Heavy Duty

[Goony]

Let me start by saying I'm not an N-frame aficionado, and only have a handful of them. I also don't consider myself well versed in the minutiae that relates to their collectibility. So I bought this one for the purest of reasons - I simply liked it!

I date it to 1956, and yes, I know the stocks are not the originals (but they are, and feel, very nice). You can see a bit of honest holster wear at the muzzle, but any drag line on the cylinder is really minimal. Carried some, shot very little would be my verdict.

 

[beagleye]

Bad A, no doubt.

 

[A10]

Very nice HD. Congratulations!

 

[Dave T]

Nearly a perfect 38/44 holster gun. Don't castrate it by shooting just 38 Specials. Load up some 158g bullets over 11g-12g of 2400 and find out where the idea for the 357 Magnum got started. (smile)

Oh, and if you want a factory load look into Buffalo Bore's 38 Special +P 158g SWC-HP GC. It will give you about 1150 fps out of that 4" barrel.

Dave

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I have read that some owners have modified the 38-44 to shoot .357. Is that a cylinder change or something else?

 

[BUFF]

I have read that some owners have modified the 38-44 to shoot .357. Is that a cylinder change or something else?

It just involves running a .357 chambering reamer into the existing chambers.

 

[chud333]

I would'nt recommend trying to shoot .357's out of a
38/44 unless it has been modified. As you know Goony,
It's made for .38 specials "ONLY". .357's won't fit.......
Nice weapon. And you bought it for the best reason
to buy a gun. Not because someone else thinks it's
got "great collectability", or is "very Rare" but
simply because you liked it. Have fun with it.

Chuck

 

[Goony]

Folks, I'm not modifying this gun. And what's probably going to get run through it, at least initially, is the factory ammo pictured, since the box is already short a few rounds. It ought to provide an authentic 1950's shooting experience.

I'm sort of surprised nobody's commented on those stocks....

Edit: Note the index number at the bottom. I'm pretty confident this is an appropriate load for a pre-Model 20.

 

[Raider]

HA! Those are gorgeous stocks on a very desirable pistol. I have a pair nearly exactly like them on a very early pre-24, .44 spl and they really make my pistol "special" just as they do yours. Glad you found such a fine gun.

Charlie

 

[Art Doc]

My HD also bears a serial suggesting a 1956 date but it letters as shipped in 1960. After the Combat Magnum came out sales for the HDs slowed to a near standstill and many set in inventory a long time before being sold.

 

[lebomm]

So, Chuck, where DID the .357 come from ?

Larry

 

[MP22]

Great piece....congrats on your purchase.

 

[chud333]

So, Chuck, where DID the .357 come from ?

Larry

My apologies.
In my haste to explain that 38/44's we're not
.357 mag compatible (unless so modified) to a
previous poster i mis-spoke about the origins
of the .357 magnum. This model was indeed
the platform for which the .357 magum cartridge
would later be built upon. My apologies.

Chuck

 

[LEO918]

Steve: I'll take it how much is it.

Leo

 

[Avery11]

Hi Goony, (I lust like saying "Goony")

Anyway Goony, that's a nice HD wearing pre-war (Iraqi Freedom) smooth targets. I just got my first one a few days ago and cannot wait to take it out.

BTW, I like the backdrop for that photo. Very nicely done.

A.

 

[1Aspenhill]

Great gun! I just love the 4" HDs. they feel so good.
Thanks for sharing,
Bill

 

[Goony]

Anyway Goony, that's a nice HD wearing pre-war (Iraqi Freedom) smooth targets.

Those are the "Coke bottle" style, evidently made of rosewood, and most likely are quite a bit older than you're thinking. I doubt the gun was shipped with them, but it's actually possible they're more or less contemporary with its manufacture.

Edit: Well, I have to eat some crow on this one, as I'm advised by somebody who knows a whole lot more than I do on this topic that these are faux "Coke bottle" stocks likely made up from ordinary targets dating to the 1970's. They are expertly crafted and were given that supremely comfortable "Coke" palm swell, but they're nothing special otherwise. My mentor also thinks they're Goncalo Alves, which I'm not convinced of, but then what do I know (obviously)?

 

[Goony]

My HD also bears a serial suggesting a 1956 date but it letters as shipped in 1960. After the Combat Magnum came out sales for the HDs slowed to a near standstill and many set in inventory a long time before being sold.

A check of the shipping records shows mine to have been produced a bit earlier than I thought - it actually went out the door in May of 1955.

 

[GLL]

The smooth Targets look nice on your HD and are very practical as well !

Jerry