Greetings fellow smithophiles:

I was at my local gun shop and noticed a heavy duty, unusual serial number S63000, 5 inch barrel with a tag that said no warranties, as is. I asked the proprietor who answered that the cylinder has been bored out to 357 and that was the reason for the disclaimer. It was a nice looking piece and very inexpensive so I bought it. I dont need to shoot 357 but i wonder if its safe.Its a first year postwar shipped with pre war parts. Not bad for $350..!!!!Lettering looks good, no buggered screws, just ugly old pachmayr grips which i took off.The cylinder looks professionally done and the recoil shield does not show signs of a lot of use

Comments appreciated. I think i will shoot 38 special lead.


















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Gun Control= Using Both Hands

Being trapped in time in a part of the World that does not permit any .357's, let me say that I've fired some pretty scarey stuff through Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman revolvers trying to get the power up there. They will really take it, no doubt about it.

In my unqualified and humble opinion, the stuff you're talking about shooting will never wear that baby out. They are really tough and seem to take even Elmer's load without sticking.

You got a nice one there. You load up some of Elmer's 38/44 loads for that old gal and she'll make the 357 Mags check their hold cards and that's plumb center.

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Eccentric old coot

Rechambering the N frame .38 Specials to .357 Magnum apparently was pretty common practice in the past. I had one in college that I shot quite a bit with Magnum ammo, mostly handloads (15.0 grains -2400 under a cast 160 grain SWC) and it did it no harm. I sold it to a fellow I saw frequently at the range I used, and he was shooting Magnums by the coffee can-full through it still 10 years later.

I doubt any reasonable .38 Special load you could cook up would bother your revolver in the slightest. If your gun is sound now, it will stay that way with correctly loaded ammunition. Deepening the chambers doesn't weaken the cylinder, and the original .38-44 cartridge the gun was designed for was hotter than any current .38 Special +P.

I like your stocks, too.

That's a great find, and a super price....I would have bought it without a second thought. It looks really good with the stags too

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On the Oak Savannah

I have a Nickle 38/44 HD with a 4 inch barrel. One of my favorites. As soon as Patrick gets his shop up and running again I will add a set of stag stocks like yours to it.

That one is a Beaut! Enjoy it!

I too would have bought it without hesitation. I also would have shot it without hesitation. I am a real fan of the 38/44 loadings (what 38 Special +P pretends to be).

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Too bad the nimrod stamped the barrel. Still worth what you paid.

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No life story has happy end.

Nice early HD! Probably a Jul 1946 gun. doesn't appear to have been shot much with either 38 or 357. It still has a lot of life left in it. I'd say you got a real great deal there.
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

Ditto on the restamping the barrel, but without a doubt you have a great find! The Grashorns are perfect for it, given that the originals are gone. Patrick does fine work!

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Even older, even crankier....

First off, nice gun. I would have bought it also, so my compliments!

I find that statement that 38/44's being recut to 357's interesting. I have around 30 38/44's and yet none are recut that I know of. Normally I check every one but there are a few I have never tried on. So basically I am zero for thirty.

If it was such a common practice why do I have none?

Actually I only know of one that I have seen in person.

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SWCA 1646

Realy nice HD! I too would have bought it in a heartbeat at that price. Of the six that I own, one really beautiful nickel post war HD is a .357 mag. It shoots great both with .38 Spl and .357. Be aware that on some .357s you will need to clean it a bit more as the fouling from the 38spls is a little dirty. You did great!

I would have picked that one up in a heart beat for the price. Very nice looking with the stags as well. I only have one but would like to obtain more in the future.

Guys, I really appreciate your knowledge and input both historical and the reloading info. With your information , I know more about it and especially what to shoot through it. Thanks
for sharing
Haris1

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Gun Control= Using Both Hands

Nice....nice..nice.... have fun and congrats on that gun!! good man!!!

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Heavy Duty Enthusiast!!!!!

Nice 357HD and very cool serial number. I have #S63104, .44HE Model of 1926, shipped July 19, 1946 to Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston, TX.
Even though your HD is reamed and re-stamped, it's still in great condition and retains the original finish. It's a nice example of the 1946-48 transition period N frame. Notice the transitional features: Long action, large ejector rod knob, single line address on the frame, relief cut under the thumb latch. These features were carried over from the pre-war period and were phased out while S&W developed the features found on the 1950 and later models.

I'da bought it in a heartbeat. Congrats and Enjoy!

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Congrats and great pictures. And yes, you did well on the price. I would of jumped on buying it too. I hardly ever see a heavy duty in California.
Regards,
Howard

A nice cast bullet and some 2400 and you will run with any Model 28 or N frame .357 out there.

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Vaya con Dios

Very nice one ! It is indeed too bad someone stamped the barrel but a GREAT price !

I own a few .38/44 Outdoorsman and three were rechambered to .357 Magnum. I shoot warm .38 Special level loads in .357 brass.

Here is one of my favorites that Steve handed me in Tulsa a couple years ago.

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Peter:

Maybe you buy nicer guns than I do!

Of the maybe 10 H.D.'s I have owned, 3 were rechambered. Of the two Outdoorsmen I have owned, 1 was. I am guessing that of the others I have looked at, specifically checking the cylinders for this, maybe 20-30% had been rechambered.

In a different place, long ago a young LEO had a nickeled 5" Heavy Duty that was reamed out to .357. negative issues and it shot great.