Model 1950, 45 ACP Target Revolver

StrawHat

StrawHat

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
5,627
Location
NE Ohio
As many know, I really enjoy the S&W 45 ACP revolver. I have a “few”. Recently, I was offered a Model 1950 and passed. The owner did not know when it left the factory but with a little digging I found it left Springfield in July 1955, just four months after I left the mothership. I let the owner know and he posted it for sale on another forum. My good wife heard of this and reminded me I was looking for a birth year revolver. “Correct, but I am seeking a Model 1955 from 1955. A small discussion started and after some persuasion I contacted the owner with the simple words, “I will take it.”

IMG_8560.jpeg
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I found a grip adapter and added it,

IMG_8565.jpeg

Magnas with a grip adapter are my favorite combination for shooting.

The Model 1950 was built from 1950 until 1961 but only 2768 were built making it one of the less produced standard model revolvers. (More of the K32s were built.).

I am fortunate in the this is my second of this model. The top one, with the shiny grip adapter is the July 1955 version. The bottom revolver, with the black GA, is from February, 1956.

IMG_8570.jpeg
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I like smooth elk magnas and happened to have these in my stock drawer. Not had a chance to shoot the new one but will post about it when it happens.

Thanks for looking!

Kevin
 
Mark_Mark said:
that rib on top is very classy! gives it a nice look!
Click to expand...
I believe S&W has used that rib since 1935 when it was first used on the 357 S&W Magnum revolver. It was also used on other N frame Target revolvers. The Target revolvers also had grooved back straps and fore straps. Triggers were grooved and hammer had a wider, checkered thumb pad.

IMG_8571.jpeg

Kevin
 
Outstanding find, Straw....I've been looking for one of those skinny bbl'd 1950 Targets for most of my adult life. Congratulations. Here's my 1955 with the fat tube for comparison, with my skinny bbl'd M-24 .44 Spl. (Neither is wearing the factory supplied stocks however) Best Regards, Rod


​
 
Rodfac said:
Outstanding find, Straw....I've been looking for one of those skinny bbl'd 1950 Targets for most of my adult life. Congratulations.
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Thank you, Rod. It takes some luck to stumble onto them. And they are rarely inexpensive. I have been fortunate, finding the first one and speaking to the owner. He was a “competitive shooter” and shot it, a lot.
Rodfac said:
Here's my 1955 with the fat tube for comparison, with my skinny bbl'd M-24 .44 Spl. (Neither is wearing the factory supplied stocks however) Best Regards, Rod


​
Click to expand...
The difference between the two is seen in the barrels,

IMG_0445.jpeg

But the feel in the hand is very different. The Model 1950 balances, well centered in the hand, and handles like an extension of my arm. The heavier Model 1955 is markedly balanced toward the muzzle. Almost enough to need a conscious effort to maintain a sight picture.

Funny, before I got a Model 1950, I would compete in non-registered PPC matches and never noticed how muzzle forward the Model 1955 was! Maybe this summer, I will use the two side by side and compare them.

A group shot, 1950s on top, with the 1955s on the bottom. Both short revolvers ones I built or assembled.
IMG_7288.jpeg

Kevin
 
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StrawHat said:
Thank you, Rod. It takes some luck to stumble onto them. And they are rarely inexpensive. I have been fortunate, finding the first one and speaking to the owner. He was a “competitive shooter” and shot it, a lot.

The comparison between the two is seen in the barrels,

View attachment 1200395

But the feel in the hand is very different. The Model 1950 balances, well centered in the hand, and handles like an extension of my arm. The heavier Model 1955 is markedly balanced toward the muzzle. Almost enough to need a conscious effort to maintain a sight picture.

Funny, before I got a Model 1950, I would compete in non-registered PPC matches and never noticed how muzzle forward the Model 1955 was! Maybe this summer, I will use the two side by side and compare them.

A group shot, 1950s on top, with the 1955s on the bottom. Both short revolvers ones I built or assembled.
View attachment 1200396

Kevin
Click to expand...
I have a Colt 1917 .45 ACP coming in. But someone replaced the sights in the 50’s or 60’s. But it will be a fun shooter!
 
Why, Kevin, I never knew you had a penchant for the .45 ACP revolve! :rofl::rofl:

I've owned a few .45 ACP revolvers myself, mostly Colt M1917s, and only one Smith, a Model 625. Now all my ACPs aare Rugers with auxilliary cylinders. And mostly these are fired with my .45 Xtra Short cartridges.

Always enjoy yore posts! Glad you are here.

Bob Wright

You were born in 1955???
 
I had a minty M25 Target, in a presentation case. Like a complete moron, I sold it. Dammit.
Did get a 25-15, in .45 Colt, as a sort of replacement.
Strawhat, I'm green, and it's not something left from St. Patrick's celebrations. Beautiful revos!
Moon
 
Jim Watson said:
A friend came upon a couple of 1950 barrels which he put on .357 frames and had the cylinders rechambered to .45 LC. He had the short nosed Keith .45 mould so he could keep loaded OAL within cylinder length. As said, very well balanced revolvers.
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I have some barrels kept as spares also.

IMG_6650.jpeg

You never know whan a spare frame, or a really good deal, might show up!

Kevin
 
BobWright said:
Why, Kevin, I never knew you had a penchant for the .45 ACP revolve! :rofl::rofl:

I've owned a few .45 ACP revolvers myself, mostly Colt M1917s, and only one Smith, a Model 625. Now all my ACPs aare Rugers with auxilliary cylinders. And mostly these are fired with my .45 Xtra Short cartridges.

Always enjoy yore posts! Glad you are here.

Bob Wright

You were born in 1955???
Click to expand...
Yeah, Bob, the ACP revolver and I go back a ways. One of my first experiences with a handgun was a shortened 1917. That lead me to shorten one when I started wearing a badge. I have a SAA clone that I fitted with an ACP cylinder. That was forty years ago, plus or minus, and I have ne ver removed it! I just recently rebound the long Colt cylinder for it.

halfmoonclip said:
I had a minty M25 Target, in a presentation case. Like a complete moron, I sold it. Dammit.
Did get a 25-15, in .45 Colt, as a sort of replacement.
Strawhat, I'm green, and it's not something left from St. Patrick's celebrations. Beautiful revos!
Moon
Click to expand...
Dave DeLaurant said:
Envy! Beautiful revolvers.

I've a brace of Brazilian 1917s but you've got me beat for sure.
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Moon and Dave,

It is not a race!

I have been collecting various firearms for nearly six decades. Specializing in S&W ACP revolvers for almost forty years. I have more than a few that range in age from 1918 right through 2008.

Some were mentioned in this thread,

S&W Model of 1917 vs 22-4 “Thunder Ranch”

Not knowledgeable about Smith & Wesson double action revolvers, as this post will demonstrate. I have however hankered after a 45acp revolver and always liked the looks of the 1917s. But I very recently came across the “Thunder Ranch” S&W. I’m a little confused. There seems to be a, what I...
www.thehighroad.org

I really enjoy the cartridge but do not like self loading pistols. So, when I found out about and shot my first 1917, it was like magic!

Kevin
 
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Jim Watson, Bob, Moon, Straw....you guys are killin' me. Spare barrels to beat all !!! Rechambering to .45 Colt, whoda thought...(and maybe in a 5" length if the planets all aligned)! There just isn't enough time left for me to do it all...so you young guys better take note; don't pass up on a fair deal that's offered. You may never see it again.

That pic that I posted of my M-24 and the 1955 Tgt got me to thinking and doing a little back-checking on their history with me.

The M-24 .44 Special was no problem as my #1 son gave it to me as a Christmas present many years ago. He's 51 now, and the gift was to cover my loss of my 1st M-24 to him when he was 9 or 10. I've told the story here before, but the punch line for those who "missed out" was, "never bet your shiny blue Smith .44 against a dead shot 10 year old holding his Christmas Marlin Mountie". He still has that .44...it was clean, freshly oiled and plainly displayed on his loading bench when we visited for his birthday last April.

The 1955 Target was another story...I found it still in the case at Louisville's Nat'l Gun Day show tucked into a corner of Rick Crosier's table. It had all the accoutrements too. The year was 1988 and he asked and I paid the princely sum of $325 for it. Rick's gone now, RIP, but his gun's remains a treasured memento. Best regards, Rod
 
StrawHat said:
The Model 1950 was built from 1950 until 1961 but only 2768 were built making it one of the less produced standard model revolvers. (More of the K32s were built.).
Click to expand...

Wow, I did not it realize that the limited production of S&W 45 ACP target revolvers would be less than the K-32/Model 16-0 though -3 production runs.

I have a Model 25-2 made in the 1979-1980 time frame and am happy with it.

I gave up looking for a K-32 K-frame and bought a Manurhin MR32.

I admire your tenacity obtaining a S&W Model of 1950.

Enjoy your gems.
 
cfullgraf said:
Wow, I did not it realize that the limited production of S&W 45 ACP target revolvers would be less than the K-32/Model 16-0 though -3 production runs.

I have a Model 25-2 made in the 1979-1980 time frame and am happy with it.

I gave up looking for a K-32 K-frame and bought a Manurhin MR32.

I admire your tenacity obtaining a S&W Model of 1950.

Enjoy your gems.
Click to expand...
Yes, the Model 1950 Target revolver in 45 ACP was not a huge seller. There were even less sold in 45 long Colt.

The Model 1950 Army revolver, 45 ACP, fixed sights was introduced in 1951 and continued until 1966. There were 3976 made, more of the fixed sighted revolvers were sold than the 1950 Target. Of course, the introduction of the heavier barreled Model 1955 cut into the sales of the Model 1950 Target.

Kevin
 
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