Inherited revolver

[zlbubba]

I just read through the FAQs and am still unable to figure out which revolver I have. My grandfather recently passed away and left it to me. Obviously this is an heirloom and I have no intention of ever selling it. I'm not even sure how much I'll shoot it because I don't want to damage a piece of family history.

The revolver is a 6-shot 38 Special and appears to be a 4-screw from what I can tell, 3 on the side plate and 1 beneath the trigger guard. The hand ejector is supported and encased beneath the barrel, it isn't like many of the pics I have seen online with a bare, exposed HE. The barrel is 4" long. The serial number is 60562.

Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

~ZL

 

[hiram2005]

Sounds like a 38/44 Heavy Duty. Post a pic if you can.

 

[zlbubba]

Alright, I'm not very good at posting pics but I'll try to put links. All I have is my iPhone so hopefully they'll turn out ok.

http://i51.tinypic.com/5miqtj.jpg

Let's see if this works.

 

[zlbubba]

Ok, here's the other 3.

 

[wheelgun610]

Welcome to the forum.

That's definitely a 38/44 Heavy Duty, and yours is a late pre-WWII gun likely from ca. 1939-'40. The condition is quite high, the grips are the style that would have come with the gun from the factory. It's also a '5-screw' model as there's another screw hidden under the right stock(grip) panel.

They don't get much nicer than that one.

Mark

 

[zlbubba]

Thanks for the help. The only wear on the revolver is around the muzzle where the last 1/2" of barrel poked out of the holster. I actually still have the original holster as well. My great-grandfather carried this gun as his service weapon when he was a police officer in Peoria, Illinois. It's really an awesome piece of family history.

Is there anything I should know about the 38-40 Heavy Duty? What makes it different from a 38 Spc? What does the Heavy Duty designation mean in relation to other products S&W made at the time?

Once again, thanks for all your help.

 

[Dave T]

That would be "38/44" and it referred to the 38 caliber built on a 44 size frame. Also, the 38/44 and the HD revolver of which you have a beautiful example were introduced in 1930 and were the forerunners of the 357 Magnum which came along five years later (1935). The 38/44 was a round loaded to significantly higher pressure than the standard 38 Special, even heavier than today's 38+P. If you want to know what the original ammunition performed like, buy a box of Buffalo Bore +P 158g SWCHP-GC. It is the only round available today (short of handloading) that duplicates the performance of the old 38/44 ammo.

Dave

 

[230grfmj]

One of our members (1Aspenhill) created this website just for S&W Heavy Duty's, and you can learn most anything you want to know about that model here.

Page 1

 

[zlbubba]

Thanks for the link. Tons of great information there. I had no idea the history behind this revolver.

 

[Jack Flash]

Welcome to the Forum!

A coupla things:

That is a 5 screw. The one at the top of the sideplate is the "fifth screw". There is another sideplate screw hiding under the stocks that you can't see until you remove them.

That revolver is built on the N-Frame, which was S&W's largest and strongest frame size at the time. Most .38 Specials are built on smaller, lighter frames. That's one reason this is so aptly named the Heavy Duty.

You are wise to keep it. Family heirlooms are to be cherished. If it ever does go up for sale, make sure you get mucho dinero for it. They are highly prized.

I would not hesitate to shoot it, at least on nice days at a target range. With reasonable care, you will never hurt it. I would not carry it in a holster, under a truck seat, out in inclement weather, etc., just to keep it nice. You can always buy something else for everyday or extreme use.

 

[DCWilson]

Zlbubba, welcome to the forum. I am a big fan of the .38/44 revolvers, both the Heavy Duty (fixed sight) and the Outdoorsman (adjustable sight) models. Your gun is one of the best looking prewar Heavy Duty revolvers I have seen.

Those stocks are undoubtedly original; if you remove the right panel, you should see your gun's serial number stamped on the inner surface. Those were the days when the wooden stocks were tailor-fitted to each frame. Those stocks are in excellent condition and by themselves are worth a bundle; prewar magnas are hard to find in any condition, but they are really rare when barely used. You can distinguish prewar magnas from the postwar variety by (among other things) the square corners on the checkered field.

If you found that gun at an auction and wanted to take it home, you would have to pay well over $1000 for the privilege of ownership. Congratulations on owning that one. It is additionally special that it was your grandfather's gun.

 

[Jack Flash]

A cautionary note:

Don't try to take the stocks off with a K-Mart screwdriver (or even a good automotive-type screwdriver). You need a gunsmith-type screwdriver and read up on it a little bit first.

It is REALLY easy to mangle the screw head or scratch/gouge the stocks if you don't know what you're doing. Please do not ask how I know this.

 

[zlbubba]

Thanks for the advice and information about the revolver. While I have done a lot of experience with ARs and precision rifles, I'm really new to these pistols. I don't plan on shooting it much just because it's in such nice condition. I wish I could show you gents the bore. It's a mirror in there.

If you can believe it, my grandfather left me both this pistol, and a 1919 LC Smith 20 ga in similar condition. I never knew he even had these firearms. Both of these guns were owned by my great-grandparents, which transferred to my grandfather, and now down to me. Someday, they'll pass to my kids with the stories of how their ancestors used them. Great stuff.

 

[General Flunky]

Everyone has an opinion on guns like you have. I own some rare N-frame Smiths myself. A 5" 1950 target 44 special pre-model 24 and a 5" 1950 M&P 44 special pre-model 21. I plan on passing these to my nephew since I have no children. My instructions will be for him to shoot and enjoy these as they are wonderful guns and were built to last several lifetimes. Life is to be lived and guns are to be shot. Unshot guns are like elderly virgins, joys never experienced. It is yours to do with as you please but I just wanted to interject a different prospective. Thank you for the value you place on them as family airlooms, that is becoming more rare these days.

 

[roaddog28]

Great revolver and thanks for sharing. They don't come any better than yours.

Howard

 

[ddixie884]

Nobody mentioned it, but I think your revolver is a 5 inch barrel. It is measured from the face of the cylinder to the muzzle. Congratulations on the inheritance, and THANX for sharing.

 

[ElToro]

your great grandpa had very nice taste in guns ! a prewar HD and a LC Smith. love those guns and dont abuse them but please do use them.
if you hunt, please hunt with that LC and that HD on your belt.

i love hunting with my grandpas shotgun

 

[Cactus]

What a great HD! And the fact that it was your grandfathers makes it priceless.

 

[Art Doc]

In case nobody mentioned it your revolver has a 5" barrel.

 

[ColbyBruce]

"Unshot guns are like elderly virgins, joys never experienced"


Legend has it that actor Anthony Perkins was nearly forty years old when he lost his virginity to Victoria Principal.

Good things come to those who wait, LOL!!