S&W 21-4

TheLastGoodFight · December 1, 2017, 01:36 PM

Time for someone to educate me.
Several of you old hands have owned and shot S&W in all its successes and all its failures. The pre-lock pinned & recessed days were way before my time so I came up in a world where everyone wants the old guns.

Fast-forward to today; I have a S&W model 21-4 in .44 special that I can't seem to put down. It has the heinous lock, but it's such a wonderful little pistol that I'm wondering why I don't hear about more guys shooting it, considering the love so many have for the .44 special.
The stocks are the work of Mr. Grashorn, complimented by Tyler T. Is there a reason the world doesn't seem to love this pistol like I do?

RickB · December 1, 2017, 01:44 PM

I have a Thunder Ranch 22-4, and while I don't have any trouble putting it down for long periods of time, I do really enjoy the times that I do shoot it.

I've owned S&W revolvers from the teens, the '20s, '50s, used to have one from the Lear Siegler days that were supposed to be S&W's darkest, and they've all been good guns.

Buckeye! · December 1, 2017, 01:53 PM

Thats a great looking revolver!!!!

jolly roger · December 1, 2017, 02:50 PM

I have one in nickel with Ahrends stocks and hole in the frame be darned I think it is a superb and accurate gun...plus I cant afford an original Model 21!

CajunBass · December 2, 2017, 07:50 AM

Those are great guns that I've owned a couple of them over the years. Sold them off for various and sundry reasons but not because there was anything wrong with the guns. (I'm neutral on the locks. I don't care for them, but don't care about them either.)

Good looking gun. I like the T-grip treatment too.

arquebus357 · December 2, 2017, 09:09 AM

Nice looking revolver in a great cartridge.

It appears that the bluing is just about gone from the gun metal. Is that natural wear or was it purposely "antiqued" ? The frame looks case hardened. Whatever, it presents very nicely. I have to admit though, if it were mine, I would remove the Tyler T.

TheLastGoodFight · December 2, 2017, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arquebus357

Nice looking revolver in a great cartridge.

It appears that the bluing is just about gone from the gun metal. Is that natural wear or was it purposely "antiqued" ? The frame looks case hardened. Whatever, it presents very nicely. I have to admit though, if it were mine, I would remove the Tyler T.

The disappearing blue is natural holster wear. I've carried this pistol every day that I've owned it so such a thing is not surprising.
I'll admit, I prefer the aesthetic of a T-Gripless pistol but my accuracy increased exponentially once I got them on there. In my opinion, it is slightly unsightly but appearance is secondary to function in this case.

Thanks for the response.

lamarw · December 2, 2017, 11:40 AM

The only thing that is important is that you like it and it is serving your well. Gone on about your business now and shoot it some more.

joed · December 2, 2017, 02:36 PM

I have a 29-8 MG That goes with me more then any other revolver I own. And I own a 24-3 and 2 624's.

So far I see nothing wrong with the lock or MIM parts. There are those that complain about these items and only buy older S&W's. I think they don't know what they're missing.

I've owned 2 newer revolvers and never a complaint. The 686+ I sold, I just don't like the L frame, don't know why. But, the MG has been a good one.

Yours looks great.

shurshot · December 2, 2017, 04:08 PM

I just tried, and failed, to load pics of my 29 and 629, new ones with locks as well as two vintage 29's. Aside from the hole, they are all very beautiful revolvers! I love my new ones, and with the MIM parts and updated design, they are FAR stronger and more durable than the vintage .44's.

Master Blaster · December 2, 2017, 09:21 PM

I love my 22-4 in .45 acp. It shoots great and has perfect balance.

walnut1704 · December 10, 2017, 10:23 AM

You really don't want them to like what you like. They'll just drive the prices up to stupid levels.

CajunBass · December 11, 2017, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Nice looking revolver in a great cartridge.

It appears that the bluing is just about gone from the gun metal. Is that natural wear or was it purposely "antiqued" ? The frame looks case hardened. Whatever, it presents very nicely. I have to admit though, if it were mine, I would remove the Tyler T.

I'm not sure, but I believe the frame on those guns were case hardened. I know I've seen some Smith & Wesson's from the "classic" series that looked as if the frame had been. I'm not sure if it was real case hardening or a finish, but it looked good.

dgludwig · December 11, 2017, 05:20 PM

Quote:

I love my new ones, and with the MIM parts and updated design, they are FAR stronger and more durable than the vintage .44's.

I don't know what you mean by the adjective "FAR" in terms of comparing the strength and durability of new Smith revolvers vs older ones but I think you overstate your case (such as it might or might not be) by FAR!

rep1954 · December 23, 2017, 09:29 AM

I have both old and new S&W revolvers and I have to say the frame mounted firing pin guns with the MIM hammers have a much faster lock time than the older guns even with comparable springs. The triggers I have experienced on the new guns have all been crisp and reasonably light with some getting springs changed but the same holds for my older guns. The finishes on the new guns are terrible and nothing to brag about. When I want to show off the older guns come out but when I want to shoot out come the new. I do wish however that the actions of new guns made the same sound of the old guns as it is timeless.

**Mike Irwin** · December 23, 2017, 10:30 AM

This is my .44 Special. It's a Lew Horton Model 24-3, made sometime around 1984, IIRC.

It carries the 6.5" barrel. I generally prefer 4" barrels, but this one was such a good price at the time that I couldn't pass it up.

It's amazingly accurate and is a joy to shoot.

I'd love to get one of the 3" Model 24-3s, but I've never had the money when I've had one in front of me.

December 1, 2017, 01:36 PM	#1
TheLastGoodFight Member Join Date: August 2, 2016 Location: Eastern OK Posts: 59	S&W 21-4 Time for someone to educate me. Several of you old hands have owned and shot S&W in all its successes and all its failures. The pre-lock pinned & recessed days were way before my time so I came up in a world where everyone wants the old guns. Fast-forward to today; I have a S&W model 21-4 in .44 special that I can't seem to put down. It has the heinous lock, but it's such a wonderful little pistol that I'm wondering why I don't hear about more guys shooting it, considering the love so many have for the .44 special. The stocks are the work of Mr. Grashorn, complimented by Tyler T. Is there a reason the world doesn't seem to love this pistol like I do?

December 1, 2017, 01:44 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	I have a Thunder Ranch 22-4, and while I don't have any trouble putting it down for long periods of time, I do really enjoy the times that I do shoot it. I've owned S&W revolvers from the teens, the '20s, '50s, used to have one from the Lear Siegler days that were supposed to be S&W's darkest, and they've all been good guns. __________________ Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.

December 2, 2017, 07:50 AM	#5
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Those are great guns that I've owned a couple of them over the years. Sold them off for various and sundry reasons but not because there was anything wrong with the guns. (I'm neutral on the locks. I don't care for them, but don't care about them either.) Good looking gun. I like the T-grip treatment too. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

December 2, 2017, 02:36 PM	#9
joed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2014 Posts: 442	I have a 29-8 MG That goes with me more then any other revolver I own. And I own a 24-3 and 2 624's. So far I see nothing wrong with the lock or MIM parts. There are those that complain about these items and only buy older S&W's. I think they don't know what they're missing. I've owned 2 newer revolvers and never a complaint. The 686+ I sold, I just don't like the L frame, don't know why. But, the MG has been a good one. Yours looks great. __________________ The 6 gun was once as common as the cellphone is today, and just as annoying when it went off in the theater.

December 23, 2017, 10:30 AM	#16
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	This is my .44 Special. It's a Lew Horton Model 24-3, made sometime around 1984, IIRC. It carries the 6.5" barrel. I generally prefer 4" barrels, but this one was such a good price at the time that I couldn't pass it up. It's amazingly accurate and is a joy to shoot. I'd love to get one of the 3" Model 24-3s, but I've never had the money when I've had one in front of me. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 1, 2017, 01:53 PM	#3
Buckeye! Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2008 Posts: 849	Thats a great looking revolver!!!!

December 1, 2017, 02:50 PM	#4
jolly roger Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 179	I have one in nickel with Ahrends stocks and hole in the frame be darned I think it is a superb and accurate gun...plus I cant afford an original Model 21!

December 2, 2017, 09:09 AM	#6
arquebus357 Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2016 Location: Atlanta, Georgia area Posts: 455	Nice looking revolver in a great cartridge. It appears that the bluing is just about gone from the gun metal. Is that natural wear or was it purposely "antiqued" ? The frame looks case hardened. Whatever, it presents very nicely. I have to admit though, if it were mine, I would remove the Tyler T.

December 2, 2017, 11:40 AM	#8
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	The only thing that is important is that you like it and it is serving your well. Gone on about your business now and shoot it some more.

December 2, 2017, 04:08 PM	#10
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	I just tried, and failed, to load pics of my 29 and 629, new ones with locks as well as two vintage 29's. Aside from the hole, they are all very beautiful revolvers! I love my new ones, and with the MIM parts and updated design, they are FAR stronger and more durable than the vintage .44's.

December 2, 2017, 09:21 PM	#11
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	I love my 22-4 in .45 acp. It shoots great and has perfect balance.

December 10, 2017, 10:23 AM	#12
walnut1704 Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2009 Posts: 156	You really don't want them to like what you like. They'll just drive the prices up to stupid levels.

December 23, 2017, 09:29 AM	#15
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 1,187	I have both old and new S&W revolvers and I have to say the frame mounted firing pin guns with the MIM hammers have a much faster lock time than the older guns even with comparable springs. The triggers I have experienced on the new guns have all been crisp and reasonably light with some getting springs changed but the same holds for my older guns. The finishes on the new guns are terrible and nothing to brag about. When I want to show off the older guns come out but when I want to shoot out come the new. I do wish however that the actions of new guns made the same sound of the old guns as it is timeless.