For all of you who love these old pistols, check this out. It's a fairly uncommon variant of the 1st. mod. double action pistols which are so appreciated and collected. This is blued (of course), but it sport's 6-1/2" barrel as opposed to the more common 5" or 6". Of particular note are the after market grips. They are very nice walnut and totally unmarked but not, as far as I've been able to discover, from S&W. This one is in phenomenal condition. The bore is like a mirror with good strong rifling and the chambers in the cylinder match the bore in terms of condition. The frame and cylinder serials match but the barrel latch has a different number. I have to do more research, but it's possible that this started life as a target model but someone at some point took the target sights off and installed them on another pistol and put the standard rear and fore sights on this one. I'm in the process of getting the letter from the S&W Historical Foundation so it'll take a while but I'll have a better line on it's history. For now, just enjoy.
Unusual Smith & Wesson 1st. Model DA - .44 Russian
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
Someone did and excellent job on the grip! The larger size and extended butt are a plus. My only "criticism" on this model is the small grip. Someone else seems to have agreed... Is the barrel numbered to the gun? If it's the same number as the latch, someone changed them both out. Easier to do than changing just the latch. Maybe that's how it ended up 6 1/2 inches.
Where's the serial on the barrel?
DancesWithEmptyCasings
CGN Regular
- Location
- The Wet Coast
A very nice revolver
Actually, they're not plastic in most cases. There was an early rubber like compound call Gutta Percha and both Colt and Smith & Wesson used it on their grips. One test to see if the grips are original or plastic replacements is a hot pin. Find an unobtrusive place on the grips and touch it with a hot pin. If they're original grips you'll smell burning rubber.
