smith & wesson 1950 45 acp target

trader1000

November 08, 2011 01:17

Have a 1950 45 acp with target hammer and trigger.

shoots good and is in good shape.

barrel is pinned and light weight.

serial number is: S 109 yada yada yada.

Apparently made in 1954

Square butt and has some numbers under the swing pin area, but are NOT the serial number or Model.

Have not seen one like it anywhere.

Any one who knows anything about this one please reply.

Thanks in advance.

trader

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  perry shooter

  November 08, 2011 01:25

  First target model in 45 ACP later became the model 25 These are very nice quality pistols

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  RCrosby

  November 08, 2011 02:14

  Sounds like the twin to my .44 Special. A beautiful revolver, for sure. Not sure why you would be, but if you're interested I have a front sight (originally Patridge style) that was "ramped" with red insert added. Your's for the asking if you can use it. Hard to find front sights for that model anymore. Look like some of the later versions but aren't.

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  charliemeyer007

  November 08, 2011 04:22

  It is an N frame. If you can find them 45 Auto Rim will function without the half moon clips. I never tried the two round or the full moon ones.

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  Hawk Carse

  November 08, 2011 04:45

  The 1950 Target .45 with tapered barrel (became the Model 26 in 1957) is much less common than the 1955 Target .45 with heavy barrel aka Model 25. Assuming good condition, you have a jewel. I would not modify it or do anything to beat it up, but shooting is not going to hurt it, it was made for frequent regular use.
  
  The non-serial number markings are "assembly numbers" used to keep things straight at the factory before a serial number was applied. They don't mean anything to a finished gun in the hands of a customer and cannot be used to date or trace the gun that I have ever heard of.
  
  
  quote:Some have a W shaped hammer spring.
  
  There is also a U shaped mainspring.
  They gave smooth light operation and eliminated the strain screw and rebound spring. Elmer Keith said that made trigger return sluggish so he put a clipped rebound spring in his. I have read of misfires with the soft "alphabet" springs which may be why they did not stay with them.

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  Laredo Lefty

  November 08, 2011 08:08

  trader..... I have an identical revolver, 1950 .45 Target Model. Very nice gun, but kicks a bit with 230 gr ball and the light barrel. I also have a 1955 Target with the heavy barrel. Your ser # should have an "S" prefix. These were made from 1950 to 1961 overlaping into the model number range of guns that began in 1957.

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  Doc

  November 08, 2011 08:21

  Some have a W shaped hammer spring. Impresses collectors to have it.
  
  Yes, the 1950 became the Model 26. The M25 was the same gun with the heavy barrel.

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  trader1000

  November 08, 2011 18:53

  Thank you all for the great replies.
  The serial number DOES have the s prefix (it is in the Orig Post)
  I have shot it without the moonclips with just regular acp brass.
  works good.
  This one was apparently made in the year of my birth, so it is a keeper. No selling this one.
  Sure do appreciate the reply explaining the numbers under the cylinder swing pin part.
  As I stated she is not the best looker, but she is in good shape.

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  wundudnee

  November 08, 2011 20:38

  Some say they're not as accurate as the heavy barreled model 25s, but if you find the ammunition it likes they will shoot pretty well. You don't see many come up for sale and when they do they can be real pricey. Most of them are finished in a matt blue, however there were some shipped with gloss blue. Here is mine, it's one, if not my favorite revolvers.
  
  
  
  

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  trader1000

  November 09, 2011 03:30

  Here are a few pics of the lady:
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  Hawk Carse

  November 09, 2011 03:47

  We have been off in the wrong direction.
  I assumed that a target hammer and trigger automatically meant target sights; but it didn't.
  This is really a 1950 Army, descendant of the 1917, instead of a 1950 Target which has adjustable sights.
  The target trigger and hammer are unusual on a fixed sighted gun but S&W made them available on about any model or they were sold separately for upgrades.

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  trader1000

  November 09, 2011 04:16

  This explains why I have not seen one like it. NO hole in the butt of the revolver that the 1917 would have.
  
  
  
  So now I am stumped. The serial number is what it is.
  
  I looked on this site:
  
  http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356710
  
  and saw this for the serial number.
  S103,000 - S139,999..Late 1954 - Early 1955*
  
  So do I shoot the thing or put in the safe ?

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