38-44?s

[C.S.63]

Ok not finding many Heavy Dutys 38-44s to gauge. What would be a good price range for a 4"barrel solid shooter grade,later issue?

Carl

 

[LEO918]

Carl: I have procured three In the last year $450, $700 and $750. Condition is everything.

 

[C.S.63]

LEO918,
Thank you, trying to gauge market but have I not seen many advertised.

 

[LEO918]

C.S. - I bought all three at local gun shows. I've never seen one advertised locally. Might give the shows a try.

 

[A10]

Prewars are pretty expensive, you are lucky to find one in good shape for less than 900 bucks. Postwar, I have seen some shooter grade 4 inchers go for 5-650. As you say, though, there aren't many around!

 

[788Ham]

Gents,
I was in a pawn a couple weeks ago, lying on the shelf was an 1937 38-44, S# 40***, I'd say 75%, got it for $575 OTD. Took it to my smith and had it cleaned up, grungy oil inside, this shoots way beyond my capabilities! Smith said it was carried a lot, but not shot much, glad to have this at my place.

 

[Iggy]

Thar ya go, braggin' agin...

Welcome to the forum..

 

[788Ham]

Iggy, don't I know you from som'ers?

 

[Iggy]

788Ham

I reckon you might..

 

[gunfish]

I wanted a shooter type HD. I wound up with this 1946 vintage that had been mighty abused. Overbuffed, nickled, cylinder bored for 357 cartridges, hammer and trigger plated, and replaced stocks. I gave 240$ for it about 7 years ago.

It does shoot very well.

 

[Art Doc]

$195 from a dealer with a table at the Denver gun show. Even in 1999 not a bad price.

 

[glowe]

Ok not finding many Heavy Dutys 38-44s to gauge. What would be a good price range for a 4"barrel solid shooter grade,later issue?

Carl

Carl, check the completed auctions on Gunbroker. There have been 17 sold recently and the lowest went for $399 for a shooter 4".

 

[beagleye]

HD are a great one to be mis identified. I have scored 2, one at an auction and one at a pawn shop just mis-identified or un-identified. Both for under 5 bills. One was identified as a 1905 model and the other was simply labeled "38". When you see that shroud and then that price, you know it's a good day.

 

[Checkman]

5" Heavy Duty. Mfd. 1937. Possibly refinished sometime in the past. Paid $400.00 for it three years ago. Very nice shooter.

 

[788Ham]

Saxon,

Thats about the shape mines in, enough character to show its been around a while, but shows it still means business. Nice find!

 

[jtcarm]

Searching GB auctions is a pretty good way to get a feel for shooter-grade values, but it's hard to judge condition. I've only sold there and would be hesitant to buy, but the 38/44 should be a fairly safe bet as it's pretty much a tank.

Blue Book is absurdly low for S&W revolvers, IMO, which can make it a good bargaining tool to use on less-knowledgable sellers.

 

[1Aspenhill]

The figures quoted here are pretty accurate for today but you can get some deals on them if they are refinished or lack finish. Looks can be decieving if the function is perfect! Keep looking, you will find one and won't let it go!
Bill

 

[STCM(SW)]

Mine has major modification but was still $ 600+...

 

[jtcarm]

Cool site, Bill. I especially like the .44 Special box with 38-44 stamped on it. Now you've forced me to search for a Heavy Duty

Interesting piece of trivia (at least to me): as an answer to the call for auto-body penetration, Remington produced a "Highway Master" .45 ACP load. IIRC, it was a pointed FMJ with a zinc core.

When NBC created the "Cop-killer" bullet hysteria in the early 80s, American Rifleman published a test showing that the vintage Remington round penetrated as well as the modern KTW (though I can't remember what KTW caliber was compared.) Likely some of the other vintage rounds penetrated just as well.

 

[1Aspenhill]

jtcarm,
thanks, I need to do some updating to it. They seem to pop up everywhere. I usually see about a dozen every time I go to Tulsa.
thanks again,
bill