Pre war .38/44

[donadler]

I have always wanted a .38/44, and for a lark I bid on one on GB, not expecting to win. But I did. 1936 vintage, reblued at factory in 1946, and sold originally to the Dante, Virginia, Police Dept.

Not perfect, but it takes one off the bucket list .

When I went to pick it up, the salesman asked what I was picking up. I said a .38/44 (figured they wouldn't have to many transferred there this week). When it came out two salesmen mentioned that they had checked it out when it came in and they were surprised at how nice the action is. The young man helping seemed a bit taken back when he couldn't find the model number.

I am happy to win it at $605

 

[Muley Gil]

Dante (rhymes with "pant") is a former coal mining town in far Southwest Virginia; population in 2010 was 649. It no longer has a police department.

 

[RKmesa]

I have always wanted a .38/44, and for a lark I bid on one on GB, not expecting to win. But I did. 1936 vintage, reblued at factory in 1946, and sold originally to the Dante, Virginia, Police Dept.

I am happy to win it at $605

That is a beauty! Bill P. (1Aspenhill) would have loved it.

Congrats and thanks for sharing,

 

[StrawHat]

Good looking revolver, even if redone. Get some 38/44 HD loads and discover the beauty of the revolver. I have a short action from 1950 that is wonderfully accurate with the Lyman 358156 loaded long in the 38 Special case.

Kevin

 

[CptCurl]

Nice catch!

You paid the price for the pre-war Magnas and got the revolver for free!

More photos and a range report are needed.

Curly

 

[Ruger 13]

Win it……..more like stole it! Very nice pistola!

 

[Bald1]

How long ago was that auction? If last week, I think I was watching that gun. I got busy and kinda lost track of it. Boy I'd have been in on it at that price. I assumed it would go up to $800 or better

 

[JP@AK]

Dante (rhymes with "pant") is a former coal mining town

So, not named for the medieval poet? (pronounced dahn tay).

Bill P. (1Aspenhill) would have loved it.

He would. May he rest in peace.

 

[Muley Gil]

So, not named for the medieval poet? (pronounced dahn tay).

No, I once called the town by that pronunciation and a native of the area corrected me.

Here's a link to the Wiki on Dante:

Dante, Virginia - Wikipedia

 

[JP@AK]

Gil

I just read the Wiki post. Interesting. Reminds me of a small town in NE Alaska, named Chicken. The story is that the town was founded by a bunch of gold miners in the early 20th Century. They wanted to call their town Ptarmigan (a partridge type bird common in Alaska) but they could not figure out how to spell it. So they called the town Chicken.

 

[wheelgun610]

... I am happy to win it at $605

If I'd seen that auction, you wouldn't have got it. Not that cheap anyway.
Like the others said, you got the gun and the stocks for the price of the stocks alone.

Mark

 

[donadler]

How long ago was that auction? If last week, I think I was watching that gun. I got busy and kinda lost track of it. Boy I'd have been in on it at that price. I assumed it would go up to $800 or better

Yes, last week.

 

[donadler]

Finally a range report

Well, it has been 6 months since I bought it before I got to shoot it. Sweet trigger on it, not the best sights for old eyes. Circled 6 shots are the first six, then the rest from 7 yards rapid fire double action. Impressed with the gun, not so much my shooting ability!!

 

[Inland7-45]

38/44 HD second year production

I have always wanted a .38/44, and for a lark I bid on one on GB, not expecting to win. But I did. 1936 vintage, reblued at factory in 1946, and sold originally to the Dante, Virginia, Police Dept.

Not perfect, but it takes one off the bucket list .

When I went to pick it up, the salesman asked what I was picking up. I said a .38/44 (figured they wouldn't have to many transferred there this week). When it came out two salesmen mentioned that they had checked it out when it came in and they were surprised at how nice the action is. The young man helping seemed a bit taken back when he couldn't find the model number.

I am happy to win it at $605

Very nice revolver. I bought mine in 2009. It is 5" second year production. I paid $395 from our local gun store. The store owner knew how much I like older S&Ws and held it for me to see before putting it in the display case. I looked it over closely and suspected that it was refinished. While the finish looks like what S&W applied in the 1930's and is very nicely done I do not believe it is original and there is no date stamp on the frame.

When I bought this gun the newer and more common stuff like model 10s were edging above the $300 mark in my area so I don't think that $395 was too much for an HD that has a nice refinish with strong case colors on the hammer and trigger.

For shooting this and my 6" model 27 I like to use my own cast bullets. I have had good luck with the Lyman 170 gr SWC using data from Lyman Cast Bullet book.

 

[jmace57]

Gil

I just read the Wiki post. Interesting. Reminds me of a small town in NE Alaska, named Chicken. The story is that the town was founded by a bunch of gold miners in the early 20th Century. They wanted to call their town Ptarmigan (a partridge type bird common in Alaska) but they could not figure out how to spell it. So they called the town Chicken.

Just curious...It's just a silent "P" isn't it?

 

[JP@AK]

Just curious...It's just a silent "P" isn't it?

Yes. Pronounced, Tar Meg In.

And for the fun of it, I'll throw this in for free:

In Alaska, we have no "snowmobiles." They are "snow machines."

 

[Muley Gil]

Just curious...It's just a silent "P" isn't it?

Only if the bathroom door is closed.