Saw a .38-44 at a gun show last Saturday, but passed on it as I thought I was going to buy something else instead. I called the seller on Sunday and he still had the gun, so I told him I would buy it. We met this afternoon and I picked it up. Got it for $550.00.

It has a 5 inch barrel and diamond checkered walnut magnas (high horn?), but unfortunately they are from an earlier 6 digit gun. Serial number is S 91758 and the number is stamped in barrel shroud, rear of cylinder, and the rear of the extractor. It is in very nice condition with some flaws, but overall it is worth the $550.00 in my opinion.

One other thing. What was the hole drilled in the butt stock for?

Bill,
Looks like a sound and wise investment, despite the stocks not being correct.
As for the hole, it was used for one of the jigs during manufacturing/assembly. There were a couple of threads in the SWCA section about it.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

Nice piece/nice deal! I was reading about them this morning in SCSW. A fixed-sight N-frame; how cool is that?!

Thanks SASABERANGER and Engine18.

Great catch. I would have been on that one like a hounddog on a ham bone at first sight. Once you shoot it I think you will become a member of the 38/44 club. These guns are awsome, I now have 4 and on the quest for more. You were lucky to get the right style grips. Three of my 4 had after market plastic grips and only one had the correct ones number to the gun. There are several forum members that can make those grips like new. Later!

Bill,

That gun is easily worth $550 in my opinion too; that was a good buying decision. HDs are great revolvers. I have two Prewar models and one postwar transitional. I am likely to have more; I am always on the lookout for an Austin PD gun with C&R status so it can come into California if I can't find one here.

Based on the serial number, your gun probably shipped in 1952 or 1953.

The number on the stocks would indicate they could have been on an N-frame shipped as early as the first half of 1966 -- or a little later if the gun they were mounted on sat in inventory for a while.

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David Wilson

Bill,
I think you did real well as it is a grat looking HD! It should be a good shooter too. I always take a .357 mag and drop in a chamber to see if it has been bored out-I have a couple that have. I thought Dave was looking for a pre war gun, all original in a Blue Picture Box!
Thanks for posting the pics and be sure to let us know how it shoots for you.
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

A good old gun at a good price. Congrats!

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

I'll take one of those too, if you have a spare.

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David Wilson

Nice catch Bill. Saw that gun and had no interest. Glad you ended up with it. He also had a pre-24, 61/2" bbl for 1500.00 - Nice. Let us know how it shoots, Larry.

Very nice catch, Bill! I think you did very well as far as price is concerned. I agree with delta-419, "Once you shoot it..." HD's are definitely addicting.

Congrats,

Jerry

i also looked at it at the medina show.went to berea show and was going to check it out closer and remove grips.if you hadn't got it i probably would have bought it.it seems like a nice deal,congrats curt.

Took the gun to the range this afternoon and it did okay. I was shooting a 158 grn swc powered by 4.7 grns of HP38. The gun gave me a nice group, 4 to 5 inches, just below the bull at 25 yards, so I tried "Kentucky windage", but didn't do so well with that. I've ordered a Wondersight for it, and will try again once I get that installed.

I'm going to have to experiment with some other loads as well.
I am happy with it though. Now to find a Model of 1950 Outdoorsman.

Bill