6.5 inch Pre War Heavy Duty (Letter Received 11/25/24)

[22hipower]

Found this one a while back and finally got it to the range last week. Great trigger, and lots of fun to shoot.

Anybody know how many pre war 6.5 inch HDs were produced? I have in my notes a quote from 1Aspenhill back in 2021 saying "I know of 88 6.5 pre war HDs shipped and 118 4" HDs" but I can't seem to find the thread from which it came. Anyway, perhaps there are updates to that number, seems like a pretty small population given so many HDs were produced.

This one seems mostly original although it came with incorrect grips and I added the magnas so will need a letter to confirm what grips it originally shipped with. All numbers match, except the grips of course. The front sight is probably modified although I've seen so many like it I wonder if the factory sometimes did it (no stamps indicating a return to the factory).

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qqpd9Z https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2qqpdaf https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2qqpdaa https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[mchom]

Wow! Very nice HD Jeff! I'll be watching to see what folks here know about how many made. I was under impression that both 4" and 6.5" pre war were quite hard to come across. Congratulations on a great find.

 

[KSK]

Jeff, the Pre War 6-1/2" Heavy Duty is a rare gun. This barrel length was only available by special order. The late Heavy Duty collector, Mr. Patterson had relayed to me several years ago that he noted 82 produced with this barrel length. Here are a some pictures of mine S/N 45212. Here is a link to his archived HD website: Pre War 6.5 Inch | 38/44 Heavy Duty
-Karl

 

[Truckman]

Pre War 6.5 Inch | 38/44 Heavy Duty

Bookmarked for future reference...Thank you!......Ben

 

[nyeti]

I own the one on the website that shipped to Inglewood PD in SoCal. They are really unique and one of the rarest PreWar guns out there.

 

[22hipower]

Jeff, the Pre War 6-1/2" Heavy Duty is a rare gun. This barrel length was only available by special order. The late Heavy Duty collector, Mr. Patterson had relayed to me several years ago that he noted 82 produced with this barrel length. Here are a some pictures of mine S/N 45212. Here is a link to his archived HD website: Pre War 6.5 Inch | 38/44 Heavy Duty
-Karl

Karl,

Thanks for the info and link, I meant to include the SN in my initial post, it is 45365 which isn't far from yours and shipped, according to Dr. Jinks in March of 1935. I'll letter this one and see where it shipped and hopefully there will be more interesting information with it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[KSK]

Karl,

Thanks for the info and link, I meant to include the SN in my initial post, it is 45365 which isn't far from yours and shipped, according to Dr. Jinks in March of 1935. I'll letter this one and see where it shipped and hopefully there will be more interesting information with it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

You're welcome. I look forward to how yours letters.

 

[paplinker]

I have a Heavy Duty with 6 1/2" bbl
It was special ordered by King Gun Sight company
3/10/38 3 were ordered

I did notice that Roy mentioned the factory referred to them as Outdoorsman with fixed sights even though they truly are Heavy Duties!!

Did they do that as the gun would be cheaper to buy than a OD?
Or maybe the customer did not want a grooved back strap?

 

[KSK]

Great gun, Rich! Does yours letter with the Magna stocks? Only 3 known that did, as I understand.

 

[paplinker]

Great gun, Rich! Does yours letter with the Magna stocks? Only 3 known that did, as I understand.

The gun has correctly numbered magna on it!
Fits like it should

Letter says checkered Walnut grips
Letter came with the gun 15 years ago. Maybe I should dig a little deeper

 

[KSK]

Nice! I suppose all three with Magna stocks must have been on that order then. I am not sure how much a price advantage there would be to buy a H.D. Vs an Outdoorsman. The invoice I posted above shows a price of $21.90 each. The cost to add a King Super Target Rib, would probably put it over an Outdoorsman. It is hard to beat a King Super Target rib sight, purely from a shooters perspective, however. I see the value in having it done.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

82 produced?
That goes a long ways to explain why I've never seen one!

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Jeff I like that front sight. Even if not original, it's such an improvement over the half moon for actual shooting. I wish more guns had it with the 1/10" width. There wasn't many years when the serrated ramp sight was still done as 1/10" before it was changed to 1/8" inch… early 1960s? I can see why someone would like for faster sight acquisition, but I prefer the narrower sight.

 

[paplinker]

Nice! I suppose all three with Magna stocks must have been on that order then. I am not sure how much a price advantage there would be to buy a H.D. Vs an Outdoorsman. The invoice I posted above shows a price of $21.90 each. The cost to add a King Super Target Rib, would probably put it over an Outdoorsman. It is hard to beat a King Super Target rib sight, purely from a shooters perspective, however. I see the value in having it done.

I more meant if King is going to modify a new gun anyway the initial cost of the donor gun being used. The owner was a bullseye shooter in the Navy likely.

 

[boykinlp]

Nice! I suppose all three with Magna stocks must have been on that order then. I am not sure how much a price advantage there would be to buy a H.D. Vs an Outdoorsman. The invoice I posted above shows a price of $21.90 each. The cost to add a King Super Target Rib, would probably put it over an Outdoorsman. It is hard to beat a King Super Target rib sight, purely from a shooters perspective, however. I see the value in having it done.

If I have a choice between a 6.5" S&W Outdoorsman or a 6.5" Heavy Duty with a King Target Rib, I choose the Heavy Duty ALL DAY LONG!
Larry

 

[mrcvs]

Are there any sources as to the total number of 6 1/2" .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers shipped? Are these numbers in the 80-90 range guesses, interpolations, or number observed?

In other words, of the 11,111 .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers manufactured, what total number or percentage was fitted with a 6 1/2" barrel?

 

[22hipower]

Are there any sources as to the total number of 6 1/2" .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers shipped? Are these numbers in the 80-90 range guesses, interpolations, or number observed?

In other words, of the 11,111 .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers manufactured, what total number or percentage was fitted with a 6 1/2" barrel?

I think the best we have is the records of the numbers that 1Aspenhill developed. As I mentioned in the original post that by sometime in 2021 he had identified 88 of them and some 118 4 inch models. Another member here has indicated he intends to do research and collect HDs and ODs so perhaps he'll be able to uncover more information. But I think we can conclude there aren't many 6.5s or 4s. The one posted here is the only 6.5 I've seen for sale in quite a few years of watching for them.

More may turn up. A few years ago when I first started looking for a 29-1 only 40 or so of them were known and identified by SN. Now we're up to around 70 I think it's likely more will surface.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[RKmesa]

It is in threads like this that I miss Bill Patteson. What a great guy with a passion and love for the HD.

Great guns!!! And a fun thread.

Thanks for posting,

 

[22hipower]

The letter arrived today. Nothing exciting but does confirm the 6.5 inch barrel. Sure would be interesting to know how many 6.5s were produced.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[mrcvs]

The letter arrived today. Nothing exciting but does confirm the 6.5 inch barrel. Sure would be interesting to know how many 6.5s were produced.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

Mine, also with a 6 1/2" barrel, also shipped to William H Hoegee Co, 138 South Main Street, Los Angeles, California. 196 serial numbers later than yours, but shipped 16 days earlier.