38/44HD

[Oldschool shooter]

Did S&W ever produce the 38/44HD revolver in a satin nickle finish? I see references to a bright nickle, but not satin. There is one for sale at my LGS for $850. Just want to make sure thiswSn't a rough gun that was refinished in satin to hide flaws.

 

[.455_Hunter]

What era is the gun?

Satin nickel is more of a modern finish than the time frame of the .38-44, even the Model 20.

I suspect it's been re-done.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

That was my thought. It is a pre- Model 20. I would have to check SN, but guessing it is early 50s or older.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ya refinished.

Still, those dont come along everyday, if he will work with you a tiny bit on the price, say knock off $100-150, it wouldnt be a bad catch- also assuming its mechanically sound.

Could always strip the nickel and have it reblued someday.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

The gun is there on consignment. I did offer $750, but the owner is standing firm. The gunshop owner called and put him on speaker phone so we could talk. This pistol has been there for several months. My guess is that it belonged to a relative and there is some sentimental attachment to it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

The gun is there on consignment. I did offer $750, but the owner is standing firm. The gunshop owner called and put him on speaker phone so we could talk. This pistol has been there for several months. My guess is that it belonged to a relative and there is some sentimental attachment to it.

Ugh.....I might still bite, but only if the plating, bore, and timing were perfect.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Ugh.....I might still bite, but only if the plating, bore, and timing were perfect.

Hopefully, the gun was just holster worn, or the previous owner really liked satin nickle. I have seen so many refinished turds that the whole concept is fraught with suspicion.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I cannot answer your question, but one thing to check is if the hammer and trigger have been nickel plated.

S&W never nickel plated hammers or triggers on their revolvers. Even the nickel plated ones had Case Hardened hammers.

If the hammer or trigger have been plated, it was done after it left the factory.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

Just checked SCSW. The 38/44 Heavy Duty (Prewar), Transitonal, and Model of 1950 (Pre Model 20) are all listed with polished blue or nickel finish. No mention of if the nickel finish was polished or satin, it just says nickel.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Thanks for that info. On the larger online auction sites,the only plated guns I've seen have been bright nickel. That doesn't mean S&W didn't make the 38/44 in satin, I've just never seen one listed anywhere.

 

[ontarget]

Could it be possible that it was the bright finish and just needs a good polishing with some Mothers or Flitz?

 

[Oldschool shooter]

No, this is clearly a satin finish, and way too consistent of a finish to need polishing.

 

[amd6547]

Nickel S&W’s generally have an N stamped on the cylinder rear, and another on the grip frame under the grips. They certainly never produced satin nickel on the classics.
Seems pretty high priced for a shooter with no collector value.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

What about the hammer and the trigger?

 

[Oldschool shooter]

What about the hammer and the trigger?

I will be stopping in to take a look at that sometime today. I will let you know what I find out.

 

[P5 Guy]

I will be stopping in to take a look at that sometime today. I will let you know what I find out.

The hammer, trigger and extractor should be blued, if those parts are plated then the revolver was nickeled some place other than S&W factory.
During normal times $850 would be too much for a refinished gun.

 

[Dave T]

In all the reference books I have there is no mention of a satin nickle finish ever being offered during the time period of the HD's manufacture, for any model of S&W. Nickle was shiny. Blued revolvers did come in either a high polish blue or a more subdued satin blue depending on model.

Dave

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Thanks for the information. Stopped at the LGS and took a better look at this pistol. Hammer and trigger are not plated, they are color case hardened. Opening the cylinder, there was no N stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. Nor was there an N stamped anywhere on the grip frame under the grips. As usual, great information and an education for meandthe LGS owner as well. I told him to let the owner of the pistol know I am still interested. But that he woild have to ne willing to drop his price some because it appears that this is a refinished gun. So now I wait. Thanks again for the great information.

 

[Dave T]

If you like it I hope you get if for a price you are comfortable with. HDs are great guns and the 38-44 cartridge (think 38 Special +P+P) is an interesting journey in and of itself.

Dave

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Thanks for the information. Stopped at the LGS and took a better look at this pistol. Hammer and trigger are not plated, they are color case hardened. Opening the cylinder, there was no N stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. Nor was there an N stamped anywhere on the grip frame under the grips. As usual, great information and an education for meandthe LGS owner as well. I told him to let the owner of the pistol know I am still interested. But that he woild have to ne willing to drop his price some because it appears that this is a refinished gun. So now I wait. Thanks again for the great information.

Hope he sees reason and gives you a fair deal!

 

[Gordon]

Never was that model in other than bright nickel or blued. If it has been satin finished probably hard chromed but not worth more than $500 max, I'd advised to hang on to your $ as you would be losing over $500 , with no chance of going up or even getting $500 on resale

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I will keep looking. Hopefully find a nice blued model. My Grandfather carried one as a police officer in Detroit. He always talked about how much he liked that revolver. So there is a certain sentimental reason for me wanting a 38/44. But I'm not going to spend that kind of money for a poor example. Thanks again to all of you for your input.

 

[Gordon]

Here is a real shooter, with papers. A pristine one is about $1200 ish . They are however the real deal, remember they were call ".38 Heavy Duty" officially.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/869990238

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

This one is in almost pristine condition; just a turn line on the cylinder, and a little bit of wear to the blue at the muzzle and high points of the cylinder and frame. All of which shows it was carried and shot a bit. Original service grips, it left the factory in 1931. I paid $1000 for it last year.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

Howdy

This one is in almost pristine condition; just a turn line on the cylinder, and a little bit of wear to the blue at the muzzle and high points of the cylinder and frame. All of which shows it was carried and shot a bit. Original service grips, it left the factory in 1931. I paid $1000 for it last year.

View attachment 936892

That is a beauty! I would have no problem spending that kind of money for something in that condition. Real honest wear, but not much of it.