S&W Revolvers

[Walkalong]

686-3

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

 

[cal44mag]

Here is my latest S&W Revolver purchase.

A Model 60-9. One of the earliest 357 Magnum J frames.

2.125" barrel Mag-na-ported.

 

[ilgac]

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Thie first pic is from last year, I have changed the grips on the 686 and the 360J. As they are now.

 

[Eddietruett]

I suspect you might be talking about my Smiths when you are talking about safe queens. While I admit that some of mine do not get shot, it is usually because ammunition for them is not made any more. And admittedly some of them are simply too old to be shot with modern ammo, like my Tip Ups and little Ladysmiths. These little guns are just not safe to shoot any more.

But I can assure you that many of them do get shot. This New Model Number Three only gets fired with Black Powder ammunition, I won't put Smokeless ammo through any of my antiques. Don't quite remember the story behind that flier.

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Here is my pair of new Model Number Threes all sooted up at the end of a CAS match.

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Firing the Nickle Plated NM#3 at a match after I first got it.

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Not a Smith and Wesson, but here is one of my Merwin Hulberts after its first trip to the range.

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Yours truly shooting the MH at a match.

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It was New Model Number Three and Merwin Hulbert day at that match.

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Here's something you don't see everyday. A S&W No 2 'Old Army' converted to shoot 22 rimfire ammo. One of my oldest guns, it was originally made in 1862.

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Sometime in the past it was sleeved to fire 22 Rimfire. Did I shoot it? You bet. Did I shoot it a lot? No. The Tip Up design is too delicate to shoot much. Even when they were new, the design was weak and they tended to shoot loose.

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Not a Smith and Wesson, but here is my Winchester Model 12 that gets fired every week at the trap fields at my club. It was made in 1948 so it's two years older than me. I have fired thousands of rounds through it. I've lost count of how many.

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This nifty little Stevens hammer double was probably made sometime around 1906 or so. It is my CAS Main Match shotgun and I have probably put a few thousand Black Powder rounds through it.

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Recoil with an old Colt.

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I guess I need to take more photos when I take an old gun to the range. This 8 3/8" Model 17 is very accurate.

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Do I shoot all my old guns? No. As I said, ammo is not made for some of them anymore, and some of them are simply too fragile.

Do I 'shoot the snot out of them'? No. Some of them are pretty valuable and I am trying to maintain some of that value.

But I sure as shootin' do shoot them.

I was not referring to anyone in particular that just the vast majority seemed to be shooters. I certainly hope you were not offended. I don't fault anyone for not shooting a gun for whatever reason. Its theirs to do with what they want. We are all different and that's why there are menus in restaurants. I've found that there are different ways to value a gun. Some like them to look at and show to their friends. Some keep them locked away for an investment. I'm in the group that finds the value by shooting them. None of us are any more right or wrong than the other. We all have our reasons for doing what we do. I respect a man who does with his guns what he wants to do, not what everyone thinks he should do. If the vast majority of gun owners were fortunate enough to own something like a Registered Magnum, they would hide it in the safe and only show it to close buddies. I'm different. I'd shoot it in a minute. If I could afford to own one, then I could afford any loss suffered by me enjoying it at the range. I don't worry about investment values down the road, mainly because I don't have anyone to leave my guns to who cares a rats ass about the collectability. They would be sold immediately. So I'm going to enjoy them. Also let me explain what I mean by the phrase I use a lot "shoot the snot out of it". I certainly don't mean abuse a gun. I have guns that have hundreds of rounds through them that most people would confuse for new. I probably clean and take care of my guns better than the vast majority of gun owners out there. What I mean is shoot them a lot and have fun. Don't go out and shoot 5 rounds just to see how it shoots. If you are going to take a gun out them give it a workout. Take care of it and clean it up. Simple as that.

 

[ontarget]

No photo but just picked up my first S&W today. It's a 10-6 N.Y. dept of corrections trade in. Can't wait to shoot it. The thing was/is filthy. I'm going to give it a careful cleaning before I take it out back for test drive.

 

[Riomouse911]

I'll add a few...

My latest, a 317.



A 17 6"



A 642


A nickel 49



A shoulder-holster worn 19 2.5"



13 3"



A bead-blasted 686+ that I carried in 2004-2005



My Great-Uncle's duty gun, an M&P that he retired with from LVPD from in 1965. Those are sterling silver grips with copper Mexican artwork.



A 629 Mountain Gun (The stencil is nearly worn off both sides of the barrel, I think the original owner used Flitz on it.)



And finally a 629 power-port 6.5".

I like S&W's. My next grail guns are a 4" 57, a K-38 Masterpiece and a 3" 36.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Love the silver grips on that M&P!

 

[Riomouse911]

Love the silver grips on that M&P!

They're really, really neat looking, and the copper inlays are well done and intricate. Sadly, they would be really slippery in a sweaty hand...how he held on to it in the Las Vegas heat I'll never know.

Stay safe!

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

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Is that one of those rare 3" barreled 642's that I hear about, but never see for sale?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Is that one of those rare 3" barreled 642's that I hear about, but never see for sale?

Yep, sure was , lol. I knew it was unusual when I saw it buried in the pawn shop case, so I snatched it up. Only afterwards did I learn that they are prone to frame cracks beneath the barrel, down the road it went- never got a chance to shoot it.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

Moving on to 38 caliber Hand Ejectors.

The 38 that started it all, the Model 1899. Notice the lack of an ejector rod latch at the front of the ejector rod. Difficult to see, but there is no screw in front of the trigger guard, so this model was the first 'four screw' K frame. This one shipped in October of 1899.






Model 1902 Target. Notice the underlug for latching the front of the ejector rod. Sorry, I have not dated it yet.






38 Military and Police from 1908.






38 M&P Target. The forerunner to the K-38 and the Model 14. Just as accurate as when it shipped from S&W in 1917.





I frame 38 Regulation Police from June of 1924. Five shots, 38 S&W.






38/44 Outdoorsman that shipped January 1933. the forerunner of the 357 Magnum and the Model 27.






One of my favorites, a well worn 38 Military and Police from June of 1939.






A couple of K-38s. The one with the funky fake stag horn grips shipped August 1957, the other one shipped July 1950. Those funky grips have really grown on me and I doubt I will ever replace them.






A really nice K-38 Combat Masterpiece I lucked into a few years ago. The forerunner to the Model 15. It shipped February of 1953.






With all the 38 M&Ps I have, I only have two Model 10s. This is one of them. Probably shipped around 1964. Best deal I ever got on a Smith, $125 out the door about 15 years ago. I have always assumed it was a police trade in because of what looks like a rack number stamped above the trigger guard.






A terrific Model 14-3 from 1974 that I lucked into a few years ago. Very well cared for over the years, it is spotless-like new, and super accurate.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

Yep, sure was , lol. I knew it was unusual when I saw it buried in the pawn shop case, so I snatched it up. Only afterwards did I learn that they are prone to frame cracks beneath the barrel, down the road it went- never got a chance to shoot it.

Bummer. Looks sweet.

 

[Pat Riot]

Top to bottom:
19-4
10-8 Hong Kong C&E
17-3
60 Pro
327 Night Guard (Brutus - nickname)
442-1
36-2



My “Cop Guns” - seen above. I don’t think the 19-4 or the 36-2 were actually carried by police as theee was no holster wear and the model 10 C&E revolver only had worn grips, which I think someone swapped out before the gun was returned to the states. Otherwise it was in excellent condition.


My carry guns. This 442-1 (from above) was my very first Smith & Wesson. I bought it in 1997 for my birthday. I actually rarely carry it in a holster and it usually rides in a special leather gun rug that I keep in my backpack or saddlebags. The RM380 gets knocked around.



Apologies for the lousy top photo. It’s the only one I have with all my S&W’s together. I am in the process of moving so I cannot take a decent photo right now.

My next S&W will probably be a 327 TRR8...or a 586...or a 1905...or something else I fall in love with...I do like the looks of the new model 19...

 

[Gordon]

Kinda of rare ones, I carried the .44 mostly and used the .38 as a trainer These guns were rather large for sneaky carry , even tho Scandium and TI light, the clip really reduced the bulk of the L frame. I got $2000 for the brace last year

 

[Gordon]

Last of my Jet Mags , the mount is quick detach with no modifications


Ive shot it and it shoots very well especially with those Leverlution pointy .45 Colt ammo

 

[Gordon]

A .455 triple Lock that was converted crudely to .45 Colt. I have since had a smith fix the crudeness leaving 90% of the original finish and I found a set of proper grips on Ebay , which don't feel as good as these magnas did

I had this old S&W box I bought two of and had to put these match stag gripped .32 and .44 Hand ejectors in it. They are going up on block soon as pictured only ! The .44 is a superb specimen from early 30s and the .32 is an accurate 1949 gun I liked so much I put the stags on and put away ! A 5" and 3"

 

[Gordon]

I carry the top 442 regularly , it's a keeper ! The lower old Chief special was family carried a bit by a deceased LEO relative and I have the Box and papers from 1960 !

I carried it's mate in blue in later 70s as a Govt. agent for a couple years . Those are Zebrawood Fuzzy Farrants and I won't be changing them or selling this gun in future . It was my BarBque in Salinas Sheriff's Posse in 80s . I love it !

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

View attachment 825332 Last of my Jet Mags , the mount is quick detach with no modifications
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View attachment 825333 Ive shot it and it shoots very well especially with those Leverlution pointy .45 Colt ammo

Wow, Love the M53! Do you reload for it or are you burning up a secret stash of .22 Jet?

I finally got my 57 out of layaway jail-

S&W went all out on this one, the bluing and polish are amazing!

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

44 Caliber Hand Ejectors

A very early 44 Hand Ejector 1st Model (Triple Lock), 44 Special. It shipped December of 1907. So early that they had not started marking them '44 S&W SPECIAL CTG' yet. Almost no blue left on it, and the checkering on the grips is almost nonexistent. So I got it for a song. Still locks up tight and shoots beautifully.






A Triple Lock Target, 44 Special. Shipped March, 1913.






A nickle plated Triple Lock from October 1915, 44 Special. A few blemishes on the finish but the grips are in very nice shape.






I had to get this one lettered to figure out what it actually is. It was sold as a 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model. Turns out it started out as a 455 Mark II Hand Ejector, 2nd Model. Shipped to Canada February, 1916. Has Canadian acceptance markings. At some point it made its way back into the US and was changed over to 44 Special at the factory.






44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model, 44 Special. Shipped April 1921.






44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model, 44 Special. Shipped 1929. A refinish, and not all that great a refinish. Grips are very worn. This one was carried by an officer in WWII, I got his very worn holster with it. I came across this at a local gunshow a bunch of years ago. I waited impatiently while another guy looked at it. As soon as he put it down I pounced. I really love this beat up old gun, the first S&W 44 I ever bought. Still shoots good.






44 Hand Ejector 4th Model Target. Shipped December 1955. Forerunner to the Model 24. I had been looking for a Model 24 for a long time, but they are scarce as hen's teeth. When I came across this 44HE 4th Model, I stopped looking for a Mod 24.






Into the modern era at last. Model 624, 44 Special. Shipped September, 1985. It originally had oversized target grips, but I swapped them out for a set of Magnas. Recoil is mlld with standard 44 Special loads so I did not feel the need for the bigger grips.






I'm really a 44 Special guy, never felt much need for a 44 Magnum. But one day I came across this nickel plated Model 29-2, so I figured what the heck. No, the 5" barrel is not original, it has been cut down from something longer. Probably shipped around 1967. Yeah, I've put a few boxes of 44 Mag though it, but I really don't like the kick and the muzzle blast, so I usually only fire it with 44 Specials. Just kind of felt the need to have a Model 29.

 

[Gordon]

Wow, Love the M53! Do you reload for it or are you burning up a secret stash of .22 Jet?

I finally got my 57 out of layaway jail-
I been reloading .22 Jet for 40 years but sold my 8 3'8 like new in presentation box with extra .22 cylinder in 91 when kids hit college and I got a divorce. I kept a beat old 6" in my jeep since 81 and still have it , prolly won't sell it as it is worn enough to not fetch a big price. I bought every box of .22 Jet I could find over the years if price was right. . I got this one about 10 years ago and scoped it and have inserts for it and shoot it once in a while at squirrels ect. A very fun gun but I own a 70s Model 48 8 3/8" .22 Rimfire mad that is much more accurate, actully astonishingly accurate and it with the new loads available has replaced the Model 53 in field use.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I looked at a five screw Smith yesterday . The barrel had been cut down to 2”. The front sight was done very nice. They were only asking $329. If it had a rough butt grip, I might have picked it up.

 

[Galil5.56]

How about my beloved no lock, firing pin on the hammer, 3" Model 60 in .38 Special. Was stolen about 6 years ago... I hope the perp pays for it one way or the other.





... Or a brace of N-frames:



I think my 1917 was placed in a time machine after being made in 1918, and it is a marvel of craftsmanship, tight as a vault, perfect timing... Simply a joy to see how well things could be made over 100 years ago with simple technology, that was well employed with care and dedication.

My 29 classic has been very good to me. Very accurate, really nice trigger, well finished, and lives up to the hype of the then new "endurance package" upgrade - I have fired A LOT of very top power handloads (24 gr WW296 w/ 240 gr JHPs/25 gr WW296 w/240 gr lead SWCs) and it keeps chugging along. Interesting that when I bought it in Germany in 1991, it had to go through the German proof system... Pretty neat seeing German/CIP stamps on it.

 

[Galil5.56]

View attachment 825334 A .455 triple Lock that was converted crudely to .45 Colt. I have since had a smith fix the crudeness leaving 90% of the original finish and I found a set of proper grips on Ebay , which don't feel as good as these magnas did

View attachment 825335 I had this old S&W box I bought two of and had to put these match stag gripped .32 and .44 Hand ejectors in it. They are going up on block soon as pictured only ! The .44 is a superb specimen from early 30s and the .32 is an accurate 1949 gun I liked so much I put the stags on and put away ! A 5" and 3"

Great taste in classic firearms, right up my alley. Something about 3" and 5" barrels on S&W revolvers... Just so proportioned, and 'look right'.

 

[Snake Plisskin]

My Model 60-4 3" .38 special