my new to me 38/44 transitional

[dacoontz]

This is the 38/44 Heavy Duty Transitional? I purchased last week while in California. I realize the grips are incorrect but thought it was better than nothing. I figured the gun was in about 80 to 85% condition. Has some browning on the backstrap, is this rust or a type of stain? Do I clean it off or is this part of the current finish? Either way, it looks great to me.

I called the guy that sold it to me and got so more information about it's original owner. He said that he got from an uncle that was a police officer in Tracy California which is south east of the bay area for those not familiar with that area. His last name was "Treadwill" and he thought he may have been a chief or a captain at one point but wasn't sure. I intend to do some research and will post new info if I find anything.

I hope you enjoy the pics. I will probably need two posts to get them all in.

 

[dacoontz]

More pictures

More pictures.

 

[DCWilson]

That is NICE! .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers are just plain cool, and the Postwar Transitional guns are among the coolest. Congratulations on a great score.

I hope you'll give us a range report on this gun when you can. My HD Transitional is one of my revolvers that hits closest to where I think I'm pointing. I bet yours will be, too.

Big grins all the way around on this one. Prepare to be happy!

 

[dacoontz]

So how about ammo for this cannon. I know very little about the ammo for this gun other than actual 38/44 ammo can be hard to find. I have seen 38 High Velocity which I understand is the right stuff but can you shoot other 38 ammo in this pistol. Correct me if I am wrong but I understand that the 38/44 is simply a 38 special casing and bullet with double the powder.

 

[DCWilson]

You can fire any .38 Special round in this gun. It should also be safe to shoot modern +P rated ammo, which is roughly equivalent to the initial .38 Special High Velocity or .38/44 ammunition of 75 years ago.

If you find a box of original .38/44 labeled ammunition, better not shoot it! It's worth almost as much as the gun. (Well, I exaggerate a bit.)

I am an indoor range shooter rather thanan outdoor target-of-opportunity shooter, so I mostly just shoot wadcutter and semi-wadcutter .38 special loads in my .38/44 models.

"Double the powder?" Uh, no. But the early high velocity loadings for the .38/44 did approach .357 Magnum power. I'd check out some reloading manuals and see how hot you can load .38 Special for this and the other N-frame .38s.

Enjoy it!

 

[delta-419]

First off don't clean off the brown petina on the backstrap. It is a natural oxidation of the bluing. Just wipe it down with an oily cloth, if you see active rust than thats a different story. These guns are a hoot to shoot and I have 4 of them that will stack the rounds in one hole. I hand load my own so I try different loads. These guns are quality the likes of which are almost impossible to find in this day and time, INMHO. Enjoy a fine firearm, they are a joy to own and shoot.

 

[Art Doc]

"...modern +P rated ammo, which is roughly equivalent to the initial .38 Special High Velocity or .38/44 ammunition of 75 years ago."

Ummm.... noooooo.... not even close.

The 38/44 used a 158 grain bullet at 1140 FPS. Current +P typically uses a 125 at 925. Much heavier bullet at far greater velocity in the 38/44.

 

[DCWilson]

"...modern +P rated ammo, which is roughly equivalent to the initial .38 Special High Velocity or .38/44 ammunition of 75 years ago."

Ummm.... noooooo.... not even close.

The 38/44 used a 158 grain bullet at 1140 FPS. Current +P typically uses a 125 at 925. Much heavier bullet at far greater velocity in the 38/44.

I stand corrected.

So it really is a "double the powder" situation?

Just kidding.

 

[Dave T]

Current +P typically uses a 125 at 925.

There are a lot more options in +P loading than that. I am currently shooting Double Tap's 158g hard cast SWC +P load in my two HDs. It gets about 1100 fps from the 5" gun, which isn't far from what you are claiming for the 38/44 load. Shoots close to point of aim at about 20 yards too.

Dave

 

[j38]

Congratulations! You found a real classic - and in great shape too. The HD is one of my all-time favorites. Mine all shoot point of aim at 30 ft. with 158 grain +P bullets. Wonderfully balanced handguns and a pleasure to shoot.

Enjoy,

Jerry

 

[TomcatPC]

Hello

I'd really love to have a Heavy Duty someday. Since I came to this forum, there have been many others added to my "wish list" LOL. But the Heavy Duty has been one of the firsts, close behind a US Victory Model, 357 Magnum (either Model 28 or Model 19, which ever I find first or price wise, and most lately a .38 S&W Regulation Police LOL.

Anyway, have fun with your Heavy Duty, maybe one day I can post a photo of mone very own LOL.
Thanks
Mark

 

[bubbajoe45]

nice one! I am warming to the idea of these N frame .38s.

 

[Raider]

That 38-44 is a real keeper. I have a couple of real nice ones in the safe but my favorite shooter is a "cosmetically challenged" 38-44 made in 1950 that I got from a forum member. Its actually butt ugly but it shoots beautifully and has a fine smooth action. I can carry it anywhere without worrying about marring its finish.

Congrats on your new pistola.

Charlie

 

[Art Doc]

Dave T - I am not familiar with every single load available from the smaller specialty manufacturers. Winchester, Federal and the rest of the big boys typically offer the 125/925 as the +P of choice.

 

[dacoontz]

I am looking forward to shooting it. Although, with these temps here in Utah I would have to find me an indoor range which are almost always full this time of the year and not worth the hassle.

My dad does some reloading so I am sure I can have him put something together based on some recommendations. This may have already been said, but so I am clear, the casing is a .38 special casing, correct?

 

[H Richard]

For that back-strap, I'd saturate it with Corrosion-X, or some other good anti-rust oil, and let it sit and soak for a few hours, them wipe down with a nice soft cloth or paper towel. Don't use any "cleaner" on it, you'll remove what is left of the original finish. Great looking gun, wish I could find one that nice. They will handle any .38 Special round made at this time, and frequently have been reamed out to take .357 mag. by previous owners. I wouldn't use .357's in it, due to the vintage, I believe the heat treat back them may not have been up to the standard it is now.

 

[1Aspenhill]

Nice looking HD! I'd say that your HD was carried by a LEO as the backstrap like yours was probably from resting their arm on the gun. Enjoy shooting it as it will handle the heaviest 38 special loads going.
Thanks for sharing!
Bill

 

[P&R Fan]

Yes, it's a .38 Spl. casing.

The 38/44 Heavy Duty, or the adjustable sighted Outdoorsman, for that matter use standard .38 Spl. cases. The .38/44 used a large, rather than small pistol primer I believe. If I am wrong on that somebody more knowledgeable than I please correct me. The original load gained about 300 fps over the standard load. A striking improvement for 1930s handguns. I have a Heavy Duty and an Outdoorsman and love them both. Hang on to your HD. Prices are going up.

 

[Dave T]

Dave T - I am not familiar with every single load available from the smaller specialty manufacturers. Winchester, Federal and the rest of the big boys typically offer the 125/925 as the +P of choice.

Winchester, Federal and Remington all offer a 158g +P load. CCI even has one in the aluminum cased Blazer line. These all run around 900 fps or a little more. I only mentioned the Double Tap 158g +P because it come pretty close to the original 38/44 and 38 Hi-Speed loads in performance.

Dave

 

[akguy1985]

the one i had was 238 serial #'s away from yours