Apropos of nothing S&W, but I'm wondering why there was an effort to change the cylinder of any SAA between 44-40 and 45 if it was going to be used in movies firing blanks. AFAIK, the prevailing practice is to use "Five-in-One" blanks that are designed specifically to operate in 45 revolvers, 44-40 revolvers and carbines, and 38-40 revolvers and carbines. Unlike military quartermasters, movie prop masters just had to make the guns "go bang" so exact caliber and chambering of the blanks was less important than ease of supply.

I'm sure there are lots of good blanks out there for 38 Special for use in movie Model 10s and Chief Specials (to come back to the theme of our forum. ) Can you visualize the Duke in one of his modern detective movies with a Chief Special in that big paw of his... the bad guy might be amused... very briefly!

Froggie