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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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  #1  
Old 08-11-2013, 09:28 PM
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Default 4 Inch Pre War Heavy Duty with Target Sights

The following 4 Inch Heavy Duty, 55413, was shipped 15 December 1937 to the City of New York. As you can see, someone wanted a target gun so they had a target front sight installed and a sight blade inserted into the frame. I have seen this on other guns and it presents a good sight picture. The grips are some plastic ones that came on it as I have not had time to find any grips for it. The gun has been refinished and locks up tight. Additionally, the back strap has been checkered. Enjoy!
Bill












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Old 08-11-2013, 09:37 PM
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bill, that is some fine craftsmanship there, especially the backstrap checkering with the border. thanks. lee
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Old 08-11-2013, 09:56 PM
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Unique. Those stock have a certain je ne sais quoi.

Last edited by beagleye; 09-06-2013 at 06:15 PM.
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Old 08-11-2013, 10:16 PM
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That is a cool old gun, Bill.

Chad
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Old 08-11-2013, 10:31 PM
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That is an interesting old HD. A lot of character, it reflects a time when men personalized their weapons.
I used to run across the HDs and Outdoorman a lot until you started collecting them Bill. I think you have the market pretty well cornered.
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Old 08-11-2013, 11:04 PM
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Moosedog,
I have a few HDs-all the Outdoorsman are in California!
Thanks,
Bill
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Old 08-11-2013, 11:23 PM
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Great old warrior. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Dave
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Old 08-12-2013, 07:26 AM
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I really like the way that's set up. I am kind of looking for something like that I could modify to suit my own taste and not be destroying anything with real collector value.
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Old 08-12-2013, 07:49 AM
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Very nice! But can it handle +P?
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Old 08-12-2013, 07:51 AM
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I still contend that HDs and Outdoorsman revolvers are a midwest and Western US thing. I've spent several thousands of hours working p/t at 3 different, very busy LGS's in my area and never seen one come in the door.
Neat old shooter!
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  #11  
Old 08-12-2013, 08:28 AM
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Looks like a working gun to me .

Would like to see an overhead closeup view of the rear sight blade if possible .


Regards ,
George
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Old 08-12-2013, 09:06 AM
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I like it. would it be possible to get a photo of the front and rear of the sight base?
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Old 08-12-2013, 10:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Model520Fan View Post
Very nice! But can it handle +P?
ROTFLMAO!

Dave
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Old 08-12-2013, 11:22 AM
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neat old gun Bill - congrats!
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Old 08-12-2013, 12:38 PM
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Bill:

Glad to see that that one landed in your stable. I love the guns that were modified to meet their owner's needs . . . so long as the price is "reasonable". How 'bout a photo of the front strap as well - IIRC, it was also checkered.

Thanks for sharing,
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Old 08-12-2013, 12:55 PM
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Bill,

I like that one! Like Richard, I also appreciate old guns that the previous owner made "personal", and that one sure fits the bill.

Whoever did that checkering job wasn't a rookie; excellent workmanship and that front sight would be a pretty good disincentive to someone wanting to grab the barrel. I also like the grips. They look contemporary with the rest of the gun and I wouldn't be in any hurry to replace them if it was mine.

Bob
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Old 08-12-2013, 01:15 PM
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That is pretty cool! I like the sights, it looks like the undercut front blade would give a good sight picture regardless of the lighting conditions. Whoever did the modifications was a craftsman!
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Old 08-12-2013, 04:40 PM
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Like Lee I really think the border around that checkering is exceptional ! Someone went to a lot of trouble to make it a very distinctive revolver !

Jerry
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Old 08-12-2013, 05:00 PM
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Nice gun - very interesting. Thanks for showing us that one.
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Old 08-12-2013, 05:11 PM
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.

Yup,

That right there is a handgun man's handgun!

I'd carry one like it........


Su Amigo,
Dave
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Old 08-12-2013, 05:36 PM
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Neat gun Bill. Someone really made that one into a great piece!
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Old 08-15-2013, 11:04 AM
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very cool, thanks for sharing
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Old 08-15-2013, 01:01 PM
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Bill,

Very nice find, I like that.
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Old 08-15-2013, 01:22 PM
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Like everyone else, I like the way it was made into "my gun." Especially like the back strap work. While there is much to admire about a pristine 80year old gun, this HD is a great example of the time when "gunmen" took a factory shooter and modded it into what they wanted-needed. Nice find. Lee H.
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Old 09-06-2013, 05:58 PM
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Sorry I was not able to get to the requests for more pic, but here they are:


Frontstrap checkering

Rear of front sight base

Front sight base

Right side front sight

Left side front sight
Thanks for looking,
Bill
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Old 09-06-2013, 06:07 PM
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Very nice! Exceptional work on the grip frame.
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Old 09-06-2013, 07:57 PM
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Gee, I thought my modified HD was nice.....




I like that checkering on the front & back straps.
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Old 09-06-2013, 08:25 PM
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Default 4" post WW2 38/44 Outdoorsman

Here is something similar to a 4" heavy duty. This gun S85899 was shipped with a
6.5" barrel in 1952. It went back to the factory, and they replaced the barrel with a
4" , and hand-made the front sight blade in the service department.

Here are three pictures of the gun. The fourth image is the relevant paragraph
from the factory letter.









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Old 09-06-2013, 09:26 PM
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How did you get Roy to write that much info in the letter? Most letters I have seen tell you how the gun was shipped and that is it.
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Old 09-07-2013, 12:33 PM
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At the time I got this gun, something about it caught my eye. So, when I sent for
a factory letter, I sent the gun to the factory, care of Roy Jinks. He looked at it, and
what you see in the letter are his comments. The only thing I note is the diamond-B
stamp inside the extractor rod housing. Ie,<B>.

Roy was the manager of the service department for many years. He knows what their
markings mean; perhaps the <B> signifies that the barrel was replaced, and was to be
blued.



Regards, Mike Priwer

Last edited by mikepriwer; 09-07-2013 at 12:35 PM.
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