paying for a letter for this one, as the odds of it having gone somewhere other than Wolf & Klar are about zero. That's a pretty good guess based on the "pawnshop" engraving and the grips. It has obviously been re-nickeled. The bore on this one is great and the action is flawless. The left grip and the sideplate are engraved "H.C. McM". I imagine H.C. wore it to a barbeque or two.
I've just reloaded a few hundred rounds of .44 Special, and I think I'll be doing a lot more this winter.
