My 38/44

Jake Brody · #1 05-17-2009, 02:56 PM

Hi all, I just picked up my 38/44 today. From all I've read form the forum it is a transitional model. It is well used with a few minor issues, but for $200, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

rburg · #2 05-17-2009, 03:00 PM

Nope, at that price you can't go wrong. When you start to feel cheated, put it up for sale at $400 or so and double your money.

j38 · #3 05-17-2009, 03:05 PM

Jake,

Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on finding a nice 4" HD! Yours appears to be a very nice example from the 1949 - 1950 period. They are really wonderful shooters. I find the 4" HD to be very balanced in my hand and is a current favorite of mine at the range. Enjoy yours!

Thanks for the post,

Jerry

Jake Brody · #4 05-17-2009, 03:07 PM

Sorry about the chopped off photo, I'm new here.
The serial number is S73XXX.

GLL · #5 05-17-2009, 03:16 PM

Jake:

Welcome to the Forum !

If the high-horn transitional grips are in good shape they alone are worth over half of what you paid for the entire gun !

Jerry

DCWilson · #6 05-17-2009, 03:16 PM

To borrow a phrase from another poster about his recent purchase, you bought the stocks at a fair price and somebody threw in the gun for free.

What a deal. I paid a heck of a lot more than that for my HD Transitional.

Nice score. Very nice.

DCW

Art Doc · #7 05-17-2009, 03:41 PM

So, who was stupid enough to sell this for 1/3 real value?

VM · #8 05-17-2009, 03:43 PM

Welcome to the Forum

Nice Score Jake - the transitional stocks are very hard to find.............easily worth the price you paid for the gun itself. The Gun is literally FREE.

Have fun shooting it!

donaldw870 · #9 05-17-2009, 04:39 PM

I'd also like to know who sold this to you so I can see what else they have for sale!

Good find. Depending on how minor the minor issues are, you did real well.

-Donald

JayCeeNC · #10 05-17-2009, 05:07 PM

Jake, I think that qualifies for The Deal of the Week!
Congrats, should be a great shooter.

Jake Brody · #11 05-17-2009, 05:33 PM

Every Sunday morning, the local gun crew gets together to drink coffee and share the latest small town gossip at our favorite gun shop. Here in Montana, private gun sales do not have to go through an FFL, you can buy and sell handguns at a yard sale. So one guy takes out this 38/44 and says his buddy wants to sell it for $300. It gets passed around, everyone plays with it and the nit-picking starts: it's wore out, too much end shake, who wants an N-frame 38, and so on. When my turn comes, all I can think is "This feels really nice in my hand." So after coffee I go home and look it up on the internet, and find you guys. I go through the posts relating to the 38/44, and decide I'm liking this gun more and more. The next Sunday, the price dropped to $250, everyone still thinks it's too much, I'm smiling on the inside. Monday morning I call a gunsmith buddy and he says he can go through it and tighten things up for me, no big deal. I call my friend who is holding the gun, and he tells me the guy will take $200, so I said it's mine, and now it is.

VM · #12 05-17-2009, 05:37 PM

Nice Story Jake............again, Congrats!

1Aspenhill · #13 05-17-2009, 05:37 PM

Good deal Jake! After you get it tuned up, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we do! If you don't mind, would you send me the full serial number for my data base?
Thanks and enjoy!
Bill

kleinkaliber · #14 05-17-2009, 05:54 PM

Good to know there are still great deals to be found. Very nice!

Jake Brody · #15 05-17-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1Aspenhill:
Good deal Jake! After you get it tuned up, I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we do! If you don't mind, would you send me the full serial number for my data base?
Thanks and enjoy!
Bill

S73310

Jake Brody · #16 05-17-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by donaldw870:
I'd also like to know who sold this to you so I can see what else they have for sale!

Good find. Depending on how minor the minor issues are, you did real well.

-Donald

He's got a Colt Trooper 357, 6" or 6.5" in the box for $500. Real nice shape, minor wear at the muzzle. Price might come down if it doesn't sell right away. Maybe I can get it for $150

GLL · #17 05-17-2009, 07:11 PM

How about some detailed photos when you get it tuned up and ready to shoot ?

I would like a closer look at those grips as well !

Jerry

VonFatman · #18 05-17-2009, 07:33 PM

Jake,
Welcome to the Forum. That's a heck of a deal. You did real good!

Bob

Jake Brody · #19 05-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GLL:
How about some detailed photos when you get it tuned up and ready to shoot ?

I would like a closer look at those grips as well !

Jerry

Like I said, they are well used and original to the gun:

Onomea · #20 05-18-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jake Brody:
He's got a Colt Trooper 357, 6" or 6.5" in the box for $500. Real nice shape, minor wear at the muzzle. Price might come down if it doesn't sell right away. Maybe I can get it for $150

Jake, if that is a 357 Magnum from the 1950s, that's a good deal. The 357 came out around 1954, a year or so prior to the Python, Frame mounted firing pin. Same action tune as the Pythons. The Trooper line picks up the frame mounted firing pin in 1962 or so, at which time the 357 melds into the Trooper line, and dissapears. The Colt 357 Magnum of the '50s is considered something of a sleeper, and far superior to the Trooper 357. Lotta info to be had on this over at the Colt Forum.

Joe Kent · #21 05-18-2009, 03:19 AM

Jake, you got/found a great buy. Many of us here love "messing" with the HD's. Lots of fun to shoot and if they are not at collector grade they are great to convert to bigger calibers. The way you got it over a coffee cup with friends is the most enjoyable part of the transaction. As has been said by everyone above, WELCOME! to the forum. Joe.

Art Doc · #22 05-18-2009, 05:45 AM

A fool and his gun are soon parted...

Good score.

Jake Brody · #23 05-18-2009, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

I took care of one of my problems, the cylinder was locking up sometimes in DA, but I took the side plate off, cleaned out some dried oil, put it back together, now it works fine. The only other issues I have are a poor muzzle crown and a loose cylinder and that's not even that bad.

My next story, which I'll post in the appropriate category, will be how I ended up with a near mint 4" model 34 for $160.

ElToro · #24 05-19-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SaxonPig:
A fool and his gun are soon parted...

SP,I'm gonna borrow that quote. I will give proepr attribution of course.

Jake, you scored well indeed. i like the four inch the best HD. with that sleek profile and combat sights.

Andy Taylor · #25 05-19-2009, 04:53 AM

Congrats.

The Gila Bender · #26 05-19-2009, 08:24 AM

Jake, that 38/44 is a nice catch, way to go buddy! I'd almost bet your 38/44 belonged to a law enforcement officer, railroad, or mining company if it has been in Montana since the late forties. Consider getting a letter from Roy Jinks, it will give you a starting point for further research.

One of my S&W's lettered to a police officer in Bozeman. A few emails and calls resulted in good documentation about the man and his career and may yet produce photos of the original owner with his revolver.

It's great fun to learn about the history of these old S&W's, and I think your 38/44 has a story behind it.

Cheers!

1Aspenhill · #27 05-21-2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the serial number. I'd say it shipped late 1949.
Thanks again,
Bill