I have several Heavy Duty revolvers in my police collection. I found this for sale $500. No history attached to it. I've wanted a "shooter" in this model for a while. Is $500 too much? It is in perfect functional condition.

Best,
Charles

Update:
I talked to the seller on the phone. He's a gunsmith and guarantees 100% function. It is #62124. DOB??

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Are you sure with damage to top strap the frame is not bent ?

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

I'd pay that just to get those grips. If the frame is bent, you can get more than the remainder by parting out the gun and selling the parts.

Guy

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I agree. If you are concerned about the condition of the top strap, try firing it from a bench rest vice using a string on the trigger.

As others have stated, even if it is parted out there should be $500 in parts.

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James Redfield
LM #497

That frame sure looks bent in pic 3, maybe it is the angle. If it is bent I personally would pass.

Easy to check if frame is bent, use a "straight edge" or place it against a flat piece of glass or mirror. I also believe you can easily get $500 just in parts and components. Kyle

Me too I think those would do nicely.

Well worth the parts,,I'd personally buy it and have the top strap laser welded back in and then put that area back in orig shape.
But that's just me,,I hate to see any of these go out stripped for parts if they can be saved. Especially when the mechanics are still excellent and the problem(s) are cosmetic.

"If" the top strap is bent, the whole frame would likely be distorted to some degree. I personally wouldn't want it to consider as a shooter - and especially if it was welded. The barrel may be in alignment with the cylinder - or, it may not....

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S&W Forum Member #721

I bought it. We'll close the deal & it'll be here in several days.

Does 1940 sound right as a DOB?

Best,
Charles

#62124 would be 1940 production. I list some with very close SNs (within a few digits) which shipped in 8/40. I would probably try to do what I could to rescue it before considering parting it out. It's difficult to tell from the pictures how bad the damage to the frame might be, but the window might not be damaged. Even if it is bent, it probably could be straightened enough to be fully workable. I wouldn't try any welding on the frame.

Several HDs with nearby serial numbers were shipped in October 1940. What's interesting is that this gun's number is right in the middle of a large block of serial numbers shipped to the British Columbia Police. It might be worth a letter to see if this one happened to be part of that order.

EDITED TO ADD: After looking more closely at the recorded serial numbers of the BC guns, I can see that this revolver falls in a roughly 175 unit gap between two smaller serial number ranges rather than right in the middle of a single large block. That makes it less likely to be a BC Heavy Duty, not to mention the absence of agency markings and lanyard loop.

It should be easy to check the barrel/cylinder alignment with a range rod. You can also get an indication of a distorted frame by holding the hammer in a position that disengages the cylinder stop and rolling the cylinder while the yoke is in closed position. If you hear or feel any chafing or slight resistance, something may require adjustment. You can also use a micrometer to check the cylinder window dimensions for consistency and use a gauge block to check the corners for square. But I imagine you may already have done this kind of evaluation, or something simpler but equally effective. It's amazing what an eyeball review and fingertip drag over a worked surface can tell you.

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David Wilson

Is anyone else besides me curious about how that damage got there? I sure would like to hear the story behind this but I doubt there's a letter of explanation along with the gun. (lol)

I think it bothers me because I'm such a fan of the 38/44s.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

I'll letter it for sure. IIRC the British Columbia Police marked their guns with the agency's initials. I have a 1935 vintage M&P from them that is factory marked with "B.C.P." and a three digit number on the backstrap.

My gunsmith is a retired machinist. So, I'm not terribly worried if a little straightening has to be done. No plans to "part it out" are in the works. If it letters to the B.C.P. , then it stays in my collection. If not, It will be the shooter HD I've been looking for. It's a win-win.
Best,
Charles

The more I look at that gouge, the less it looks like impact damage and more like the result of an encounter with a spinning quarter-inch cutter of some sort. The steel at the damage site doesn't seem to have been hammered down. It's simply missing.

If that's correct, I don't see any real reason to fear a bent frame. But I would still check.

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David Wilson

It is not a BCP gun-probably Aug-Oct 1940 est ship date.
Hope this helps.

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38-44heavyduty.com

It does help!! I figured it wasn't. ( No lanyard ring & markings like my BCP. M&P) Thanks for the confirmation!! I guess it could've gone anywhere!