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Post by squawberryman on Nov 24, 2022 8:09:43 GMT -5
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 24, 2022 8:13:50 GMT -5
I've posted before that my S&W Knowledge is lacking.
But, I know enough to see a true treasure when I see one.
Beautiful piece of craftsmanship and I look forward to learning more...
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Post by kevshell on Nov 24, 2022 8:34:24 GMT -5
The first S&W 44 Mag that I handled was my step dad's "44 Magnum" (Pre-29). I loved that gun. Phenomenal trigger, honest patina from being carried hunting and my first shot with a big bore. The grips were not the fat bottomed things they put on later revolvers. I didn't know what I held at the time. And it was the revolver I judged all others against for a long time.
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Post by dobegrant on Nov 24, 2022 9:22:04 GMT -5
wow that is incredible, what a treasure
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wpeel
.30 Stingray
Posts: 196
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Post by wpeel on Nov 24, 2022 9:25:06 GMT -5
Beautimous
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Post by blackmamba on Nov 24, 2022 10:09:36 GMT -5
As kevshell says, the first 29s came after the simply "44 magnum," otherwise known as the "pre-29s." At one time I owned a pre-29 6½" that was authoritatively dated to March of 1957, so your revolver was most likely made in late '57 or early '58. Someone should come along with a copy of Roy Jinks' book and be able to date it more accurately for you.
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Post by needsmostuff on Nov 24, 2022 10:35:36 GMT -5
Beautiful gun but I think you are misreading the ser# getting bad dates. My book thinks the first "model marked guns came in at aprox. ser# S17000 which would indicate his second number to be a 9. Model marked as 29 no dash guns started in 1957 and became dash 1 in 1962. An easier to read ser# can be found under the grips at the bottom of the grip frame. Hard to tell from the picture but the grips MAY be a later rendition of the vaulted "coke bottle" grips and deserve a careful study of their own. YUP! The more I look at them the more I think they are. Again , beautiful gun!
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Post by blackmamba on Nov 24, 2022 10:47:08 GMT -5
I was doing some more research and must agree with needsmostuff, the second number has to be a 9, which puts your gun from late 1958 to early 1959. It sure is a beauty!
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Post by bradshaw on Nov 24, 2022 11:00:43 GMT -5
S&W .44 Mag * 5-screw----4 sideplate screws + 1 screw to secure spring-loaded plunger for cylinder stop.
* 4-screw----3 sideplate screws + 1 screw to secure spring-loaded plunger for cylinder stop.
* 3-screw----3 sideplate screws. David Bradshaw
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Post by pattontime on Nov 24, 2022 12:19:18 GMT -5
I own a pre-29 four-screw gun with a Roy Jinks factory letter, mine shipped in October 1957 and I had always heard that to be the year they went to Model numbers, AKA Model 29. So, as the other poster had said, likely very late like December 1957, which I would be jealous of as that's my birth month, or later. The number of screws, mentioned by Mr. Bradshaw can also pin it down, a factory letter is best although I guess they are really backed up, I have heard Mr. Jinks may not doing them anymore, someone else may have taken over, due to his health
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Post by blackmamba on Nov 24, 2022 12:47:11 GMT -5
There was actually a year or so overlap between the 5-screw and 4-screw frames, as they just pulled them willy nilly from inventory. I have seen 5-screws with higher serial numbers than my 4-screw pre-29 had.
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Post by strawhat on Nov 24, 2022 13:09:20 GMT -5
The 44 Magnum was introduced in late 1955 so you can rule out the 1954 date.
Kevin
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akray
.30 Stingray
"Alaska is what the Wild West was"
Posts: 388
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Post by akray on Nov 24, 2022 14:54:22 GMT -5
My friend's dad had one of these early Smith & Wesson 44s with the 8 3/8" barrel. Back when I was young I thought I was buying accuracy via the long tube so I carried a stainless clunker around on my early outdoors adventures. I've thought about it many times and I should have realized Dirty Harry was just a movie, the Smith & Wesson wasn't the best 44 going and I should have gone practical instead of prideful. I could have had a 5 1/2" Redhawk that would have served me a lot better.
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Post by taffin on Nov 24, 2022 15:00:49 GMT -5
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Post by mike454 on Nov 24, 2022 16:20:37 GMT -5
Here's mine which is a pre 29. shipped in Februray 1957
No model number because it predates S&W's giving this gun the model number 29.
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