Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · II · 502

S&W Model 21 (.44 Model 1950 Military)

Section II: curio or relic, still subject to the Gun Control Act

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION II · VERBATIM · PDF P. 16 ↗

Smith & Wesson, Model 21, cal. .44 Special, also known as the ".44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model" and the "1950 Model Military," having S/Ns S75,000 - S263,000.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESYour serial number is one ATF listsATF: “having S/Ns S75,000 - S263,000”
  • INFOATF states no date; production was about 1950–1966.

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United States
Manufacturer
Smith & Wesson
Type
Pistol¹
Action
Other
Caliber
.44 Special
Made
Listed serials only · c. 1950–1966production; ATF states no date²³
Service
Commercial
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section II · PDF p. 16 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: Medium · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “Smith & Wesson Triple Lock” ↗, type: Wikipedia: the .44 Hand Ejector series are double-action revolvers ("Hand Ejector differentiated the new design from … earlier top break revolvers"); ATF names the .44 Hand Ejector Fourth Model
  2. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, years: Gun Digest: .44 HE 4th Model Military (Model of 1950) "S/n S75000 to S263000 with 1,200 made 1950-1957"
  3. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, years: Gun Digest: Model 21 "Manufactured only 1,200 in 16 years of production. Discontinued 1966"
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
None

Historical context

NO VERIFIED IMAGE AVAILABLEWe show only freely licensed images verified to depict this model. None has been found yet.