38/44 Heavy Duty

hoosier4guns · #1 07-30-2015, 11:14 AM

I,m kinda new to this site but have been a member of the other site for quite a while now. I just picked this up in a trade..have just shy of $500 invested..always had my eye out for one of these and stumbled onto this one as they don't show up around here very often. It is an honest 85% nickel 4" barrel. It cleaned up quite well. Serial number is 54499 which I've been told dates to 1938. Grips are not correct but that's ok. I posted this on the other site and got the help I needed. I think that I did ok on this one. I'll post a pic and all comments are welcome. Thank you for having me on this site. Dick

410bore · #2 07-30-2015, 11:15 AM

Looks like a nice gun. However, the barrel and ejector rod (at least) have been replaced. Those parts are post war.

bruner1981 · #3 07-30-2015, 11:17 AM

Welcome to the forum!

You got a 38/44 Heavy Duty in a trade for a gun worth $500 to you? That's one heck of a deal! Clearly I'm not looking in the right places to find more guns. Congrats on the new gun!

DWalt · #4 07-30-2015, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 410bore

Looks like a nice gun. However, the barrel and ejector rod (at least) have been replaced. Those parts are post war.

I agree. But it's still worth $500. Have you checked to see if the chambers have been elongated to accept .357 Magnum? Many were.

Art Doc · #5 07-30-2015, 03:15 PM

I recall reading that nickel HDs made before the war are extremely rare. But that's assuming the finish is original. If the barrel is replaced any collector value is nil, anyway. These make make really cool shooters.

hoosier4guns · #6 07-30-2015, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the responses

. I had no clue as to the barrel not being a pre war...heck I didn't know if the gun itself was pre war or post war.

It locks up tight as a drum so I figured it would be a good shooter. That's what I like about the Smith&Wesson forums..friendly folks who know their stuff and don't mind sharing their knowledge. I'm far from a collector..more of an accumulator. You folks be safe and God bless. Dick

05CarbonDRZ · #7 07-30-2015, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaxonPig

I recall reading that nickel HDs made before the war are extremely rare. But that's assuming the finish is original. If the barrel is replaced any collector value is nil, anyway. These make make really cool shooters.

I would not say extremely rare,Less than 10% overall.But a Factory Nickle 4" Pre War HD is very rare,Less than Half a Dozen I think.

serger · #8 07-30-2015, 07:32 PM

If you take the stocks off and look on the left side of the grip you might see a 3 or 4 digit number. If there is one it means the revolver went back to Smith for work. Supposedly, they quit marking reworks/ workordered guns in the early 80's. I've got a 66 no dash with 1080(October 1980) and a post war M&P with a date of 374(March 1974) on it. I attached a pic of that.

sw282 · #9 07-30-2015, 08:36 PM

hoosier.. 0pen the cylinder and look in the ejector rod housing channel. There will be a number... lf this number is the same as the serial number located on th butt of the gun the barrel is 0riginal...lf not, the barrel has been replaced

GrayGhost99 · #10 07-30-2015, 08:45 PM

I am located in indiana as well, you didn't get that up in the tippicanoe county area or there abouts did you?
If you don't wish to answer pm me please
Not the end of the world but I have some info on it if that is the same one

hoosier4guns · #11 07-30-2015, 09:56 PM

There is not a number in the ejector rod housing..the only stamping on the right grip is a n denoting nickel plating...the left grip has 458 stamped, probably an assembly number but the frame has the number 13685 where the model numbers are found plus the same number on the yoke, probably assembly numbers. GrayGhost99.. I picked this up in SW Ohio just across the state line. I really appreciate the interest and help. I did check to see if it would take the .357 but no such luck. I shot it yesterday with my reloads ..3gr of Bullseye with 158gr cast rn. Great shooter so I am satisfied.Thanks again. Dick

hoosier4guns · #12 07-30-2015, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serger

If you take the stocks off and look on the left side of the grip you might see a 3 or 4 digit number. If there is one it means the revolver went back to Smith for work. Supposedly, they quit marking reworks/ workordered guns in the early 80's. I've got a 66 no dash with 1080(October 1980) and a post war M&P with a date of 374(March 1974) on it. I attached a pic of that.

There is a number on the bottom inside of the left grip 458. I assume this is an assembly number since there is no star stamped on the butt denoting a factory rework..would this be worth getting a letter from Mr.Jinks? Here's a pic of the number in question.

JayCeeNC · #13 07-30-2015, 10:23 PM

The "4 58" looks to be a service department stamp indicating it was back to the factory for some work in April, 1958.
At some point the service dept. quit using the star beside the serial number, but I'm not sure what year this occurred.

wheelgun610 · #14 07-30-2015, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sw282

hoosier.. 0pen the cylinder and look in the ejector rod housing channel. There will be a number... lf this number is the same as the serial number located on th butt of the gun the barrel is 0riginal...lf not, the barrel has been replaced

As noted earlier, the ejector rod and barrel are obvious (post-WWII) replacements due to the lack of the knob on the rod and the corresponding relief cut in the shroud.

Mark