38/44 what have I got here?

[millrite]

38/44 SN# S 1549XX grips numbered to gun as is the cylinder, overall pretty very nice condition, bore is pristine, as is the mechanism.

 

[P&R Fan]

What you've got is a 1956 Heavy Duty.
You've also got the envy of most of us on here.
Jim

 

[David LaPell]

You have a 6 1/2 inch barreled Heavy Duty, not exactly an everyday gun. Good find.

 

[millrite]

Why did they call it the 38/44? When I first saw it, I liked that it has a hybrid appearance. Round barrel but an underlug, even though it sports the half round front sight. Seems to declare "don't mess with me, or else."

 

[Avery11]

.38 ctg on a :Heavy Duty.44 frame I believe. Made to handle the "hot" loads required by the G-Men to penetrate the body armor, steel car doors, and thick, ballistic glass. Or was that the .38 super?

I'm just learning myself. Shutting up at this time.

 

[millrite]

Just got done reading a few sources of info on this, now I have a bit better understanding of its history.

 

[David LaPell]

The .38 Special on a .44 frame. These guns were the predecessor to the .357 Magnum. You can load these with a .38 Special High Speed, which was a round moving at 1,100 fps and was far and above the .38 +P. This is now a handloaded only round but you can have alot of fun with it. Your gun is essentially the same frame, and same strength as any N frame .357 from the old days.

 

[230grfmj]

Bill (1Aspenhill) will be along soon to tell you everything you'll need to know about the 38/44 Heavy Duty.

In the meantime take a look around his website here: Smith & Wesson 38/44 Heavy Duty

 

[STCM(SW)]

From a 1939 Stoeger's catalog:

 

[millrite]

Price..........$37.50 how would that work out in todays dollars?

I'll take a brand new one please!

 

[STCM(SW)]

Price..........$37.50 how would that work out in todays dollars?

I'll take a brand new one please!

About 2 weeks pay......

 

[ar33]

You have found a real gem there, congrats, many of us will keep looking!

 

[gkitch]

How did you come accross it? It must have been a good enough deal that you bought it without really knowing what it was.

 

[1Aspenhill]

Nice gun! Your HD was most likely one of approx 10-12% of the post war production. This is the least produced of the 3 offered barrel lengths. Your gun is in the same range as some 6.5 inch Washington State Police guns. Thanks for posting.
Bill

 

[millrite]

How did you come accross it? It must have been a good enough deal that you bought it without really knowing what it was.

I had no idea what it was, nor what it may be worth, only that it is very impressive, hefty, and looks to have hardly been fired although it was obviously carried. Also I like the box... that thing about this is the pistol that was made for the high speed 38 cartridge, and the writing on the inside, how cool is that. I have made some good deals and some bad deals on guns in my day, and been laughed at more than a few times for buying something without having a clue as to its value, but I do not do this for a living, and own them because they are my art form so to speak. Perhaps somebody here could apprise me of its value?

 

[Reddog]

Above $700!
Dick

 

[1Aspenhill]

Millrite,
Something of interest for you. A considerable number of pre war 6.5 HDs went to Southern California PDs. My guess is that the motorcycle cops carried one. The 6.5 barrel length was not cataloged in the pre war catalogs and it wasn't until after the war that is was a regular available barrel length.

 

[millrite]

That is an interesting bit of info aspenhill, that is a lot of iron to strap on.

 

[lazcool]

38/44 SN# S 1549XX grips numbered to gun as is the cylinder, overall pretty very nice condition, bore is pristine, as is the mechanism.

Millrite,
My friend you have a cool...cool.. Gun!!! congrats on that buy!! I hope by now you know what a great gun you have, I hope you will become a fan of the HD!! I did not to long ago and learn more and more every day!!!!
best regards, Cheers!!

 

[j38]

Very nice HD! Below is a picture of the back-strap of a 6.5" Washington State Patrol HD (#155668) shipped in August 1956. Yours is in much better shape. Note the remains of the letters "S" of State and the "L" of Patrol that weren't quite removed by the agency before they sold the gun into the civilian market. You might find similar traces of your gun's past if you look closely - and if its a WSP gun.

Jerry