Page 293 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 495
Rare and Fantastic Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model Target “Wolf & Klar” Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter and Box - Serial no. 54727, 44 S&W special cal.,
6 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Also known as the Model 1926 Hand Ejector Pre- War, the .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model “Wolf & Klar” double action revolver was manufactured from 1926 to 1941. This model was usually available on special order only, not catalogued until
1940 and had a shrouded extractor barrel as
requested by the Fort Worth, Texas dealer Wolf
& Klar. Offered here is a rare target version with a
6 1/2 inch barrel. It has been estimated that fewer
than 100 were manufactured. The accompanying factory letter confirms the finish, barrel length, and Call gold bead front sight. It was shipped on November 15, 1940, and delivered to the Kennedy Brothers Arms Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota. The revolver has standard S&W markings, Magna grips, casehardened checkered humpback hammer and serrated trigger and matching serial numbers stamped on the butt, ejector shroud, cylinder and right grip panel. The assembly number “13282” is marked on the yoke and crane. Comes with two bore brushes and the original factory box properly numbered to the gun and hand marked “Target.”
CONDITION: Excellent plus. The revolver retains over 99% original blue finish showing a light cylinder drag line. 99% plus original
case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are near new with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine showing a few split corners and some minor edge wear. Most of the end label remains. A beautiful example of a very rare and factory documented boxed S&W .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model Target revolver with impeccable collection provenance that would be hard to improve upon.
Provenance: Lee Ingalls (Baldwinsville, NY; 1968), David Carroll (Birmingham, AL; 1983), Ray Cheely (Great Bend, KS; 1988) and Chad Gripp (2011) collections.
Estimate: 18,000 - 25,000
Collector’s Fact
The Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector 3rd Model Target "Wolf and Klar" double action revolver was manufactured from 1926 to 1941, but was usually available by special order only, and was not catalogued until 1940. Fewer than only 100 are believed to have been manufactured in this configuration.
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