I would say your box is correct for your gun.
Late 50s 38/44 Heavy Duty
- Thread starter SouthNarc
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This one shipped October of 1957 to Williams Gun Sight Co. Davison, MI.
I see they are still in business in the same town. I wonder if they just got it for an employee there, or if since it's a fixed sight gun and they manufactured sights, had plans to maybe add one of their sights to it?
Larry
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Man I can absolutely see this being a retirement gift for an employee that he just put up because it was special and he didn't want to fire it.
SAFireman
Member
Great find Craig!
Those don't just grow on trees, and the box is an added bonus.
Those don't just grow on trees, and the box is an added bonus.
Beautiful HD, and a great package with the box!
I have a question for the 38/44 experts: were the 1950s HDs available with either the satin or high polish blue finishes? SouthNarc's HD appears from the photos to have a high polish finish. My HD from 1955 is more of a satin blue, consistent with the finish on my 1951 K22 CM. Maybe it's just the pictures...
1955 HD with a Transitional 4" and Pre-war 5":
I have a question for the 38/44 experts: were the 1950s HDs available with either the satin or high polish blue finishes? SouthNarc's HD appears from the photos to have a high polish finish. My HD from 1955 is more of a satin blue, consistent with the finish on my 1951 K22 CM. Maybe it's just the pictures...
1955 HD with a Transitional 4" and Pre-war 5":
OP
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2022
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- 471
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- 3,729
Beautiful HD, and a great package with the box!
I have a question for the 38/44 experts: were the 1950s HDs available with either the satin or high polish blue finishes? SouthNarc's HD appears from the photos to have a high polish finish. My HD from 1955 is more of a satin blue, consistent with the finish on my 1951 K22 CM. Maybe it's just the pictures...
1955 HD with a Transitional 4" and Pre-war 5":
Man that's a great question and I'm far from an expert, but I'll share what I've learned from digging around here.
First off, my HD was advertised as having a "bright blue" finish, which was really the tipping point of me buying it outright.
In examining my gun, I can't find a capital "B" anywhere on it to indicate that, but my understanding is that by the late 50s pretty much the entire product line had gone "bright" which if correct would make the "B" designation superfluous.
I have a letter request in to Don and I'm very curious to know if this gun was specifically ordered with a "bright" finish. I'll update this thread with a copy of the letter as soon as it's in hand.
My 1946 Transitional HD has the matte/satin finish.
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Gorgeous 38/44! One of the finest revolvers S&W ever made!
I bought one from a dear friend's estate about 5 years ago, and it was purchased brand new by his late father. His father was a competitive shooter and ordered the 38/44 with a spare barrel and cylinder when he got it brand new. His thoughts were he'd shoot it so much he might wear it out, but unfortunately his father died suddenly of heart failure.
Mine is also like new in the original box with tools and instruction papers. Extra barrel and cylinder were wrapped in an oil cloth in the same box.
I bought one from a dear friend's estate about 5 years ago, and it was purchased brand new by his late father. His father was a competitive shooter and ordered the 38/44 with a spare barrel and cylinder when he got it brand new. His thoughts were he'd shoot it so much he might wear it out, but unfortunately his father died suddenly of heart failure.
Mine is also like new in the original box with tools and instruction papers. Extra barrel and cylinder were wrapped in an oil cloth in the same box.
