Old Time 38 Special Goodness

[Dave T]

Stumbled across these pictures looking for something else and thought I would share them with you folks. They are both Heavy Duty models from S&W, the 5" barrel shipped in 1938 and the 4" in 1952/53.

These were the original 38 Special +P+. S&W introduced the Heavy Duty in 1930 along with the new loading of the 38 Special case called the 38-44, intended for law enforcement use. It was a 158g lead bullet going 1125 fps according to S&W and was the forerunner of the 357 Magnum (1935). I shoot a hand load duplicate of the original and it ain't your grandma's 38 Special...although it could be, depending on how old granny is. (smile)

The 5" is a Pre-War long action and it's wearing Grashorn Magna stocks made from sheep horn:



The 4" from the early-1950s has the then new short action and wears factory Magnas:



These are great old N-frames and the 4" has one of the smoothest actions I've seen on an unaltered Smith. It has full factory springs but the DA trigger stroke is smooth as glass. What a hoot!

Dave

[03RN]

Those are gorgeous.

[Dave T]

Thanks 03. The less than pristine finish and shinny high spots and sharp edges just appeal to me. I had a very clean 4" transitional HD that I never shot so I sold it. Kept these two 'cause I like the way they look.

Dave

[Half Moon]

These are great old N-frames and the 4" has one of the smoothest actions I've seen on an unaltered Smith. It has full factory springs but the DA trigger stroke is smooth as glass. What a hoot!

Dave

Very nice! .38-44's are definitely on my want list.

Not sure if it's production quality or years of breaking in (probably a bit of both) but I've generally found the post-war five screw Smith's to be the best production triggers of their revolvers.

[JHC]

Very nice! .38-44's are definitely on my want list.

Not sure if it's production quality or years of breaking in (probably a bit of both) but I've generally found the post-war five screw Smith's to be the best production triggers of their revolvers.

Me too! Top of my revo want list! I love seeing them.

[Joe in PNG]

Nice find.

[entropy]

Both those guns ooze cool.

[Trooper224]

The HD was once my old agency's standard issue. There was a nice minty one in the academy museum. I lusted after that thing for twenty five years.

[Catshooter]

Very nice rollers man. A five inch Smith is just right.


Cat

[SCCY Marshal]

I miss the lines of that hammer profile. It's a shame Smith ever changed it.