[Lenley]

My wife inherited a S&W .44 special from an uncle it seems to be an older model but I'm not sure. It has a serial number on the butt #29254, it has a 4 inch barrel and is a blue gun, rear sight is a grove and it has beautiful ivory carved grips. Can anyone help me with the date it was built and any other info that can be gleened from the info I supplied. Thanks for the Help.

[Oro]

Hi and welcome. We will figure it out - but if there's any way to take a picture that would help speed it along quite a bit. Sounds like it could be an early .44 2nd Model Hand Ejector, though 4" barrels were uncommon. Here's some questions:

1) Is there a letter anywhere on the butt in addition to the number? Especially an "S"
2) Is the same number on the flat beneath the barrel when you swing out the cylinder?
3) Are you measuring the barrel from the edge of the cylinder to the muzzle, not just from the forward edge of the frame?
4) Any way to get a friend to take a digital picture for you (if you don't have a camera)?

[Lenley]

First try at putting pictures in the message, hope it works. The number under the barrel looks the same as the one on the butt but part of it is hidden by the retaining pin, the number on the cylender is the same as the one on the butt.

103918103919

[frankiestoys]

Hi and welcome. We will figure it out - but if there's any way to take a picture that would help speed it along quite a bit. Sounds like it could be an early .44 2nd Model Hand Ejector, though 4" barrels were uncommon. Here's some questions:

1) Is there a letter anywhere on the butt in addition to the number? Especially an "S"
2) Is the same number on the flat beneath the barrel when you swing out the cylinder?
3) Are you measuring the barrel from the edge of the cylinder to the muzzle, not just from the forward edge of the frame?
4) Any way to get a friend to take a digital picture for you (if you don't have a camera)?
It looks like one to me.
There were three ejector models made.
Not sure witch one this is.

[Oro]

There were three ejector models made.
Not sure witch one this is.

That is a third model with the ejector shroud. 4" (which that is indeed) was common among those. The serial numbers were in the same sequence so you have to look at the shroud to know - I should have asked that first time around.

Nice looking gun with original finish and some vintage faux mother-of-pearl stocks it appears. So what you have is a "S&W .44 3rd model Hand Ejector," circa late 1920s I believe. A nice shootin' iron; on my short list of "wants."

[Jim Watson]

A very handsome .44 Special.
But the grips are pearl, not ivory.
That's ok, George Patton is long gone, even though Internet Historians love to quote him on the subject.

[czechtx]

An absolutely beautiful vintage piece.
That is quite a gem, and a real "shooter", too!
Shoot it and enjoy it, knowing that you have a true classic.

[Lenley]

Thanks for the help guys, I own some newer firearms but the older ones are a bit of a challenge for me to identify. I had been looking for a nice revolver carry gun for walks in the woods, this .44 Special may be just the ticket.

[Jim K]

I have a couple of old guns with real pearl grips, and I am going to keep them even though I see this ghost with stars on his helmet hanging around.

Jim

[1KPerDay]

Very cool piece. Congrats.

[broknprism]

Patton's opinions notwithstanding, I love pimp grips. Some of the deadest bad guys in the 19th century American west were taken down by Colts with pearl grips. Pity they're fragile.

[Rossabo]

Hey there!

Nice gun! My dad inherited a 1st model .44 Special from my great Uncle. I posted it on here for appraisal and got some good information. Here's the thread- hopefully it will inform you as well.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=4611252&posted=1#post4611252