In House Shipping:
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model, 5-Screw, Square Butt N-Frame
Serial Number: 25605
Year of Manufacture: 1926 (reference Factory Letter)
Caliber: .44 Special
Action Type: Double Action / Single Action, 6-Shot Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver
Barrel Length: 6 1/2” Pinned, with non-shrouded ejector rod.
Sights / Optics: The service sights consist of a forged round blade front sight with a notch rear sight cut into the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut Service stocks with “smooth diamonds” around the grip screw escutcheons. They are marked by pencil inside the right grip panel matching the revolver. There are no compressions or draglines. There are a few tiny scratches on the bottom of the panels. The checkering is strong. The butt of the grip frame has the uncommonly found lanyard swivel, most likely ordered by the railroad company for their security guards. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good Condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is some light fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are some little nicks and a few small hairline scratches. There is a spot where corrosion was cleaned near the cylinder latch. There is a thin turn line not through the finish on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder produces light side to side movement. The double action trigger pull is smooth, the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a Smith & Wesson factory letter stating this revolver was shipped to Bruce Stout, The B&O Rail Road Co., Willard, Ohio on March 9, 1926. The Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad, which began in 1830, was the oldest railroad in the United States, and in operation for well over a century. The railroad was founded to serve merchants from Baltimore who sought to do business with settlers crossing the Appalachian Mountains. The B&O Railroad became so synonymous with American industrial might that it earned a coveted spot in the Parker Brothers board game “Monopoly” when it was released in 1935.
Our Assessment: The name Smith & Wesson has been synonymous with finely crafted American made firearms since 1852. In 1907, Smith & Wesson introduced the .44 Hand Ejector 1st Model, often called the “New Century” or “Triple Lock”. It was the first side-swing cylinder handgun in S&W’s .44 Hand Ejector series, and marked the introduction of the .44 Special cartridge, the predecessor of .44 Magnum. After a number of years, Smith & Wesson felt that the price of the “New Century” was too expensive, so they eliminated the ejector rod shroud and the third lock to reduce the price. The result was the .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model, with 34,624 made over its production run from 1915-1937.
This Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model was made in 1926 and is in Excellent Condition. It features a 6.5” barrel, 97% of its gleaming, factory original nickel finish, with some fairly vibrant case coloring on the checkered hammer and smooth trigger, elegant, serial-matching two-piece checkered walnut Service grips with “smooth diamonds” around the grip screw escutcheons, service sights, solid mechanics, a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion (only some light fouling in the grooves), and a Smith & Wesson factory letter stating it was shipped to Bruce Stout, The B&O Rail Road Co., Willard, Ohio on March 9, 1926. The Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad, which began in 1830, was the oldest railroad in the United States, and in operation for well over a century. The railroad was founded to serve merchants from Baltimore who sought to do business with settlers crossing the Appalachian Mountains. The B&O Railroad became so synonymous with American industrial might that it earned a coveted spot in the Parker Brothers board game “Monopoly” when it was released in 1935. This revolver looks exquisite considering its age, and is deserving of a spot in a high-end Smith & Wesson collection.