Sad mod to a 38/44 HD

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pdcrig

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So, I'm starting to look around for an HD and came across this on GB:


I was excited about it until I read the description a little more. Someone reamed it out to 357 mag! So sad. Can that be corrected with a new cylinder or best to just leave as is? I guess it's still safe with 38 Spl. Still sad though.:(
 
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Pretty common modification sadly, also, you will want to edit your post to remove that link, active auction linking is against the rules.
 
HD's

I am not an authority on HD's, although I own a couple.....I bought two HD's last summer for $450 each....a 4" with original numbered grips and a 5".....the mod you describe is apparently not that uncommon, since I have seen several and shot several.....there is a possibility you could scrounge up a HD cylinder....but for what that gun is priced at right now....I would wait for an unaltered HD....if it was priced right and I wanted a shooter, then I wouldn't be too concerned abt the chambering.
 
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ooops. Copy, will remove the link


From what I've been able to find so far, guys offering HDs have either really over priced dawgs or they think they've got the most rare of all S&Ws. Prices jut seem kind of high compared to what the books say they're worth. Maybe I'm just cheap.

What really makes me sick is to see how high that pistol is going for even though it's modified. What am I going to have to pay for a decent one? Yikes!
 
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You want to talk about sad:There is a post war transitional 38/44 Outdoorsman on the same auction site that has been converted to .357 and the barrel crudely stamped with "357 MAG" :(:mad:
 
I just checked out the auction prices on the 38/44. Maybe I should pack my pre model numbers in cosmoline? In 15 years my grandson will buy his college books.
 
Sounds like a good prospect to have it converted to 44Special,,or 45Colt or any number of other large caliber rimmed cases.
The price should reflect the modification though to start with.
If the re-chambering to 357 was done nicely and the look down the chambers doesn't bother you,,then again with a reflection in price,,it can be a good shooter in 38SP just the same.
 
Doesn't the shorter 38 special case in the longer chamber this gap is called free-bore in rifles. If I remember correctly in rifles it speeds up the velocity.
I wonder if it does this in handguns.

Moving the bullet out of the case towards the rifling can make the rifle more accurate.

Forgive me if I'm wrong it's been years since I learned and done this.
 
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I have a sad one too, worse, when they reamed it, the tool wobbled or maybe there was some rust.

What ever the case, there is a 'feature' in one of the charging holes that when I fire a round the brass swells at the working end and I wind up having to drive the case out with a dowel and hammer.

Sucks having a 5-shot N frame.

Something to look for when checking out a reamed HD.
 
I bought this one.......

From Lee a couple of years ago. It is a transitional model with a light speckling in places, but it HAD BEEN REAMED for .357 also. This was a fairly common practice back in the day. You couldn't see it. You only knew because the 357 round went in.
These guns can handle it. It was cheaper than buyin' an RM or a pre 27, plus they're fixed sighted. I was gonna buy one & ream it myself when I saw Lee had this one on his sight for sale. He informed me right away, sent numerous pics of the gun. I told him the fact that it was reamed was why I wanted it. It was gonna save me time.
IMG_6824.jpg


I SAY "BLAST AWAY" YOU CAN'T HURT IT, when done right. The boogered cylinder, I would look for another There may still be one for sale on GB in the revolver parts section.

Ned
 
I saw a real real real nice and clean 38/44 on consignment last week.

The price on the tag?

$1000.00

It was a beautiful 5 screw. I held it and inspected it, but gave no thought to bringing it home.
 
pdcrig said:
Prices just seem kind of high compared to what the books say they're worth. Maybe I'm just cheap.
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I think you will find that book value is lagging way behind what the market is doing now. Examples and discussions here, especially in the last 3 or so months, have been pretty darned high compared to what many members think is appropriate. I'm not buying, so it does not matter much to me, but you may want to look around in the forum and see if that impacts your impression of a realistic price range.
 
jjbrewst1 said:
Well you spoiled it for me. I was hoping to pick up a real NICE shooter for the kids. Now the cats out of the Bag. Aargh.
Click to expand...

You can assume pretty much any gun on gunbroker will be picked up on by the sharks around here. The cat was already very much out of the bag with that properly labeled HD.

Heck, this one from 1937 that I bought like that was labeled Model 10 and I still had to drop $800 on it:

XyoNGaD.jpg


I don't regret doing so for one second.

Heck, I have 2 of them now and this one on Gunbroker still tempts me. These are some mighty addictive guns.
 
SixgunStrumpet said:
You can assume pretty much any gun on gunbroker will be picked up on by the sharks around here. The cat was already very much out of the bag with that properly labeled HD.

Heck, this one from 1937 that I bought like that was labeled Model 10 and I still had to drop $800 on it:

XyoNGaD.jpg


I don't regret doing so for one second.

Heck, I have 2 of them now and this one on Gunbroker still tempts me. These are some mighty addictive guns.
Click to expand...


I should have added a smiley face as my comment was a mere joke. Fortunately I know how the internet works and the auction sites.

The Big Gorilla has some of the highest viewed Auctions.

Seems like you have to jump on em quick and hope there is a buy it now and it's a good price.

Nice grab on that Model 10. :D:D
 
If the modification to the cylinder was performed properly, there should be no significant performance difference - or at least none that I can detect form shooting such a gun. There is a difference in value to most collectors - but these same collectors would also pay less for a cylinder that didn't match the serial no. of the gun.

Jerry
 
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