SOLD - Rare Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty Revolver - Austin Police Dept

Description

11/10/22 - This is an excellent example of rare a Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty revolver, manufactured in 1955-56. This one is all matching and has an "Austin P.D. 192" marking on the back strap, indicating it was issued to the Austin, TX Police Department. This revolver is one of only 249 received by the Austin Police department between 1952 and 1964. These .38/44 Heavy Duty revolvers were ordered to replace the aging stock of .38 Military and Police revolvers the department had in stock and would remain in duty until being replaced in 1968 by the Model 27-2. The article "The Austin Police Department .38/44 Heavy Duty" by Bill Patterson states that one of the officers that helped take down Charles Whitman in the University of Texas Tower shooting was armed with one of these .38/44 Heavy Duty Revolvers. This one has retained essentially all of its nickel finish with very light scratches in the finish throughout. Tiny ding on the front sight blade. Very minor wear on the front edges of the cylinder and a light roll mark. Comes with excellent hand-checkered wood grips. Both are marked "R". The right panel is numbered but not matching. Minty bore. The cylinder is tight and the action is smooth.