.44 Spl 2nd Model Hand ejector

[Pistolero]

Picked up an old Smith & Wesson .44 Spl today, was wondering if anyone as a book with S&W
SNs that could find the birth date for this old girl. I am guessing about 1923, or maybe even a
year or two earlier, but that is just a guess based on a few guns that I know SNs and dates.

SN is 193XX. 6.5" bbl, fixed sights, very old real stag grips with really nice smooth polish
from use, the usual lanyard ring. Somebody has been shooting a lot of .44 Russian in it,
will be scrubbing out residue rings from the chambers next. Bore is bright and nice, exterior
is all patina. No pitting, but no real traces of blue left, either. Just a nice old shooter.

Bill

 

[Brad]

What is your preferred method of removing that pesky ring from the chambers?

 

[462]

Bill,

The ending number of 1922's production was 18400, and 1923's ending number was 19600. Your guesstimate of 1923 is spot on.

Michael

 

[Pistolero]

I just use Hoppe's and a brass brush, apply elbow grease as needed. I have never run
into one which was especially recalcitrant, but we will see how it does. Mostly I do this
on my .357s from shooting .38s. Never has been particularly difficult to remove, although
not trivial, either. Since this may have been in there for the better part of a century.....we will
see!

Well, cool on my age estimate! Thank you very much for that information!

Neat old girl, will get her cleaned up and see how she does with some 503s or 421s.
Throats pin gauged at .431, all the same - before I bought it - (having made that mistake
previously!) , so will start with Keith's at .431, probably start with 6 gr Unique, then 7.5 and
see how it does.

Bill

 

[Brad]

Try the 503 over 4.5 gr of Titegroup.
My 624 likes that load. Runs 725-750 FPS.

 

[Pistolero]

Thanks, I am ALWAYS up for a known good load!

I want to say again how much of a good time I had with you and your wife visiting.

Bill

 

[Brad]

We enjoyed it very much also.
Cabelas had a couple of Mod 17 on hand. One a 1950 and one a 1980. Both looked almost brand new.

 

[Pistolero]

If the 1950 price was reasonable, I would choose it over 1980, just based on the
quality issues that started to arise at S&W about that time. In 1950s the quality was
generally very high.

What did they want for them? IME M17/K-22s are NOT inexpensive guns, but they
are valuable training aids, and just nice to shoot. I'm betting they wanted at least
$700 or 800, well..... upon reflection on Cabela's pricing, that is probably low.

Bill

 

[Brad]

850 for the 1980 and 900 for the 1950.
Both in excellent shape from what I saw. Still cheaper than brand new.

 

[Pistolero]

Yes. Do your guys negotiate? I have been able to get some price reductions on
some purchases from the store here. But I know the guy who works in the Gun Library,
too. Not that we are super buddies or anything, more friend of a friend.

For only $50 difference, I'd be on the 1950 one like a chicken on a June Bug, if I
was buying one.

If it was me, I'd offer 8 on the '50 and let them drag me up to 850.

Bill

 

[freebullet]

They accepted offers from me, but they've also turned some down. I've heard they are going to stop taking offers & no more employee discounts on used guns, but don't know if that's true.

 

[fiver]

I use a little less titegroup then Brad under the 241 for a nice soft target load in the 44 special cases.

GM's top end cleaner is pretty good at removing carbon deposits, they are kind of proud of the stuff but it does the job.

 

[John]

S&W forum has some real experts with getting ship dates from serial numbers.

 

[Pistolero]

I had a chance to load and shoot with the old girl today, and I am pleased.
Looks like the Skeeter load with a HP is going to get tested some more, and the PP
load with the HP, too.




20 yds, sitting, but no back rest or pistol rest, so possibly can improve my stability.

But, this is good enough for any possible use that she might be put to. That 7.5 Unique shoots closest
to POA (6 o'clock hold on all of them) so is most interesting. I will try it with solids, too.

Not bad for a 95 year old gun with a shooter about 2/3 that old.

Bill

 

[oscarflytyer]

If I had to pick ONE load for 44 SPC that would be it.