OLD S&W REVO - INFO NEEDED
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Engine49guy
Member
Looks like a pre war N frame 38-44 Heavy Duty or 44 Special.
What caliber is it ?
What caliber is it ?
Looks to me like a .38/44 Heavy Duty (prewar). Can't tell if it's been refinished or not, and others who know more about this will be along. Value could go anywhere from $800 to $1200 (around these parts. your mileage may vary), depending on mechanics and whether or not that's a refinish. Is the serial number also on the right side stock panel?
Assuming it is a 44 Special it is a 3rd Model HE (Model of 1926). I have one just 421 SN numbers younger that shipped to Wolf & Klar in Ft. Worth in 1931. How about some close up pictures.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
29aholic
Member
By the looks of the cylinder walls it is not a 44spl but a 38 Heavy Duty. You might have him check to see if the chambers have been reamed to 357.
Thanks for the response Gents! Although I can't quite make it out from the pic, I think it's a .38 S&W SPL CTG. In other words, on this N frame platform, a .38 Heavy Duty - which if I understand correctly, is a .38 spl, loaded to near .357 magnum velocity.
Anyone got better eyes then me?
Anyone got better eyes then me?
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38/44 Heavy Duty from around 1931 (subject to correction) finish looks mighty righteous to me I don't see any signs of a refinish. Looks like someone hopped into a Delorian and traveled back in time. A beautiful example. Oh and it is a 38 Special.
Arik
Member
DWalt
Member
SN 38725 would place its probable shipping date at around late 1931. Any .38/44 HD in shootable condition will sell for at least $500, and pre-WWII examples will bring even more. I'd say that one would sell quickly for $1000 at any gun show, and that is conservative.
The .38-44 cartridge is simply a heavily loaded .38 Special having a muzzle velocity around 40% greater than standard .38 Special loadings. It is a little shy of the .357. It has not been factory loaded since the early 1970s, but is easily duplicated by handloading. Of course, any .38 Special loading will work OK.
The .38-44 cartridge is simply a heavily loaded .38 Special having a muzzle velocity around 40% greater than standard .38 Special loadings. It is a little shy of the .357. It has not been factory loaded since the early 1970s, but is easily duplicated by handloading. Of course, any .38 Special loading will work OK.
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29aholic
Member
AND...you can shoot +P's in it 
The silver medallions date S&W's from around late 1929 and 1930 forward. The HD was introduced in April of 1930 and was S&W's first attempt to build a more powerful .38 Special revolver and hence the upgrade to the larger N frame platform. Basically it is a hot loaded .38 Special and was sometimes referred to as the .38 Special High Velocity or the .38 Super Police. The round is not to be confused with the earlier 38/44 round fired in the model 3's.
Eventually in 1935 the .357 Magnum was introduced on a custom order basis only and was referred to as the Registered Magnum.
Eventually in 1935 the .357 Magnum was introduced on a custom order basis only and was referred to as the Registered Magnum.
DWalt
Member
"... referred to as the .38 Special High Velocity or the .38 Super Police"
The .38 (Special or S&W) Super Police loading is a different critter from the .38-44. Those were either the .38 S&W or .38 Special with a 200 grain bullet at a lower muzzle velocity than the more standard 146 or 158 grain bullets respectively. The .38 S&W Super Police is essentially identical to the earlier British .380 Revolver MkI cartridge used in Enfield and Victory military revolvers, before the change to the 178 grain FMJ bullet (MkII). Supposedly the 200 grain bullets yawed in human tissue more than lighter bullets and were more effective in inflicting damage.
Other names for the .38-44 are .38 Special Hi-Speed (Remington), Super Speed (Winchester), and Super-X (Western). Peters called theirs the .38 Special High Velocity.
The .38 (Special or S&W) Super Police loading is a different critter from the .38-44. Those were either the .38 S&W or .38 Special with a 200 grain bullet at a lower muzzle velocity than the more standard 146 or 158 grain bullets respectively. The .38 S&W Super Police is essentially identical to the earlier British .380 Revolver MkI cartridge used in Enfield and Victory military revolvers, before the change to the 178 grain FMJ bullet (MkII). Supposedly the 200 grain bullets yawed in human tissue more than lighter bullets and were more effective in inflicting damage.
Other names for the .38-44 are .38 Special Hi-Speed (Remington), Super Speed (Winchester), and Super-X (Western). Peters called theirs the .38 Special High Velocity.
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