Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This Smith & Wesson .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model represents the intersection of political influence and firearms manufacturing at its finest. Built as a “Special Production Presentation Model” for Congressman Cecil R. King of California in 1954, this revolver showcases features so rare they border on the experimental. The factory “pinto” finish—a striking combination of bright blue and nickel plating—represents one of Smith & Wesson’s most sought-after special order configurations. Paired with custom bird’s-eye maple target grips, the aesthetic combination is both unusual and visually stunning. Only a handful of these two-tone revolvers were ever produced, making each one a collector’s prize.
What elevates this revolver beyond mere rarity is its smoothbore barrel with threaded choke—a configuration so unusual it required BATF exemption from National Firearms Act restrictions. S&W historian Roy Jinks confirmed that while this barrel modification doesn’t appear on official records, Congressman King’s close friendship with S&W President C.R. Hellstrom suggests factory involvement. Such special work would have been completed off-the-books, with barrels pulled from production before rifling. Congressman King (1898-1974) served 14 terms representing California’s 17th district and co-authored the King-Anderson Act, which laid crucial groundwork for Medicare legislation. His relationship with Smith & Wesson’s leadership resulted in multiple special-order firearms, as confirmed by factory correspondence noting the company “built many special unusual guns for the Congressman.”
This revolver represents more than custom gunsmithing—it documents the personal relationships between firearms manufacturers and political figures during an era when such connections were both common and openly acknowledged. Today, it stands as a unique artifact of mid-20th century American political and firearms history.
“Congressman’s Factory Pinto Smith & Wesson Pre-Model 21 Revolver.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/1546/congressmans-factory-pinto-smith-wesson-premodel-21-revolver. Accessed 27 May 2025.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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