PRE WAR 4" NICKEL HEAVY DUTY

1Aspenhill · Jan 12, 2011

THANKS TO CHRIS, I HAVE FILLED A LONG EMPTY HOLE IN MY COLLECTION. THIS GUN IS BY NO MEANS A SAFE QUEEN ALTHOUGH BY LOOKING AT IT, IT HAS NOT BEEN FIRED MUCH AND HAS AT SOME POINT IN TIME BEEN DROPPED IN THE DIRT AS WHEN I TOOK THE GRIPS OFF, THERE WAS DIRT UNDERNEATH THE GRIPS. THE NICKEL IS WORN IN PLACES BUT THE ENTIRE GUN IS ORIGINAL INCLUDING THE GRIPS AND BLUE PICTURE BOX. I'M GLAD TO GET THIS ONE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MARKED BOX. THIS GUN, SERIAL NUMBER 58114, WAS SHIPPED TO THE CITY OF GALVESTON TEXAS IN JULY 1940 AND HAS A HUMPBACK HAMMER AND MAGNA GRIPS. THE HUMPBACK HAMMER HAS SOME NICE CASEHARDENING WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT CLOSELY. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE SIDES OF THE HAMMER ARE GROOVED THAT IT IS A REGISTERED MAGNUM HUMPBACK HAMMER. THANKS AGAIN CHRIS!

Smith &W · Jan 12, 2011

Way to go , Bill. All original and the box too.It dont get much better.

gjamison · Jan 12, 2011

it's a little beat but it filled a hole, now you
have to find a mint one....

nice find

Dave T · Jan 12, 2011

KOOL!

Dave

rburg · Jan 12, 2011

I love it! Its been a long search, but we all knew they were out there, just waiting to be had. Now the pressure's off. Maybe there'll be another and you can get it cheap!

bgrafsr · Jan 12, 2011

Good score Bill. Congratulations.

j38 · Jan 12, 2011

Very nice, Bill! Just how long HAVE you been looking for that?

Jerry

victorylarry · Jan 12, 2011

Bill,
Congratulations, finally proof of a surving one! Do you know of any other pre war 4" nickel HD's that exist in collections?
Larry

1Aspenhill · Jan 12, 2011

Jerry-A long time!
Larry-There is another one out there, smokey nickel and does not have the original grips.
Thanks,
Bill

230grfmj · Jan 12, 2011

Bill,

WOW!! A nice score on a very rare and EXTREMELY hard to find pre war Heavy Duty.

Congratulations!

Tom

Lefkiguy · Jan 13, 2011

Always feels great when you get something you've been looking for, congrats!

Memphis · Jan 13, 2011

VERY nice package! I like it a lot. But I'm going to miss the daily "wanted to buy" request that was growing to record lengths. I've also wondered about the N frame grooved HBH's...if they were mainly on RM's. I've got an outdoorsman with a grooved one, and a HD with a smooth-sided one. I always look forward to your posts (and your website). Cool gun!

Roger

1Aspenhill · Jan 13, 2011

Roger,
Changed the wanted request! The other 3 HDs with HBHs have smooth sided hammers.
Bill

rburg · Jan 13, 2011

There are many mysteries in the collecting of S&Ws. One is how all or nearly all the KC Magnums lost their HBHs. Or maybe another is how they got them in the first place (they don't letter that way.) Most of us also assume there was a stockpile of RM hammers in some drawer at the S&W factory during WWII. I've always assumed they'd sell one to anybody who sent them a check. I've missed a few HBH guns over the years. But not too many. I still look and I'd buy if I saw one at a fair price.

One gun show vendor even says someplace he has a fitted box with 3 of them inside. The two flavors of N and one K (I assume its the nose-firing pin version, not the K22). Memphis has scored a few on auctions in the past, too. They're out and about if anyone really wants to make it a big priority.

I've got a 3rd Model Target with one on (non-grooved) and David Carroll has a 3rd Model 5" gun (his old duty revolver). I've seen a few on 38/44 Outdoorsman. I've even got a K22 hammer from Lee...someplace.

The legend goes that only RMs had grooved (not counting 1917s), and that all the rest had non-grooved. Any you see that violate the rule are most likely modifications in the field.

One of the fun things to do is pick up a HBH gun, close your eyes and let your thumb find the hammer. The next thing you do, involuntarily, is smile. Really, try it some time.

1Aspenhill · Jan 13, 2011

Dick,
I will say that the trend appears that the majority of late 39-40 era 4" HDs I've seen have HBHs. I don't know if it was a marketing thing in that they feel really great in use and coupled with a 4" barrel they were a hit and everyone wanted one. The Sandusky Ohio PD ordered 16ea 4" blue HDs with HBH.
Bill

dacoontz · Jan 13, 2011

Bill,
It does look better then was expected per the original posts. And the grips and box are in great shape. Congrats on making the deal and getting the space filled. Would be curious to see what is marked on the frame under the grips. The usual "N"? Thanks for showing her off for the rest of us.

ladder13 · Jan 13, 2011

Bill, didn't you just score a different 4 inch nickle pre war here recently, or is it the same firearm?

Oh nevermind, it was a "light lug" gun. I can't keep track of all the gems you come up with.

BruceHMX · Jan 13, 2011

Very nice Bill. Congrats on a great find. Carried a lot and shot very little. Or perhaps just stored in the wrong place. Either way a nice addition to your collection.

1Aspenhill · Jan 13, 2011

Daniel,
Only mark on the frame under the grips is a "N".
Ladder13,
That was a Texas DPS 4" Post war that I posted recently.
Bruce,
The wrong place is the coastal area of Texas where the humidity is very high and not taking care of it. You just don't see many of them around.
Thanks again,
Bill

zywina · Jan 15, 2011

It always satisfying to fill that one gap in your collection, the only problem now is what is next on that holy grail list? This collecting is more addictive that sex and drugs! Great find I am sure glad for you, Dale in Canada!

PRE WAR 4" NICKEL HEAVY DUTY

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