Is there such a revolver?

[Kestrel]

Maybe I'm forgetting a model that's out there, but here is what I would like...

I would like a revolver like the S&W (58?). I would like a 4" barrel, fixed sights and in a large caliber - preferably in .44 special or .45LC. (Not interested in .41mag). .44 magnum would be great. The fixed sight option is the glitch, it seems.

Oh - and I'm wanting it to be a little older, if it's a Smith. Don't want an internal key-lock.

Does anyone know of such a gun? I would be open to a Ruger, but I don't think they have any large bore, fixed sight guns.

I kind of picture this as something similar to a model 65, but big bore (and largere frame).

Thanks, if anyone has any ideas.

Steve

 

[Preacherman]

Buy a Model 29 or 629, and replace the rear sight with one of these. They work like a charm!

 

[sm]

IIRC the Model 24 was .44spl blue and wood.

 

[Kestrel]

PM - Hmm... Those might be an idea. I was hoping for the looks of the factory fixed sights, though.

sm - Does the M24 have fixed sights? If so, that sounds like what I'm looking for.

Steve

 

[Majic]

M24s were target revolvers and had adjustable rears. There was a run of M629 with fixed sights, but they were 3 inchers.

 

[Brian Williams]

There were a few Lew Horton runs of 629's with fixed sights and 3" barrels. There was one at a local shop, nice guns would be very handy for CCW.

 

[Old Fuff]

If money is no object you can have what you want, but to be honest I think you'll find that you don't want it that bad. A number of custom pistolsmith convert model 58 S&W revolvers to larger calibers by either reboring and rifling the barrel, installing a barrel liner or replacing the barrel with a modified model 57 barrel, which will give you the larger underlug. Following the barrel modification the cylinder is simply reamed for the larger chambers. I have seen conversions in .44 Special, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt.

 

[BluesBear]

Bowen will convert a Redhawk to a fixed sight.

It is a bit pricey though.

 

[WheelMan]

What else is done to that besides the fixed sights? It looks like the "Ruger Warning" is gone and maybe that's a lanyard loop I see.

It would take a whole lot of fixins get me to buy a 400 dollar revolver for 3000 dollars.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know how much you want to spend, but you can still buy a pretty fair condition .44 Hand Ejector for under $700. The Triple Lock will run quite a bit more for one in good shape, but sometimes even those show up at reasonable prices if less than fine condition. You can also pick up a .38-44 and have S&W install a .44 barrel and ream the cylinder.

Jim

 

[Kestrel]

Jim,

You raised a very interesting idea. I was looking through my Sixguns (Elmer Keith) book the other day and saw a Smith .44-40 Heavy Duty model. I liked the looks of that. Would this be a good choice for a .44 special conversion? Is the bore diameter the same for .44-40 and .44 special? Would the chambers just need to be altered or the cylinder replaced?

Thanks.

By the way, Blues Bear. That picture looks great! That would be ideal for me in .44 mag., but $3,000??? Good grief! What could have been done to that revolver to cost $3,000? That a real interesting concept, though.

Steve

 

[BluesBear]

A S&W Hand Ejector Heavy Duty in .44/40 would be pre-war and is uncommon enough to be considered rare. You have to replace the cylinder since the .44/40 had the same head size as a .45 Colt.

Finding a good post war Model 21 fixed sight .44 special might be tough too. They only made1200 made between 1950 and 1966.

If it was me and I had to have a fixed sight .44 special I would find a well worn Model 58 (shudder) or Model 20 and have it rechambered and rebored. You can still find Model 20s at reasonable prices.

If you decide to go the Model 20 route let me know. I have a nice Model 58 .41 magnum barrel for sale.

 

[aryfrosty]

Big bores

The suggestion about .44-40 is a good one. If you don't want to go the re-boring route. You can still get ammo and components for it and you can still luck up on a good one. I found a very nice Colt New Service in that caliber. Hefty rascal. I had it checked over VERY carefully and only use factory loads and I trust implicitly. As an aside, HKS speedloaders for a S&W M-29 work very well with it. I still have it...although my Dad is "keeping" it for me. He likes it too.
My favorite carry gun is my S&W M-696... .44 spl and 3" bbl. I know you don't want adjustable sights but this one makes having them worth while.
I continue to be happily amazed at the nice things one can find at gun shows. Keep looking.