|
|
04-22-2011, 04:28 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts
|
|
.38/44 Heavy Duty Transitional?
|
04-22-2011, 04:33 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 368
Liked 1,171 Times in 373 Posts
|
|
That looks to be a pre-war HD. The bright blue finish, that I think I am seeing on the cylinder, is what convinces me of that the most. And yes, the absence of an S to the left of the serial number also confirms that. The S and diamond inside the ejector rod shroud is a factory work marking. Not sure what was worked on though. The grips are incorrect, too modern. You should have pre-war magnas or service stocks with large medallions. Nice gun!
Last edited by dacoontz; 04-22-2011 at 09:17 PM.
|
04-22-2011, 04:35 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,880
Likes: 980
Liked 18,995 Times in 9,295 Posts
|
|
From the photos, I think this is a pre-war Heavy Duty, likely a 1940 shipped gun. The B in the ejector rod shroud indicated it was originally a blue finish, and I have read (but can't remember) about the meaning of the nearby S. You are correct about the stocks, this one would have had service stocks with silver medallions or pre-war Magnas with the uncheckered wood diamond around the screw. Hope this is helpful.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
04-22-2011, 04:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts
|
|
More Pictures
|
04-22-2011, 04:55 PM
|
|
SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: The kidney of Dixie.
Posts: 10,509
Likes: 49
Liked 13,410 Times in 3,290 Posts
|
|
Early 1940 gun. Post war would have a letter S in the serial.
|
04-22-2011, 05:37 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 9,403
Likes: 1,322
Liked 30,439 Times in 4,369 Posts
|
|
The S followed by a diamond indicates it was refinished by S&W in standard blue at some point. There may be a date (9 39 for example) stamped on the grip frame and there may be another "S diamond" stamped on the grip frame also.
Bill
|
04-22-2011, 06:30 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 13,995
Likes: 5,005
Liked 7,700 Times in 2,623 Posts
|
|
Kind of a funny spread of the digits of the serial number on the back of the cylinder. Usually all the numbers are stamped between two charge holes, rather than three and two. Look at the underside of the ejector star to see if it is numbered. If not, I think the gun got a fresh cylinder assembly on a trip back to the factory.
The absence of a patent notice stamp on the hammer suggests postwar production. The trigger, with its stamp, would be prewar.
The stocks are postwar.
Can you follow up on Bill's observation and check the frame under the stocks for date stamps? I'm kind of hunching that this would be an early postwar return for service. (I have a gun that went back in 1946, had barrel and cylinder replaced, and each was renumbered to tie it to the frame. That didn't happen with new part installations at later dates.)
__________________
David Wilson
|
04-22-2011, 07:35 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts
|
|
|
04-22-2011, 09:40 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 368
Liked 1,171 Times in 373 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc44
The S followed by a diamond indicates it was refinished by S&W in standard blue at some point. There may be a date (9 39 for example) stamped on the grip frame and there may be another "S diamond" stamped on the grip frame also.
Bill
|
Bill,
I have posted a number of guns on here with this same marking on every part of a couple of my guns. I was told by others that it signified major work and likely replaced parts. Your information above is much easier to accept as many of those parts had matching serial numbers on my guns and the replacment parts theory didn't seem correct to me. I would be a happy camper if the "S diamond" was indeed just a refinish marking. I would never think to question your expertise but simply wanted to clarify what you mentioned and make sure I heard right since I have been told differently in the past.
On a side note, I mentioned early that the cylinder looks like the pre-war blue finish that I see on HD's. If this was refinished in standard blue then I guess I am seeing things or is the standard blue finish the same as the pre-war finish? I assumed the standard was the dull matte type finish we see on transitional HD's.
|
04-25-2011, 11:46 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts
|
|
Does anyone else have any insight?
Did S&W use a 4 digit date stamp? This would mean this was refinished/reworked March, 29 1968. In my limited research I have only seen 3 digit date stamps. Was S&W still using the "S" Diamond marking in 1968?
As dacootz mentioned does the color of the Blue appear to be in line with being refinished in 1968? Thanks
|
04-25-2011, 12:14 PM
|
|
US Veteran SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 3,188
Likes: 1,308
Liked 3,521 Times in 577 Posts
|
|
I can't say that I've seen a 5 digit stamp like yours. I have seen a 4 digit when the first 2 were either Oct, Nov or Dec and then the year. If you letter it, send the pic of the date stamp in and ask Roy what he thinks.
Bill
__________________
38-44heavyduty.com
|
04-26-2011, 04:27 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 71
Likes: 9
Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts
|
|
Thanks for your help Bill.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|