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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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Old 05-20-2016, 08:56 PM
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Default Advice on a 38/44 HD

Hi Guys,

I need some help. I'm looking at a 38/44 HD with a 4' inch barrel. The S/N is 73xxx. It has not been cut to accept .357 mag. I'm looking at trading a 2014 BHP with Hi Polish Blue. I value the BHP at $1,000. His cash price on the revolver is $1,000. Does this trade make since?

I think it may be a transitional model. But I don't know enough about these guns to make an informed decision

The bluing looks really good, but screws look like they have been taken off in the past. Pics below. I also think the grips are incorrect. Any advice/opinions are appreciated. Please see pics below.

Thanks in advance
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Old 05-20-2016, 09:09 PM
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The long action says either pre-war or transitional. The serial number would tell the story. If it begins with an S, that would be transitional. The grips look correct, but I'm no expert. Check for matching serial number on the inside of the right grip panel. Probably worth the freight if it all checks out.

edit: The 4" worth a bump
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Old 05-20-2016, 09:11 PM
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You are correct, the stocks are from a later gun.

the finish looks decent from the photos, and that is a transitional gun with the long action and the new hammer block safety. They are desirable. I don't know if I would part with $1000 for one missing the original stocks, but that is a personal decision. Those fixed sight N frames are the best.
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Old 05-20-2016, 10:20 PM
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Definitely post-WWII, and the SN should be S73xxx. That would date its shipment to about mid- to late-1949. It still has the old long action. It appears the stocks are younger than the gun. You might check the SN stamped on the back side of the right grip panel. If it does not match, that will have a negative effect on value. Value is in the eye of the beholder (you), but to me I also think that $1K is a bit rich. If it talks to you and says "Take me home," I'd advise you to dicker for a few hundred less. You do have some leverage. There are arguments about what "Transition" means. I personally will not use that term as it is so poorly defined as to be meaningless. Others defend it and love to use it copiously.

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Old 05-20-2016, 11:14 PM
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Reckon I'll be the glass of cold water. A grand is a LOT of bread for what boils down to a big, heavy 38 Special. It IS a nice gun to be sure, but I would be hard pressed to put more than 600 in it. IMO the classic (pencil barrel, half moon sight, or pinned barrel) Smith market is experiencing a bubble; values are @50-100% or more above their natural level.

I'd hold out for a .44, .455/.45 Colt or .45 Colt N-frame, or just get a .32-20 K frame. But that's me.
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Old 05-20-2016, 11:36 PM
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The stocks are not original, nor contemporary, and a set that are from the correct time for a HD will cost you a couple hundred (and still wont be matching).
It looks nice, but a grand is too high. Feeling flush, I might consider 700 max.
Excellent case hardening though, for sure.
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Old 05-21-2016, 02:11 AM
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I agree, it's a beauty, the stocks are later and the price is a bit high.

But it's not a Pre War and it's not a Model of 1950 with short action hammer (which did appear before 1950), so what is it?

It has a long action hammer, and the post war: 4 line address, matte blue, post war serial # (there's an S in front of it, meaning it has a post war sliding bar hammer block safety). It's a "38/44 HD Post War Transitional" that's pretty clearly defined with the above features.
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Old 05-21-2016, 08:06 AM
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Judging by your pics which are all just to show the condition of the
sideplate screws it seems I would say the gun seems to be in very
nice shooter grade condition. Better pics would help but given the
fact that the grips don't match I would say about $800 considering
the high prices HDs are going for these days. I bought a nice 4" HD
with matching diamond magnas but not quite as nice bluing for $700
a couple of years ago on GB.
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Old 05-21-2016, 08:36 AM
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OK, the first question that you need to answer is "why am I buying this gun?"

If you are looking for a collectible HD to add to your collection, this is not the right gun. The non diamond stocks while nice are post 1968 so at least 20 years out of date. As a collectible, you have a one in a million chance of finding its original stocks. Without original wood, it loses many points in the "collector" world. If it had the original wood, I don't think the price is all that bad.

If you are looking for a shooter, it is grossly overpriced. There are many shooter grade S&W's out there that are in really fine condition for a lot less money.

All that said, it's your money or your gun to trade so it's really your decision. If you can really get $1,000 for the BHP then I might consider selling it and taking the cash and buy a more righteous S&W.
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Old 05-21-2016, 08:39 AM
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Like all of the others have posted, it's a Transition HD and the stocks are wrong.

Judging from your pictures, it's in descent shooter condition. It's definitely not a virgin and the side plate looks like its been off. If you are serious about doing a deal for the gun, make sure it checks out mechanically, especially checking for hammer push off. Looking at the condition of the side plate screws, I'd guess it was an ametuer "gun smith" that was inside of her and I'd be leery of a trigger job.

If I were looking for a 4" shooter Transition Heavy Duty and that gun checked out mechanically, I'd put a value of no more than $700 on it. If you can get it for closer to $600 - $650, that would be a good deal.
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Old 05-21-2016, 09:02 AM
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This is what the most recent HD that sold on GunBroker went for.557800269 It was a prewar with non matching grips, but sold for over $1000, so as always, it's worth what you are willing to pay for it. Personally I'd say it's about a $700 gun.
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Old 05-21-2016, 09:22 AM
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If that gun was on one of the internet auction sights it would probably go for something close to $1,000, maybe more. Locally, it would be a harder sale.

As for your newer BHP, what makes it worth $1K? Around here, I can pick up a lightly used BHP for $750, maybe less if I shop hard enough.

Regarding the HD's grips - something funny going on there. They look refinished and maybe even the medallions were swapped out. The medallions also look like they have several coats of oil over them. I'd replace them with some nice stag grips.
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Old 05-21-2016, 09:44 AM
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This sort of sounds like "I'll trade my two $10,000 cats for your $20,000 dog."
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:39 AM
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Why not sell yours for $1000 then buy a model 28 for $700?

Since the 38/44 is altered and has non original grips - it has lost its collectable value completely, and is nothing more than a shooter grade .357.
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt View Post
Definitely post-WWII, and the SN should be S73xxx. That would date its shipment to about mid- to late-1949. It still has the old long action. It appears the stocks are younger than the gun. You might check the SN stamped on the back side of the right grip panel. If it does not match, that will have a negative effect on value. Value is in the eye of the beholder (you), but to me I also think that $1K is a bit rich. If it talks to you and says "Take me home," I'd advise you to dicker for a few hundred less. You do have some leverage. There are arguments about what "Transition" means. I personally will not use that term as it is so poorly defined as to be meaningless. Others defend it and love to use it copiously.
The S/N does in fact start with an S. Thanks for the advice
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:50 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Plain Old Dave View Post
Reckon I'll be the glass of cold water. A grand is a LOT of bread for what boils down to a big, heavy 38 Special. It IS a nice gun to be sure, but I would be hard pressed to put more than 600 in it. IMO the classic (pencil barrel, half moon sight, or pinned barrel) Smith market is experiencing a bubble; values are @50-100% or more above their natural level.

I'd hold out for a .44, .455/.45 Colt or .45 Colt N-frame, or just get a .32-20 K frame. But that's me.
A glass of cold water is exactly what I needed. I was pretty sure I knew what I was looking at. I just didn't know its value. Based upon what you folks are telling me its a Shooter Grade 38/44 HD worth about $600. That makes my decision process informed and that's what I was looking for.
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old TexMex View Post
The stocks are not original, nor contemporary, and a set that are from the correct time for a HD will cost you a couple hundred (and still wont be matching).
It looks nice, but a grand is too high. Feeling flush, I might consider 700 max.
Excellent case hardening though, for sure.
I appreciate the feedback. Thanks

Mike
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hondo44 View Post
I agree, it's a beauty, the stocks are later and the price is a bit high.

But it's not a Pre War and it's not a Model of 1950 with short action hammer (which did appear before 1950), so what is it?

It has a long action hammer, and the post war: 4 line address, matte blue, post war serial # (there's an S in front of it, meaning it has a post war sliding bar hammer block safety). It's a "38/44 HD Post War Transitional" that's pretty clearly defined with the above features.
Thanks Sir!
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alwslate View Post
Judging by your pics which are all just to show the condition of the
sideplate screws it seems I would say the gun seems to be in very
nice shooter grade condition. Better pics would help but given the
fact that the grips don't match I would say about $800 considering
the high prices HDs are going for these days. I bought a nice 4" HD
with matching diamond magnas but not quite as nice bluing for $700
a couple of years ago on GB.
Thanks Sir, it give me a good guide line.
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Old 05-21-2016, 10:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DWalt View Post
This sort of sounds like "I'll trade my two $10,000 cats for your $20,000 dog."
You may be right sir! I'll probably hold on to HP and make a cash offer.
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Old 05-21-2016, 11:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSR III View Post
OK, the first question that you need to answer is "why am I buying this gun?"

If you are looking for a collectible HD to add to your collection, this is not the right gun. The non diamond stocks while nice are post 1968 so at least 20 years out of date. As a collectible, you have a one in a million chance of finding its original stocks. Without original wood, it loses many points in the "collector" world. If it had the original wood, I don't think the price is all that bad.

If you are looking for a shooter, it is grossly overpriced. There are many shooter grade S&W's out there that are in really fine condition for a lot less money.

All that said, it's your money or your gun to trade so it's really your decision. If you can really get $1,000 for the BHP then I might consider selling it and taking the cash and buy a more righteous S&W.
Thanks Sir! your response and that of the others here is exactly why I like visit the forum. To read and learn from your experience.
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Old 05-21-2016, 01:48 PM
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I did not see where the gun has been altered. That said, if could find a nice pair of transition grips, the will run you $3-400 and I'd put the price range in the 6-700 range. If you were to buy it, have them take the side plate off to see if the hammer block is still there. Check the cylinder to see if it has been reamed out to 357. If a 357 fits, then the price would be lower.
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Old 05-21-2016, 02:52 PM
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Aemsl69 initially posted the chambers are not cut for 357 and one can see the hammer block in the hammer channel w/o removing the side plate.
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Old 05-22-2016, 09:26 PM
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Despite the lower value estimates I think that it would easily go for
at least $750 on GB just as is. The bluing looks very nice and the case
coloring looks good also. And...it's a 4". I still say put it on GB with
good pics and it will sell for no less than $800.
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