38/44 Conversion to 44 Spl

[keithherrington]

That is true if you are finished adding to the "pile".

If you are still accumulating, every one lost is a travesty that drives up the demand and increases the scarcity of the really good ones left.

Travesty? Oh, I think not. What fun would you be having as a collector if it was no challenge to find just the right piece? No, I'm convinced that each of us out there who believe a pistol is a blank canvas upon which we will craft something very special - an expression of what we think is "the ultimate" - has no real effect on you as a collector. However, hacks hurt us both. I leave you to collect yours to keep as Messrs.' Smith & Wesson intended, and my fellow customizers and I will continue to build truly unique and wonderful pieces of shootable art. Having said that I agree with the thought that IF you can get there via a different albeit less "objectionable" path, such as when I converted a Model 27 to 44 special rather than using an Outdoorsman, then we should avail yourself of that route.

My advice is manage your expectations. There will always be more of those that want to customize and modify than there will be of those like you - die hard collectors capable amassing large collections of largely the same gun. And by doing so take them out of circulation so there will be fewer people able to enjoy them.

Keith

 

[Nframecollector]

It's your gun. I say do what you want with it! It sure would make a nice .44 special!

 

[keith44spl]

As a 38/44 collector, I just cry when I see all those great 38/44 sacrificed.

Yes they are your guns, but it is still sad for me to see.

Ya know there Peter,

That they, (handguns) are all just steel and wood,
it's not like they're something that should be revered.

All of us ol timers and users of side arms, know for a fact that the 44 frame should be just that chambering.

I few say, oh leave those ol revolvers to us collectors, don't violate em by conversion....

The new production revolvers can't hold a candle to a good
conversion of an older revolver built by a true craftsman.

Cry if you like, but those of us that know the 44's & 45's are grinnin' ear to ear when we put em to use...
And smile all the to the bank when we ever decide to part with one.

This once doggy ol HD, now get a lot more holster time as a 44 Special and it's a dandy shooter to boot!

[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/SW38-4444spl3inch005-2.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/SW38-4444spl3inch005-2.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/SW38-4444spl3inch005-2.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/SW38-4444spl3inch005-2.jpg"] [/URL][/URL][/URL][/URL]


That is all for now......


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[lawandorder]

Here is a link to more altered firearms...............

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/310303-modified-altered-firearms.html

 

[mchom]

I purchased this conversion awhile back. Blued 38/44 to 44 special. They do pop up from time to time. I got it on GB and even though I probably paid too much I don't regret it and its fun to shoot. Previously I had communicated with HB about a conversion. The candidate gun I considered for conversion probably would not have been suitable according to HB. So that's a factor to consider as well.
Also I sent these two HD's to Fords to nickel them both. Both were pretty rough finish wise so I figured I did not have much to lose. I suppose I lost whatever collectors value they had but I think they sure are pretty

Mike

 

[feralmerril]

Years ago HD`s and colt SAA`s weren't considered the holy grails that they are today. Both were considered good candidates for customizing ideas.
Remember there was a period of time that you could hardly find a nice .44 special back then. I could be wrong but after the model 29 came out for some time I dont think smith even had a production 44 special available. Thats why skeeter skelton was having colts, smiths and rugers converted.
This also can get into the re blueing battle. If we talk about collecting old concourse antique cars you know darn well they have been repainted.
No, I wouldnt convert my HD today, but today I own a total of 7 44 specials. Some of them showed up after I had the HD converted.
I think next to never can you expect a conversion to be financially a good idea, (except for the guru`s that do the work).
Now if you have money to where it isnt a factor and want something different, go ahead.

 

[keith44spl]

Feralmerril's right ya know...........

In the seventies when ya couldn't find a 44 Special....We built our own.

Even with Heavy Duties and model 28 police trade-ins in the average
60 to 75 dollar range, what with nice 27s could be had for a few dollars more.

Most excellent candidates for a 44 Special or 45 Long Colt build.

I built several for my own self and never lost a penny on a one of them.

Quality always wins out....
Even today at what seems like a costly venture, it is just inflation rearing it's ugly head.

A used-up/poorly refinished HD even at todays prices are purty cheap in the whole scheme of things,
they have very little 'real' collector value and the conversion to another 'more desirable' chambering will
breath new life in to it, an enjoyable pleasure for the owner.

My most resent custom 44 Special was built on a RM, it's priceless to me, thank you.

[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_1_zps14d8d480.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_1_zps14d8d480.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_1_zps14d8d480.jpg"] [/URL][/URL][/URL]



.

 

[feralmerril]

Remember I think it was bain & davis had that 357/44? I think it was a 44 mag necked down to .357. Never hear of it lately. I suppose the ballistics would be like a 357 maximum or similar. By the way, a buddy called me from california and claims he knows about a gunshop that has 3 or 4 ruger 357 maximums brought in by a widow who has something like 300 fine old guns new in the boxs!

 

[ElToro]

i have 2 1911 colts that were done by the Colt Custom shop. each one took well over a year and i probly couldnt sell them for what i have in them. thats ok, i dont even plan to sell them.

I keep waffeling between chasing down a 58 or using a HD i have for a rebore ever since i read the American Handgunner with his 45 HD. i also have a 28 i could part out and rebuild

be prepared to wait.

 

[rhmc24]

Another .44 Special, came to me a beater outside, nice inside in .44 Russian. I did my TLC on the
outside & reamed the cylinder a little to shoot .44 Specials.

 

[rhmc24]

Here is a collage of the project I showed in #31 above. The parts collection is from a police 'destroyed' gun ----


I would have shown it sooner but couldn't locate. Knew I had it & found it in my office PC.

 

[Muley Gil]

"As a 38/44 collector, I just cry when I see all those great 38/44 sacrificed.'

I cry when I see .38/44s, because, to me, that is a waste of an N frame. I'll bet that most of those heavy .38s NEVER saw a round of .38/44 strength cartridges. Why carry a 40 oz revolver when you could carry an M&P or a Colt Police Positive Special? During my cop days, I only carried N frames if they were chambered in a caliber that started with .4-. When I carried a semiauto, it was a fullsize .45 1911 built on an aluminum frame.

I owned several M28s and one M27 and I only used them at the range, not for patrol.

 

[Green Frog]

I tend to agree with Muley Gil on this. Of course if you have a pristine example of any classic old model of S&W, most all of us agree that it would be a "bad idea" to destroy that originality, but if the potential donor gun is well worn, has "cosmetic issues" or has already been altered, then IMHO no sacrilege would occur by perfuming an upgrade, customization or whatever. The foregoing is simply my opinion, but it's mine! Of course, the idea of using an N-frame of any model to shoot even the strongest of the 38 Specials seems to be overkill... the beginning of the L-frame came along quite a bit later than the pre-War HD and Outdoorsman models, so if you want to shoot something too heavy for the K-frame, there you go. I agree that cartridges in N-frame should begin with a "4."

Froggie

 

[Keith Brown]

The 44 special is a favorite of mine and I think a five inch prewar Outdoorsman in 44 special is about as sweet as it gets. The Bowen gun in the earlier post is just the ticket.

 

[rhmc24]

In my re-working & re-creating old guns I only do it to guns distressed for some reason that destroys collector value --- & I carry it a bit farther by doing no more than repair, if needed, to old guns basically in fair condition showing their life of use & abuse, the evidence of a history I wish I knew more about.

 

[Green Frog]

In my re-working & re-creating old guns I only do it to guns distressed for some reason that destroys collector value --- & I carry it a bit farther by doing no more than repair, if needed, to old guns basically in fair condition showing their life of use & abuse, the evidence of a history I wish I knew more about.

That sums up my own feelings and strategies on the matter. The only problem I run into with it is when somebody regards any "original" relic more "collectible" even though it's a wreck (in my judgement) than any useful rework I can build or have built. I guess that guy and I just have to agree to disagree.

Keith44's 44 Special built on an RM and my 327 Fed Mag built on a no-dash Model 66 are two examples that leap to mind... we both had people moaning about altering original examples of "special" variants (obviously his much more so than mine) but we got guns that we really wanted and liked and they are not available any other way. I still maintain that we both did good things and folks who disagree will just have to disagree!

Regards,
Froggie

 

[keith44spl]

The 44 special is a favorite of mine and I think a five inch prewar Outdoorsman in 44 special is about as sweet as it gets. The Bowen gun in the earlier post is just the ticket.

Sumbody up North is a fixin' be in the tall cotton here right shortly and purty quick


.44 Special 'Shooter'





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