Here are a few photos of my 1950 Military .44 Special for your enjoyment. It sports the more common 5" barrel. The grips are a little bunged up on the right hand panel, but overall it's in pretty nice shape. I got this one while horse trading when I was a student at Purdue. I've fired a total of one box of reloads through it. A forum I found on the web says serial numbers within about 50 or so before this one were shipped in 1955. Maybe someday I'll find a box I can afford for it.