EARLY TRANSITION 38/44 HEAVY DUTY

[1Aspenhill]

I RECENTLY ACQUIRED THIS VERY EARLY 4 INCH BLUE 38/44 TRANSITION HEAVY DUTY. SERIAL NUMBER S62825 WAS SHIPPED ON 8 JULY 1946 TO SUTCLIFFE HARDWARE CO. LOUISVILLE, KY. THIS IS THE EARLIEST SHIP DATE THAT I KNOW OF FOR HEAVY DUTIES. THE GENTLEMAN THAT I PURCHASED IF FROM STATED THAT HIS FATHER HAD BOUGHT IT NEW. THE GUN IS ALL MATCHING AND IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE FOR A 66 YEAR OLD! IT DOES HAVE SOME BLUE WEAR IN THE NORMAL SPOTS AND SHOWS STORAGE WEAR ALSO. WHEN I TOOK THE SIDEPLATE OFF, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN OFF SINCE THE FACTORY PUT IT ON AND WAS PRETTY CLEAN. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT, I AM!

 

[DAinTX]

That's REALLY nice! Congrats.

 

[DCWilson]

Very nice! July 8 was a Monday in 1946. I see the date July 11 for a couple of other Transitional HDs in the data base, and I have one that shipped to Chicago on July 18. It looks as though dozens if not hundreds of others might have shipped that month as well. There must have been quite an order backlog by the time the first ones went to the shipping dock.

I wonder if we will ever find a HD that shipped in the four business days of the first week of July 1946. If one turns up, I bet Bill will find it first!

 

[dewey]

I like the look and feel of the smooth backstrap, Bill.

 

[bettis1]

David and Bill,

Transition HD number S 63637 (already in your DB I think, Bill) shipped on July 19, 1926 to Edward Tryon Co., Philadelphia, PA.

David, it looks like your assumption of lots of them going out that month is correct.

Interestingly, I have a .44 Third Model (1926) post war (6.5"bbl !) just a couple of hundred numbers earlier that shipped July 18, 1946 to Chicago. More evidence that the .38's and .44's were both on the production lines at the same time.

Bob

 

[ringo1597]

Bill, very nice find.

Larry R. SWCA 2494

 

[PH-2]

I opine that it's just right.

Thank-You for sharing your treasure,
Mike

 

[Checkman]

Very nice find. Congratulations and thanks.

 

[SDH]

Kinda a bull dog look, eh?
I like it!

 

[oksws]

Outstanding! I'll take two....PLEASE!

 

[dacoontz]

Great gun Bill. I like those medallions in the early style grips. I recently found a set that are in the 60,000 range and have those same type of medallions. The S&W is a tad fancier in these earlier magnas, as you probably noticed.

 

[The Gila Bender]

Nice early HD Bill. I'm on the hunt for post-war S61xxx and S62xxx serial numbers. My earliest post-war N frame is S63104, a 5" 44 HE 3rd model shipped July 19, 1946 to JS Oshman Sporting Goods in Houston, TX. Got it a couple years ago from Lee.

Now I am curious. Has there been a forum discussion and documentation of when S&W started shipping post war N frames to non-military customers?

 

[1Aspenhill]

Tom,
All the 61000 serial numbers were shipped pre war. Pre war cut off was in the 62335 range. Earliest post war serial number for HDs is S62496. N frame shipments began in early July 46.
Hope this helps.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[SDH]

3rd Mdl .44 #S68885 shipped August 1946. Sure do like these early N frames!

 

[Willeys]

Very nice find. Do you plan on shooting it or keeping it as is?
Enjoy.

 

[1Aspenhill]

I'm going to leave it like it is and shoot it!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Very nice Bill. I am envious!

 

[1Aspenhill]

Pete
I'm sure you have one like this!
Bill

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Mine is nice, but not like yours!

You are really going in for those transitions. Change in focus or just a new avenue to explore?

 

[ar15ed]

great find! the 4-inchers must be pretty scarce, especially that early. beautiful gun!!!

ed