Posted: 11/3/2007 6:14:35 PM EDT
I have a .44 special smith and wesson revolver that was my great uncles. I know nothing about it, not age, worth or model About the only thing I would like to do besides shoot it, is to get some nice wood grips instead of the hollow plastic fake stag. Thanks for the help, Polytech |
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Thats a great looking pistol.I wouldn't change anything about it! Maybe the original grips felt like crap for your Great Uncle. You could go to a gunshow and buy the originals for about 75.00 or more and put them on ,and find out they feel like shit! Then you and your grand Uncle will be one! Also 44 S&W cost more than .44REM MAG per fifty rounds. I like it! Bob 
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That is definately a second model hand ejector, you can tell by the un-shrouded ejector rod. That means it came after the 'triple lock' (1st Model hand ejector), doing away with the lock at the front of the crane. This is an N-frame gun, square butt, meaning grips for any model Square-Butt N frame like the M29, M25, M27, etc will fit. Awesome gun, I am jealous!!! .44 special is an awesome caliber, it's the reason I started reloading. |
Yep, definately a 2nd model. They are great guns! I bet it's a reall shooter. If you don't load .44 Special, I think that Black Hills makes some good ammo for it. It's an older gun, so no hot rodding. Elmer Keith did, but if he blew one up, he could go buy another one brand new; we don't have that luxury now! It should shoot very well with a 250gr SWC over a decent dose of Unique or 2400. The originl grips should be the skinny type that just fill in the half circle at the top of the grip opening. Like these: If you can't find any originals, I think Eagle Grips makes some repros. They also make some fine looking wood grips that would add to teh beauty and shootability of your Great Uncles gun. Let us know how she shoots! Doug K |
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Nice old Smith. In general, N-frames have skyrocketed in price - but given the condition of yours, I doubt its worth a lot. Plus the 2nd model’s lack of an ejector rod shroud makes them less desirable than other N-frames. And not having the original grips hurts. Note that original grips in good shape are really expensive - and aren’t very comfortable. Also, pretty obviously the ejector rod is wrong. Note the small steps in the barrel just to the rear of the ejector rod lug – the original ejector rod had a good sized cone-shaped button that fit into those steps. My 3rd edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson lists 2nd model H.E.’s in fair condition at $325. That’s strikes me as low. I have seen similar S&W’s in like condition at gunshows for a lot more money than that, but I don’t think they were selling. Still, if you hang on to it, the value is certain to go up. And all of the above notwithstanding, that is defiantly a very nice revolver!! ETA: The crane probably has a very small detent and spring that holds the cylinder in an open position during loading and unloading. If you remove the crane, take care not to lose those. That said, there’s a good chance they’ve already been lost. |
Pretty much anywhere. Search gunbroker or Numrich for square butt N frame grips. |