Found a beauty of a postwar heavy duty .38/44 with 4" barrel. Has the correct diamond magna grips numbered to the gun, finish is I would guess +95% or better, just a little barrel rub wear and a turn line, everything else is nice, definetly not refinished either.

What are these going for these days?

Is it a transition HD or 1950 model. Either one could go between $600-1200.
Hope this helps,
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

Pretty sure it's not a transitional model, it had the more polished finish of the later 50's

Well... went back for a closer look today and bought it.

I think it's actually a pre-war HD with early postwar magna's instead of the proper grips.

Spotting features:
one line "Made in USA" markings on the right side of the frame
large S&W trade mark on cover plate
4" barrel with tombstone front sight
matching serial # on barrel, butt and cylinder
old style long throw hammer typical of pre-war S&W hand ejectors
Early Post-war style magna diamond grips with metal grip screw escutcheon, large checkering area
serial # 6038_ (no S prefix)

The one question I have, is from my research online and what I read in the SCSW, postwar models should have a 4 line S&W Marcas Registratas enscription on the right side of the frame instead of the single line "made in usa". Also if it's a postwar, it should have the old style grips, with large medallion I assume.

$375 out the door... thoughts on the purchase? How hard will it be to find the proper grips for this?

Dont have the gun yet, so no pics. I ended up buying this, a no dash model 15 and a browing hi-power, so put 20% down and doing the layaway thing. Hope to pick it up around the week of Thanksgiving or so.

Excellent price. That gun probably shipped in 1939 or early 1940. Prewar diamond magnas will cost you nearly as much as the gun did, but you are so far ahead on the purchase you have money to burn. Nice that it has a four-inch barrel. I believe those are less common in prewar specimens than in postwar production. The easiest way to tell the prewar magnas from postwar magnas at a glance involves the corners of the checking field. Postwar fields have rounded corners, prewar sharp/angled.

The four-line address began to be applied in 1948, so commercial guns produced from late '45 through early '48 will have the single-line address.

Eagerly awaiting pics.

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David Wilson

When did they switch from the older style grips like this:



to what we know as magnas?

Actually I may have found my own answer in the "grip thread"

So these are early pre-war magnas??



If so, I have the correct grips. I thought that all pre-war stuff had the older style grips... wow so I got even more of a deal?

You got an amazing deal. I read past your statement in the original post that the stocks numbered to the gun.

Quick, go buy a lottery ticket!

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David Wilson

I have run across some deals before, but this is turning out to be one of the better ones. The pawn shop I bought it from obviously had no idea what they had.

A while back, I bought a model 28 with the wrong grips... coke target grips, and after I sold the grips, I basically got the gun for $100

You got a great deal! As for post war guns, it was approx S68327-40 range that the Heavy Duty transitioned from the single line address to the 4 line address. The grips on the pre war Outdoorsman are the correct ones for your HD. Can't wait for the pics!
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

killer price! sounds very nice

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

Yes, if you don't post pics I'm gonna send you my 6 month old grandson to babysit...............

Sounds like a great buy.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

Great score. Congrats.

where are the pictures?

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38-44heavyduty.com