Shootsomething
Member
I picked this revolver up a couple of weeks ago, love it. 5-screw, 55-56?? I know the grips are not correct, but they are cool. I assume it should have a set of cokes. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
Would an appreciate a little info on 4” pre model 29
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That's a nice revolver. It's a shame it was reblued.
You acquired a very nice and desirable 4" 5-screw .44 Magnum (ca. 1956-57), but I have to agree that it looks like it was refinished. Yes, it would have originally shipped with oversize target diamond center (Coke Bottle) stocks, but the stocks that are on it now are extremely nice- some Forum members may be able to identify the maker (Roper, Griffin & Howe?). Did the original presentation case come with the revolver? If so, that would increase the value quite a bit. Our Forum gurus should be along shortly to tell you more. Enjoy!
I really like those grips. The refinish looks nicely done though it does hurt the value somewhat. Still, a 5 screw, 4" gun is a hot commodity.
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Neat gun! Pull the grips and show the inside. I believe they are Keith Brown's handiwork.
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How do you tell from those pictures? I am looking to learn all the tell signs, not arguing with you...The 44 magnum lettering may be a little thicker for those early guns but not much thicker than I have seem in the late 70s guns. Is that it, or you see more?
The barrel is a different color from the frame.
Model19man
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That and the polishing marks all over the revolver.
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Sideplate's lettering looks thin. Could polishing be due to cleaning / removing small spots with brass wool (potentially). Again, looking to learn more here as I sometimes cannot tell (even have a couple that I am still wondering...)
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yes, that closeup picture looks like that, but not the others. Plus I have seen original guns with slightly different barrel colors - was told that sometimes the barrel's color may change due to the heating. Again, not arguing here, just looking to learn....
It's really difficult to tell from photos, but here's my long distance guess. Biggest tell is gap on sideplate because it was polished off the frame when reblued. Slight dishing of #5 screw hole. Above screw looks like pitting under the blue? Dust and grease? Maybe angle of pic but logo looks canted? Rounding of edges from polishing for reblue. Plum color is a term used for that purple tint, sometimes happens at factory but red flag to look closer. You can see barrel pins holding front sight on are different color, I've not seen that on factory blue. Not knocking your gun just answering your questions. Should be a great shooter and it'a 5-SCREW 4" PRE-29 with Gorgeous KEITH BROWN GRIPS!! NICE!! 
I don't have my SCSW with me, but the serial number looks to me to mark it as a first year gun. Not many 4" first years IIRC. That one might be worth a letter regardless of the reblue. Also, if you sent it off to get all scratched up by someone reputable it would negate the refinish devaluation. Of course, that would indeed cost a pretty penny!
Congrats on a very nice gun. Yes, it should have been shipped with Cokes. Your grips are beautiful. If Keith Brown made them, I think worth as much as Cokes. Have heard $500 or so for a nice pair of Cokes. If the guys can tell it is a refinish, probably not done at the factory. That does hurt the value some. Ship dates for the .44 Magnum are all over the place. Have seen guns with close numbers shipped a year apart. Have seen guns several thousand apart that shipped the same day. There were not many 4-inch guns shipped in 1956. If yours is one that might add some value for some folks.
Here is my gun S 153063, very close to yours in number. It shipped December 14, 1956.
Here is my gun S 153063, very close to yours in number. It shipped December 14, 1956.
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This may not tell you much about your S153632, but .44 Magnum S153635 was a 4" unit that shipped on February 4, 1957. Also, 4" .44 Magnum S153590 shipped on January 16, 1957. Those are the closest numbers on a 4" example that I can find.
The main thing is all the 44 magnums came with a deep, uniform blue-black reflective polish. The exact color and polish is hard to duplicate in a re-blue. It's much easier to see this if you have the gun and shine a bright flashlight downward on it at an angle. Try that and then try it on an original finish.
On this one, the large size posted photos show rounding of the edges of the Smith and Wesson imprint and 44.Magnum imprints, and USA lines, which can come from polishing or from wear. These imprints should have clearer edges. This gun was probably originally carried a lot in a holster, then re-blued. The dirt and grit in a holster tend to wear down barrels and edges.
The reason why the color differences show up so well is the OP used flash photography or a bright light. In more subdued lighting, it would be difficult to see this all of this.
Model19man
Member
The original polishing would have been better - smoother is a good word for it.
Similar serial number guns shipped in September and December, 1956 and in the first quarter of 1957. Not much rhyme or reason to it. it's very likely this was in the December 1956 batch.
Could you post a close up pic of the side plate, to compare to OP's?
