S&W44
Member
Just picked up this,made in 1948,the same year I was born.
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38/44 Heavy Duty
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Harbinger
Member
Beautiful HD. Nice find!
Hey, my Dad was born in '48. Guess that pretty much makes us family.
So, can I have it?
Hey, my Dad was born in '48. Guess that pretty much makes us family.
So, can I have it?
FPrice
Member
S&W 44...
There is just something about a gun that is as old as you, isn't there? Several years ago I picked up a 2" S&W M&P that was shipped the same month I was born. I feel a bond with this revolver.
There is just something about a gun that is as old as you, isn't there? Several years ago I picked up a 2" S&W M&P that was shipped the same month I was born. I feel a bond with this revolver.
S&W44
Member
I just wish it wasn't in so much better shape than me.
Harbinger-You've got to be kidding.My own 2 boys aren't getting this one.I'm taking it with me.
Harbinger-You've got to be kidding.My own 2 boys aren't getting this one.I'm taking it with me.
Shear_stress
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
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- 2,728
Great score! These are getting pretty scarce. That sucker looks good enough to last another 57 years. Gotta love those N-frame 38s.
S&W44:
You scored bigger then you may have thought. Your Post-war .38/44 Heavy Duty has the pre-war "long action."
Smith & Wesson reintroduced the .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1946, which was identical for the most part to pre-war production, except for an improved hammer-block safety that had been used in K-frame revolvers since late 1944 or early 1945. To denote the addition of the safety a letter "S" was added as a prefix to the serial number which continued from the original pre-war series. New production started at S62940. At this point S&W retained the old-style "long action, which you have. A new "short action" (which is still used today in general form) was introduced in 1948. With only two years of limited production "long action" post-war .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers are scarce if not rare - especially in the kind of condition your gun is in.
You scored bigger then you may have thought. Your Post-war .38/44 Heavy Duty has the pre-war "long action."
Smith & Wesson reintroduced the .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1946, which was identical for the most part to pre-war production, except for an improved hammer-block safety that had been used in K-frame revolvers since late 1944 or early 1945. To denote the addition of the safety a letter "S" was added as a prefix to the serial number which continued from the original pre-war series. New production started at S62940. At this point S&W retained the old-style "long action, which you have. A new "short action" (which is still used today in general form) was introduced in 1948. With only two years of limited production "long action" post-war .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers are scarce if not rare - especially in the kind of condition your gun is in.
sfhogman
Member
Neat gun. I love mine. Shipped in September on 1935 according to Mr. Jinks.
Just a little older than me....
Thanks for the wallpaper,
Jeff
Just a little older than me....
Thanks for the wallpaper,
Jeff
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Mighty pretty!
Jondar- I wouldn't go by what they show in the movies. I recall the late Skeeter Skelton writing that when he served in the BP during the 1950s officers provider their own sidearms. At some point the Colt New Service in .38 Special was issued but I am unaware of the HD ever being widely used or issued in the BP.
BluesBear
member
Wasn't it Charles Askins who decreed that the Border Patrol be armed with Colt .38 Specials?
As I recall he said he'd issue Iver Johnsons before he'd issue S&Ws.
Seems the boys up in Springfield got his hackles up over something.
And Askins wasn't exactly the forgiving type.
As I recall he said he'd issue Iver Johnsons before he'd issue S&Ws.
Seems the boys up in Springfield got his hackles up over something.
And Askins wasn't exactly the forgiving type.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Yep. One of my favorites is a Colt New Service in .45 Colt, made in 1906, the year my father was born.
BluesBear
member
I have lusted for a 520 for some time now.
Bart Noir
Member
520??
That's a nice photo of 4 guns that I'd like to have. Even just one. But none of them resemble the 7-shot L-frame 520 that I see on the S&W site. Or the 7-shot L-frame 620, in case you guys both made the same typo.
Those on the right are Model 27's, am I right?
Bart Noir
That's a nice photo of 4 guns that I'd like to have. Even just one. But none of them resemble the 7-shot L-frame 520 that I see on the S&W site. Or the 7-shot L-frame 620, in case you guys both made the same typo.
Those on the right are Model 27's, am I right?
Bart Noir
BluesBear
member
The 520 was an N-frame Military & Police .357 magnum made on special order for the New York State Police. (3000 in 1980)
5 designating carbon steel and 20 indicating a fixed sight N-frame with a .357" bore.
Before they were delivered NYSP changed their mind.
You could say the 520 is a .357 magnum model 58. They used the exact same fixed sight frame and they also shared the same unique grips.
If you notice the 520 grips have a rounded lower edge heretofore only used on the Model 58 .41 magnum.
Those grips go for a pretty penny nowadays.
Bart, there are no model 27s in Cigardad's photo. The two on the left are the .38-44 Heavy Duty (later called the Model 20). Looks like a long action on top and short action on the bottom.
The two on the right are the 520.
Looks like the top one is wearing model 28 grips.
What was that you said about me and details?
5 designating carbon steel and 20 indicating a fixed sight N-frame with a .357" bore.
Before they were delivered NYSP changed their mind.
You could say the 520 is a .357 magnum model 58. They used the exact same fixed sight frame and they also shared the same unique grips.
If you notice the 520 grips have a rounded lower edge heretofore only used on the Model 58 .41 magnum.
Those grips go for a pretty penny nowadays.
Bart, there are no model 27s in Cigardad's photo. The two on the left are the .38-44 Heavy Duty (later called the Model 20). Looks like a long action on top and short action on the bottom.
The two on the right are the 520.
Looks like the top one is wearing model 28 grips.
What was that you said about me and details?
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