38/44 HD

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Steve M.

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I think that the 38/44 Heavy Duty is about the rawbone-est fighting revolver that I have ever seen. I found on on GunBroker last year and when I took off the stag to clean under it, look at what I found. I called the Ranger Museum to try to find some provenance on it, but no joy. I found these pics and it looks like the same revolver. Maybe or maybe not, but I like to think that it is...
 

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Steve M. said:
I think that the 38/44 Heavy Duty is about the rawbone-est fighting revolver that I have ever seen. I found on on GunBroker last year and when I took off the stag to clean under it, look at what I found. I called the Ranger Museum to try to find some provenance on it, but no joy. I found these pics and it looks like the same revolver. Maybe or maybe not, but I like to think that it is...
Click to expand...

Wow, cool. You should flip over the stags so we can see them. I'll bet you can line up the jigging to what is in the pictures to tell if they are the same grips. No two are exactly alike.
 
Love your gun. I would get a letter and any Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation documents that are available. The letter on this Registered Magnum showed that it went to a distributor in San Antonio. The SWHF documents tied it to James C (Doc) White, Texas Ranger and FBI Special Agent.

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smithra_66 said:
You should flip over the stags so we can see them. I'll bet you can line up the jigging to what is in the pictures to tell if they are the same grips. No two are exactly alike.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly...You might also search for images of other notes/handwriting of Capt. Banks in case the printing was done by himself...:cool:...Ben
 
Wow, that is very cool! A HD with those stocks is really a find. You must be living right. 👍
Can’t wait to see the letter and any history you can find.
 
For those who don't believe good things can be found at the end of rainbows. And to think you've been sitting on that for a while. Congratulations is an understatement!

I have a Wolf & Klar 44 that had the names of two Kilgore, TX, PD officers written on the undsite. BTW, a month's subscription to newspapers.com might be a bargain for you.
 
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The Bottom Line:

All guns are good, some are better, and every now and then, a few are phantasmagorical!!

I'm thinking this could be of those few--------and even if it isn't, it's Not Too Shabby!!

Ralph Tremaine
 
I'm an old fart and knew some of the Rangers from the 50's and 60's. Worked under one who was sheriff of our county who was dismissed from the Rangers for being to rough; so the story goes. Knew Captain Banks when I was a mid-thirties man and never saw anyone besides a picture of Paul Bunyan who was as big. Get his book "Legend in Bronze" about the work he did cleaning up the gambling and prostitution in the Dallas, Tx area. I also got to meet Captain A.Y. Allee and a Mr. Mack [who was a partner to Captain Frank Hamer] when they worked refinery security on the Texas coast during WWII. A lot of these old time Texas lawmen were absolutely fearless and that is the county sheriff's also. Cg
 
Pic #3 looks like it might be some sort of promo shot... the Ranger seated in the car sure looks like Kenneth Toby well known 1950s actor.
 
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Steve M.: You've been a Forum member since 2005 with only 7 posts! Where have you been? And then you come out of nowhere with this sweet HD wearing stag stocks with Texas Ranger provenance! Wow! You did really nicely with that GB find- congratulations! I hope that you take that beauty out and put some rounds downrange. Don't be a stranger. Enjoy!
 
otis24 said:
A little history on Jay Banks. Just posting for informational/historical purposes.

The Horrible Truth of Love Field's Texas Ranger Statue - D Magazine
Click to expand...

I found that article when I first started doing research on this gun. It is true that the Frontier Battalion was accused of excessive force against Mexicans, but one must consider the times. The Rangers were born to protect settlers from Mexican predation and the violent acts of those that would choose to "walk on the wild side'. That concept has always been a part of history. Human nature being what it is, there will always be that sort of conflict. Is it right or fair or just? I suppose that it depends on which side of the story that you are on.
Capt. Banks was a lawman during one of the most turbulent times in American history. He was a product of that time, and I am sure that he had views that reflected those times. We all do. I think that it is easy to judge from a 50-, 60-, or 70 years ago perspective, sitting in my easy chair in a land that is not plagued by either border ruffians (except from South Carolina...they are just up the interstate on the other side of the river!) or freedom fighters, depending on your view. Joaquin Jackson wrote of this in his book. History is always written by the victors. I have seen that stature at Love Field, and I think that it was wrong to remove it. It is an iconic piece of Texas and America. History is there to appreciate and learn from. We can't do that if it gets removed or painted over.
I am a retired lawman. I think of the tremendous memories that I have when I look at my duty guns. I am sure that the thugs that I pointed my gun at would have a very different view on the circumstances that caused me to have to draw it.
 
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