The Eel's Hips for a Big Six - Fitz Special

[ancientnoob]

I had been looking for a Fitz for many moons. I have even toyed with the idea of having the Fitz configurations done to a Police Positive Special, Official Police or a New Service. I have never been able to do it and looking back I probably would never end up getting it done. It just seems wrong to beat one up quite like that.

So I had located one and well I started doing all sortsa google searching and there it was, My exact firearm, serial number and all, in a Youtube video. This channel Forgotten Weapons featured it in (at the time) upcoming Rock Island Auction Company auction. I wondered how much more valuable does the video feature make it? If at all?

I am also interested in the ballistics of this gun. Outside of the doing the chrono myself, I am curious what sort of physics I could get off of this. I could find no such data on the .44-40 in a barrel this short. It is obvious that this firearm configuration is more than suitable for social work. I would assume 225 gr projectile traveling around 800FPS(maybe less.) I wonder if one could work up an exceptional load for such a gun.

Check out the vid.


Some Pics!




Manufacturer: Colt (1933)
Model: New Service
Caliber: .44 Winchester Centerfire (.44-40)
Finish: Bright Nickel
Action: SA/DA
Modifications: Bobbed Hammer, Open Trigger, Barrel cut to 2", sight reattached, Grip Frame shortened. Custom Walnut grips
Weight: Heavy as Hell.
Roll Marks: Hartford CT USA JUNE 3 1900 JULY 4 1905 / NEW SERVICE 44-40

 

[Gordon]

WOW! I don't like the trigger guard cut away, for a few reasons and sold the New Service 44-40 one I had 40 years ago pretty quickly (for $400!) but yours is pretty and very close to an original Fitz configuration. Ususally they rounded the butt a bit when shortened and mine was "weighted" under the grips.

 

[ancientnoob]

@Gordon
You know bud, I think you could be on to something. I have not taken the grips off to see what was done. I will have to do that and post some photos.

 

[captain awesome]

Thanks for sharing. That video is really interesting.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I wonder if I'm the only one initially looking for the before/after F(l)itz pictures.

Funny that in optimizing *concealability* or carry-ease that he did not go with a round-butt.

Imagine having one of those with a Colt-letter.

Todd.

 

[ancientnoob]

I wonder if I'm the only one initially looking for the before/after F(l)itz pictures.

Todd.

I wonder too. It was was nickeled long ago, and yellowing in spots. I would assume the gun started life blue as both are but there are some in nickel but I don’t think this was one. I would assume it had a 5.5-7.5” barrel and a standard shaped grip frame at birth.

 

[ancientnoob]

Alright check it out. Finally got around to getting the grip off.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Alright check it out. Finally got around to getting the grip off.
View attachment 879331 View attachment 879332 View attachment 879333 View attachment 879334

So then - it was shortened but not necessarily rounded.... Interesting.

Todd.

 

[Gordon]

Alright check it out. Finally got around to getting the grip off.
View attachment 879331 View attachment 879332 View attachment 879333 View attachment 879334

mine had lead poured into the lower triangle of the grip below mainspring and had rounded profile shorter and checkered grips. So if you hit someone with the butt they got steel contact point. The grip did have a square bottom like yours, just flush bottom grips.

 

[Jim Watson]

Strange to shorten the grip straps and then add the savings back with wrap-under stocks.

 

[Gordon]

Your gun sure seems Identical to the one in the video !

 

[ancientnoob]

Your gun sure seems Identical to the one in the video !

It is the one in the video! I checked the closed auction and the serial number matches.

 

[ancientnoob]

Strange to shorten the grip straps and then add the savings back with wrap-under stocks.

Thought the same. But they took a lot off and only added back a little bit. Interesting.

 

[gotboostvr]

Strange to shorten the grip straps and then add the savings back with wrap-under stocks.

It's possible those were it's "range" grips once upon a time and had smaller grips for carry.

 

[whatnickname]

Way cool. Wish that revolver could talk. Bet it could tell you some interesting stories.

 

[jonnyc]

Still looking for an S&W, but I did convert a Colt into a pseudo-Fitz.

 

[ancientnoob]

Still looking for an S&W, but I did convert a Colt into a pseudo-Fitz.View attachment 879426 View attachment 879427

There is one on GB.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/848843325

 

[Speedo66]

Interesting from a historical viewpoint, but personally I would find it inherently unsafe.

 

[Gordon]

Still looking for an S&W, but I did convert a Colt into a pseudo-Fitz.View attachment 879426 View attachment 879427

That will work !

 

[Jim Watson]

Why chop up a Smith? In the first place, it is not historically connected, Mr Fitzgerald worked for Colt. In the second place, there has to be a lump left over the cylinder stop spring hole. Uglier than ever. I once saw a picture of a pair of N-target (Outdoorsman or .44 Target) with 6.5" barrels and the trigger guards cut out. What ruination.

I wish I still had the old article by Frank DeHaas who went the other way on a 1917. As I recall, he cut the front strap at the juncture with the frame and bent it down to the middle of the trigger guard, welded solid. This gave a grip frame the shape that stock guns have to have filler grips or grip adapters for. He also scratch built adjustable sights of the old elevation front, windage rear pattern, but of his own design, both simpler and sturdier.

 

[1KPerDay]

I think they’re cool as hell and have no problems with anyone making one from any pistol they choose. Especially a beat-to-hell model in ready supply.

And IMO an exposed trigger with a 9-10 lb long stroke DA pull is safer than a striker fired pistol with a short 4 lb break and no safeties like a P320 and the like.

If you like old hot rods, you gotta love the Fitz.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you are tough, cut the trigger guard off a 1911 like Lone Wolf Gonzaullas.

 

[jonnyc]

My Colt already had the short barrel on it, so I didn't feel like I ruined anything. I saw a Smith 1917 with a similar treatment (full trigger guard) and it was really beautiful. Looking for a down-in-the-mouth Smith to cut and remodel.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

My Colt already had the short barrel on it, so I didn't feel like I ruined anything. I saw a Smith 1917 with a similar treatment (full trigger guard) and it was really beautiful. Looking for a down-in-the-mouth Smith to cut and remodel.

1917s, Victories and Lend-Leases from Colt and S&W have a long and interesting history of being; bobbed, cut, *melted* and otherwise customized.

Some of my favorites are the *Plain Clothes* .38s modified in the U.K. during and after the war.

Todd.

 

[Jim Watson]

Geoffrey Boothroyd (Basis for Q in the Bond movies, under his own name in the books.) had fun cutting up a BSR after the war. As I recall, he chopped the trigger guard, rounded the butt, reamed the cylinder and plated it.