38-44 Heavy Duty Barrel Interchangeability

[Mike99]

Hello Forum - Can anyone tell me whether a Pre model 23 38-44 6.5 inch barrel will fit a vintage 1934 38-44 heavy Duty? Also, does anyone have a 4 inch HD barrel they are willing to part with? Thanks, Mike.

 

[k22fan]

The quick answer from a non-gunsmith is that all 6 shot N frames have the same barrel thread but pre-WWII N frame .38s had round barrels while pre-23 barrels have a rib that would be higher than the front end of your old frame.

It may take some hunting to find a barrel that looks right, especially since short barrels have become more popular. I'd try a WTB ad it the classifieds.

Good Luck,
Gil

 

[Mike99]

Thanks Gil - I will pursue that.

 

[1Aspenhill]

What are you trying to do? Are you going to have a adjustable rear sight added? do you just want a different front sight that is currently on your pre war HD? a gun smith can mill the front sight and put a pinned sight in if that is what you are looking for.
Bill

 

[Mike99]

Bill - This is rather a long story - the condensed version is that I acquired a 38-44 HD years ago that had been fitted with a Model 57 barrel and modern adjustable sights - cylinder was bored accordingly. I was certainly reluctant to shoot it as the converter intended, but thought it may be able to safely handle .41 special cartridges. Now I am inclined to restore it to the original caliber. I have obtained a 38-44 cylinder for it, and must find a barrel - I prefer the 4 inch, and am not sure whether it will matter if the barrel has a top rib or not. I am open to suggestions.
Mike

 

[Mike99]

Sorry about the photo - here's another.

 

[tennexplorer]

You're also going to need an ejector rod. Yours has been shortened to accommodate the barrel being set back due to the shorter cylinder of the .38-44.

 

[Mike99]

Thanks to all members for the input. Can anyone recommend a custom shop or gunsmith (in wisconsin) to fit a new barrel to this revolver, along with other required work? Thanks again.

PS - I did obtain a 6.5 inch barrel (pre model 23 style) that I assume could be shortened for this project.

Mike

 

[Art Doc]

Somebody spent a horrible amount of money on this... project. I would suggest not spending another fortune trying to change it again. I think an Outdoorsman barrel would work, but it would be pricey, the cost of cutting would be high, and medical expenses treating the injuries sustained from beatings by HD collectors angry at your ruining the barrel would be substantial.

 

[Mike99]

Thanks for the advice - I tend to agree that using it as is with .41 special ammunition is the best use for it.

 

[1Aspenhill]

If the gun is a 41, then you will need a cylinder and barrel. Both were on Gunbroker. There are probably some gunsmiths in your area that could replace and time the new parts.
Bill

 

[2152hq]

If the original frame in the pic was a HD or an Outdoorsman, then some welding (or even brazing) was done to the area on the top front edge of the frame/barrel ring.
That to make a wider surface to match up to the Mod 57 bbl's wider rib.

An Outdoorsman frame in that area would have had a flat too narrow to match the wider M57 bbl rib.
An HD would have had a beveled cut as well as no flat at all to start with.

The nickel plate job covers the welding/brazing work.

Welding, brazing,,, any extreme heat applied to the critical parts is something to rethink before firing or putting any further work into it if you have no idea how it was performed originally.
It could be perfectly OK. There are some extremely talented welders,,then there are welders.

If you do reconvert back to 38Special you go back to the narrow rib bbl. You'd be cutting into that area and reshaping it to the original contour.

Just my .02

 

[Mike99]

2152 hq - I am very appreciative of your comments - they do give one reason to ponder whether or not the gun is sound. The work appears to be very well done, but I cannot substantiate it - thus, it seems reasonable to take the safe approach.
Mike