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March 25, 2008
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looking for info from the experts on when DW changed the hammers on the large frame guns to long spur. thanks to all for the help in advance!
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Dans Club
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November 17, 2008
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This won't help much but I have one of each and the short spur in S# 00630X and the long spur is S# B02193X. I bought previously enjoyed so I do not know the born on dates.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
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January 24, 2009
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I've been collecting info on this subject for a while, mostly from auction pics. So far the highest confirmed number I've got on the short spur is this one...
This one seems to be #10120 but I can't make it out, so I'm not counting it as a confirmed number yet...
The lowest number I've got so far on a long spur is this one...
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January 24, 2009
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I came across this old thread while searching for something completely irrelevant. 
As seen my last post from 2011, there are dead photos of example guns that I have lost, due to a photo host site that crashed about 8 years ago. I had reference pics of various DW's numbering well into the 1,000's...all gone. 
Back then, I had tons of photo reference material on most anything DW. And unfortunately because I used my photo host site as my base to show all my study material as proof, there are a ton of my old posts here that have dead pics. 
It was a huge loss both to me for sure, but indirectly for the various forums I've posted on over the years. This forum, other gun forums, car forums, et al. I was very butt-hurt for a while, ready to say "phuckitall"...to all of it! Then about 2 years ago, after I calmed down, I decided I should again try to document visual S/N chronology of some DW's, I started again keeping relevant pics I've found from various gun auctions. Currently I'm focused on the early Model 44's & 15-2's. Beyond that don't count on me for much these days, it's just been sucked out of me & I'm slowly trying to get the vigor back. 
Hopefully...
I don't hit the various auction sites as often as I did back then, but for now, this is what I have.
Currently, the highest S/N for a short hammer spur Model 44 is #8520
If anyone has a short hammer spur Model 44 out there with a S/N larger than #8520, I implore you to share here in this thread. 
On the other end of the deal, so far the earliest LONG hammer spur S/N I have found is #13356. I am very sure this number can probably be reliably noted into the high 4-digit range for the early long spurs. Maybe early 5-digits, I'm not sure just yet.
One caveat...I have seen two examples of long spur guns for sale slightly below the #8500 pictured above...both of those had evidence of having scopes mounted on them. The ENTIRE reason for DW to introduce the long hammer spur was to be able to cock the hammer with a scope mounted, so I believe a few of those early guns were converted to accommodate a scope, back in the day. One gun clearly had evidence of a clamp-on scope mount on the shroud in it's past & the other was wearing a newer CZ BA, so...
Anyway, so far this sad looking one #13356 is the earliest Model 44 with a long hammer spur I have spotted recently. Again, if anyone has an earlier one, with a long spur, please post here to help narrow down the window. 
I apologize for the big novel, and other crap. Just coming across this thread after 14 years kinda brought a bunch of things back to me tonight that I thought were long gone. 
I guess not.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Thais is great, thanks Charger!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I remember reading that the long hammer spur was introduced on or around serial number 10,000. The 44 mag debuted in 1981 with the Dove Grey guns. 500 made. I assume there were 500 solid rosewood grips with Pewter medallions too. The 44 mag had been shown off at Silhouette matches around the country by Dan Wesson. I think he passed in 1979 so they evidently were in development then. Many Dove Grey guns were used for IHMSA and folks would remove the rosewood grips and put on Hogue or Pachmyer. The Rosewood grips later found their way to eBay and Gunbroker. I have two lightly engraved guns and THREE extra grips I bought over the years. The most I paid is $160. One was half that. I haven't seen one for sale in many years though.
I think the long hammer spur debuted in 1982.
Dans Club
October 26, 2008
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Charger sorry for the crappy picture but I have one that is 9122.
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January 24, 2009
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Superdan, thanks for posting your gun here in this thread, this is good.
Ole Dog, I agree, I seem to recall a few years ago hearing from someone in the know that the long spur came along right around the 10,000 mark. Hopefully one day soon, someone comes along with number 10,000...and then 10,001 so we can see which hammer they are wearing.
Well, it figures...the very next day after I post what I did above, tonight I'm surfing GB & I spot this PP that's currently on auction. This is #9614 in a mostly complete PP, looks like it's only missing the barrel brush.
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