I have searched this sight and Aspenhills web sight and have concluded that the were 8700 transitional HDs, but I couldn't determine what the break down on the barrel length numbers is? Anyone know?

Thanks, Pete

If 1Aspenhill does not know, then only Roy Jinks knows.

Yes, I would have sent Bill a PM but I though others might be interested in the answer as well.

According to Jim Fisher, the transitional 1926s went like this

900- 5"
300- 6.5"
250- 4"

I wonder how the ratios compare. Seems like I have seen a good few 4", a couple 5", and only one 6.5"

Pete,
My number is 9077. I'dd have to do some math, but I'd say that the order of most manufactured are 4, 5 and 6.5 inch. There were so few 44s and 357s.I'll try to work up the numbers soon.
Bill

__________________
38-44heavyduty.com

Thanks Bill!

Ok, before I post the numbers, I just want to say that the data is skewed because of the Missouri State Highway Patrol 5" HDs. We are fortunate to have those numbers but they throw the rest of them off as they were collected one at a time.
Based on 609 known Transition HDs:
4"-39%
5"-58%
6.5"-3%
If I took out the MSHP numbers, there would have only been 72 5" HDs and the percentages would have been:
4"-73%
5"-22%
6.5"-5%
If we had all the data, I think this is what the breakout would really be.
Hope you enjoy this!
Bill

__________________
38-44heavyduty.com

We here in Missouri raise the skew in a positive direction on most everything . . . but especially when it comes to 5" barrel lengths!

Russ

Beagleye - I culled this from a thread last year:
"...there were only about 1300 total of the Transition (N-frame .44) 1926 models made.
The split is about 100 4 inch, 800 5 inch and about 400 6-1/2 inch. - Jim Fisher, S&W Forum 1-25-13

I believe that Jim also posted a photo of a 4" transition 1926 model with the caption, "Less than 25 known." This makes for a very rare bird!

__________________
Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

Great info Guys! Thanks!

So...
Finding a decent 6.5" Transition gun will be a challenge...

tp

I have one in 44 special, I need one in 38/44.

I'd like to see that...
How rare is a 6.5" Transitional .44 Special?

tp

Less than 500 made according to the experts. mine has a modified front sight and a bit of pitting near the muzzle, still manages to make me pretty happy:

The MSHP 5 inch Heavy Duty revolvers are certainly NOT skewing the numbers for actual collecting. Does anyone know where they all went? Finding one these days seems really difficult. And the odd modification the few survivors seem to have raises even more questions. We will likely never know the whole story as I am not aware of anyone living today who has first hand knowledge of what happened causing most to be sent back for work and then returned to MSHP, and why the strange modification. Speculation, yes. Actual knowledge, no.

Shawn

I haven't heard any of this, can you fill me in or tell where the best info is?

Thanks, Pete

Russ, on this forum as "linde" and Bill, on this forum as "1Aspenhill" can probably provide more information than I can, but when Russ and I did the article on the MSHP 5 inch Combat Masterpiece revolvers for the SWCA Journal, Russ also got the entire list of serial numbers and MSHP information on the MSHP HD revolvers.

The MSHP records show that most of those revolvers were sent back to S&W for some sort of service after MSHP took delivery, but the reason is not clearly explained in the MSHP records. In any event, the small handful of survivors from the MSHP shipment that have been examined have a modification to the hammer stud visible from the exterior of the revolver. Since that was not the normal way those revolvers were made, it has caused some discussion among those interested in the topic.

First, it is not known for sure why nearly all of the MSHP HD revolvers were returned to S&W. Secondly, it is not known for sure what S&W did to each revolver when it was returned. Thirdly, it is not known for sure if S&W made the modification to the hammer stud previously mentioned during the return, or if that modification was original to the MSHP HD revolvers, in which case, perhaps something else caused the return to S&W of nearly all of the revolvers.

Before any of us had seen an actual documented example according to the serial number list, I had speculated that perhaps the fixed sights were not properly regulated for the ammo used by MSHP, or perhaps the ammo changed, thereby requiring some modification to the fixed sights.

That theory was abandoned after we finally got a look at a couple of revolvers that were in the shipment according to the serial number list. The aforementioned modification to the hammer stud "stands out like a sore thumb" to a person like Bill, who is really the person most knowledgeable on HDs, with the possible exception of Roy. In any event, most of it is speculation and theory based upon the fact that the very small number (handful, maybe) that have surfaced all seem to have this modification. Again, it is not known (at least as of the last time I talked to Russ about this issue) if the hammer studs came that way, or if they were modified to the present configuration, but I believe there is support for the idea that they were modified when sent back. Why they were is anyone's guess, as I cannot think of any other HD I have seen with this particular modification. In addition, I am not aware of any issue with hammer studs on the HDs that would have required this modification to so many revolvers. Again, until more MSHP HDs surface to compare the records against those returned, and to look for the modification, it is a mystery.

I hope Russ and Bill add to this or correct any mistakes I have made.

Very interesting. Do you have a picture of said modifications so that I might keep an eye for for one?

Very nice - thanks for the photo.

tp

I'll expand on this when I get home. The last SWCA journal contained an article I did on transition HDs changes.
Bill

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

__________________
38-44heavyduty.com

First,
When you look at the known Transition HD serial numbers, the 284 MSHP serial numbers do skew the data. In the overall number of Transition HDs, I'd say that they don't because the 4" was the most popular Transition HD and probably the most popular barrel length of all the post war HDs. If you look above at my post @#6, you will see what I mean. I expect that 22% was a good number for 5" HDs.

Beagleeye,
Currently there are only 30 known shipped 6.5" Transition HDs and I don't think I have your serial number.

__________________
38-44heavyduty.com

Sorry Bill, it's a 44 special. Tango papa ask for a pic in post #9. Thread creep. S63092.

Best, Pete

Bill, I too am very interested in seeing the MSHP hammer stud modification. Where could they have gone?
Jim

__________________
Halfway and one more step

If you look at the pic below, you will see a "dimple" under the thumb latch. This is the hammer stud. The serial number of this gun is S68327.
Next is a MSHP gun, S68967 and the hammer block is flush with the frame.

The next gun, S72185, has a flush hammer stud.

The other 2 MSHP guns we have pics of have the flush hammer stud and do not appear to have been refinished except where the hammer stud is. The remainder of the guns until the 1950 model came into being have flush hammer studs. This must have been yet another engineering upgrade as the factory moved towards the newer model with a short throw. All of the guns prior to the 1950 model have long actions. Where are the other 280 guns? Who knows? Russ has them all in his safe and is not telling anyone!
Bill

__________________
38-44heavyduty.com

Thanks for the great information Bill.

I don't have them all . . . am still missing one or two

Russ