Clint Smith’s Smith & Wesson Custom Heavy Duty PreWar 45 LC 5″ Revolver C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,626.99

LSB#:  LSB260703CS005

Make:  Smith & Wesson

Model:  .38/44 Heavy Duty Prewar

Serial Number:  39171

Year of Manufacture:  1932 / C&R

Caliber: Rechambered to .45 Colt 

Action Type:  Double / Single Action, Swing-Out Fluted Cylinder Revolver

Markings:  The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The right side of the barrel is marked “.45 COLT CTG.”. The left side of the frame is marked with “MADE IN U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked with a small S&W monogram. The bottom of the grip frame, rear face of the cylinder, back side of the star extractor,  and the ejector-rod shroud is marked with the serial number. The crane cut and crane are marked with assembly marks.  

Barrel Length:  5″

Sights / Optics:  The front sight is a Patridge with a gold bead pinned to a base that is forged to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the end of a groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece hand ejector panels with brass escutcheons and smooth diamonds. There is light handling scratches along the panels. The checkering  is sharp and defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, Case-Colored

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is minor fouling. There is no visible erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal refinish. There is light handling scratches. The right side of the barrel has a faint marking of ’38 S’ under the finish. There are polish marks along the frame. There is minor oxidation under the blue on the right side of the frame. The case color is vibrant. There is a turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are faint to legible. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good-Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lockup is tight with minor play at each chamber. The double action trigger pull is smooth and the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork, & Accessories: Signed Letter of Provenance from Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch.

Our Assessment:  The Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty was introduced in 1930 as a fixed-sight, large-frame revolver designed to handle high-velocity .38 Special ammunition developed for improved penetration and law-enforcement use. Built on the substantial N-frame, it provided the strength necessary for loads that exceeded ordinary .38 Special pressures and helped establish the foundation for the .357 Magnum cartridge introduced several years later. Prewar examples retain the early long-action lockwork, finely fitted construction, and distinctive square-butt configuration associated with Smith & Wesson production of the period. This 1932 revolver was later extensively customized and rechambered to .45 Colt, with a replacement or reworked barrel, modified sights, refinishing, and other alterations that transformed the original Heavy Duty into a powerful custom big-bore revolver. According to the accompanying signed provenance letter, Clint Smith owned and fired the revolver and identified it as the work of noted custom revolversmith Hamilton Bowen.

This custom prewar Heavy Duty retains approximately 97% of its blue refinish, with light handling marks, polishing evidence, minor oxidation beneath the blue, and a visible remnant of the original .38-caliber barrel marking. The hand ejector stocks remain in Fine condition, while the bright 9/10 bore has sharp rifling and no visible erosion. The action functions correctly with a smooth double-action pull, crisp single-action release, tight lockup, and only minor play at each chamber. Its .45 Colt conversion, gold-bead Patridge front sight, prewar N-frame foundation, and signed Clint Smith provenance make this an especially distinctive custom revolver. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY