.38/44 Heavy Duty revolver in box

[mrcvs]

These are neat as they bridge the gap between the Triple Lock revolver and the Registered Magnum. And I didn’t have one. And so I bought the best I could find.

[mrcvs]

And with A box. Might be THE box, but difficult to say, for sure.

[mrcvs]

And with a letter stating it shipped in 1934.

[StrawHat]

Nice looking revolver! I have a post war 5” and enjoy shooting it.

If you handload, the Skeeter Skelton 38 Heavy Duty load is a good one.

Kevin

[mrcvs]

A reposting of a few photographs…for discussion.

Note the repeat of the information in the inside of the box. I don’t know if this was designed with Mexico or South America in mind.

Shipped 20 July 1934 to Kelly-How-Thomson Hardware Company in Duluth, Minnesota. Has a 5” barrel.

I generally avoid revolvers late enough to have “Made in U.S.A.” on it, as it’s a scar upon the frame…but sometimes you make exceptions.

And, is this THE cleaning rod or just one that is inconsequential.

And, now, what’s this worth? The best things in life don’t come cheaply.

[mchom]

Congratulations mrcvs. That is quite the beauty.

[moosedog]

Sharpest I've seen. Like a presentation from a time traveler.

[dobegrant]

Congratulations that is a really nice looking revolver

[lestert357]

Very nice package!

[Retired W4]

MADE IN U.S.A. a scar. Well, it may not fit perfectly in your collection but I guess you will just have to live with it. Beautiful Heavy Duty!

[mrcvs]

Originally Posted by Retired W4

MADE IN U.S.A. a scar. Well, it may not fit perfectly in your collection but I guess you will just have to live with it. Beautiful Heavy Duty!

Well, I didn’t mean it like that.

Not much is made in the U.S.A. these days and, if I can find something made in the U.S.A. today, that’s fortunate indeed.

I meant it detracts from the smooth lines of the frame otherwise, and the vast majority of what I collect predates when this was applied to the frame, circa 1923.

Other than this revolver and a Registered Magnum revolver, most models I like were available prior to 1923, and, even those models, I gravitate towards circa 1920 or before because of the opportunity to find examples with gold plated recessed brass medallions, the appearance of which I have always liked.

[mrcvs]

Anyone want to take a stab at valuation, with box, and possibly original cleaning rod (as well as factory letter)? I couldn’t find any examples of recent sales, but did consult SCSW4 for help, but that’s a bit dated now.

[22hipower]

Value? Prices on those fluctuate a bit but that appears to be the nicest one I've seen and with a box, quite possibly the box. I paid $1272 for a 6.5 inch with the wrong (2nd model) grips and a box (not correct for the gun but was correct for my post war Outdoorsman) at a recent RIA auction. That gun is nice, and there are fewer of the 6.5s, but not nearly as nice as yours. From the pictures I'd think $2k would be a good price, wouldn't be surprised to see it go at auction for quite a bit more given the condition. Anyway, congratulations on adding it to your collection.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[Rodan]

Beautiful Heavy Duty!

I have one that likely shipped the same year (441xx), but is in nowhere near as nice condition.

As far as valuation, typical pre-war 5" HDs seem to go in the $800-1000 range. HDs in that condition with the original box are rare, though. I would expect $1500 or maybe a bit more from a serious HD collector. Most of the HDs in that price range I've seen on the auction sites go no-bids, but yours is nicer than what I've seen recently.

I may also be totally off base...

[Retired W4]

I will concur with 22hipower on the 2K+. This post war nickel HD went into the stratosphere and I could not follow. Now I wish I had but no telling where the bidding would have stopped.

[mrcvs]

I will post the valuation from SCSW4, which dates from 2016, so the valuations are dated now. Also, in the Biden economy, just because a valuation is from 8 years ago doesn’t mean it has necessarily increased over those 8 years. The valuations given are not retail, but suggestive of what to expect in a gun show type setting when both buyer and seller are motivated. ANIB is Ad New in Box. My example is as close as one might expect to that. I didn’t pay that much for it, this being listed as $2800. My photograph is from page 181 of SCSW4.

Also on page 181, it states that in 1930, Smith & Wesson made a few prototypes chambered in .38 Colt Super to test the market in Mexico and South America. I’m guessing mine and some, or all, Heavy Duty boxes had printing in Spanish in case a manufactured revolver was destined for the Mexican or South American market.

EDIT: This photograph I posted states above the values that this model shipped 1930 to 1935 in maroon boxes and from 1935 to 1940 in blue picture boxes. As mine shipped in July 1934, it’s either just A box and not THE box or mine is one of the first ones to ship in a blue picture box.

This box looks very similar to the Registered Magnum box. I’m guessing that the Registered Magnum box was created leading to the design change of this one, the Registered Magnum coming out in 1935. Or the design change in boxes started in 1934 with the Heavy Duty from which the Registered Magnum box was created.

[mrcvs]

Does anyone know much about these boxes? When exactly maroon vs the blue picture box and is my hypothesis about the Spanish wording correct?

[mrcvs]

Originally Posted by mrcvs

Does anyone know much about these boxes? When exactly maroon vs the blue picture box and is my hypothesis about the Spanish wording correct?

For the record, from SCSW4, the blue picture box was introduced in early 1933. I will never know for sure if this is just A box or THE box, but it could very well be THE box based on a July 1934 ship date and, also, the condition of the revolver within the box strongly suggests it resided within a box for most or all of the last 9 decades. ANIB is defined as one such as this one, with a turn line present, that having occurred at the factory prior to shipment. Also, this being a Type I box with service stocks and this revolver being manufactured prior to the advent of magna stocks in 1935 also supports the hypothesis that this is THE box.

All idle speculation, but there is nothing present to disprove that this cannot be THE box, but nothing concrete to prove it IS THE box, other than if something like UV light might make any writing on the masking tape legible.

This random chatter is just for the historical record and not to put a feather in my cap with regards to this particular revolver.

What I have been unable to determine is when the earlier maroon box was discontinued, as I think it’s highly unlikely it was not used to ship revolvers exactly in early 1933, as Smith & Wesson never wasted anything and also was not that precisely efficient. My guess is, on page 181 of SCSW4, where it states the maroon box was utilized 1930 to 1935 and the blue picture was used 1935 to 1940, what Jim Supica really meant to say is that the maroon box was used until 1935, and, as already stated, the blue picture box came out in early 1933, meaning there was some overlap in utilization of these two types of boxes, 1933 to 1935.