Another Interesting Candidate for an "Indy" Pistol

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:31 am

For you .357 fans, check this out...a little pricey, but interesting!

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976360352.htm

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:39 am

Yowza, that is pricey, but I've never seen one of those. Most of the fixed sight .357's I've seen are Model 13 K-Frames.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:05 pm

Zohar, I know...that's what makes it so interesting! It was a "special run" that S&W made for the New York State Police. Wish I had enough to get it myself!

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:11 pm

The model 13's are K-frames too. This 520 is an actual N-frame, which makes it even MORE interesting. Regards. Michaelson

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 4:30 pm

Michaelson wrote:The model 13's are K-frames too. This 520 is an actual N-frame, which makes it even MORE interesting. Regards. Michaelson

Yep, that's why I've never seen one before. I've seen lots of model 13 K's, but never a N frame .357 with fixed sights.

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:48 pm

If my memory serves me correctly, S&W also made a special run of .45 Colt revolvers for the Georgia State Police before semi-autos became the rage. I think they had five-inch barrels.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:55 pm

I remember those model 25's when they came through for sale as surplus in Shotgun News, and I was a gun dealer at the time. Man, I gave one of those serious consideration, but didn't go for one. As I remember, dealers cost at the time was around $190. Rats.

Regards. Michaelson

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:17 am

I know, it makes you sick sometimes to think of the deals we pass up.

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:49 am

I almost passed up on my S&W 1937. I am very happy I didn't.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 12:14 pm

I really try NOT to think back, as money was tight then, but I do remember brand new Smith model 29 44 mags. at dealers cost of $200, and sigh now and again.

(grins) Regards. Michaelson

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 12:16 pm

I know what you all mean...I've just found an older S&W Model 34-1 Kit Gun (.22LR) for sale....been trying to find one of those for a while. As usual, though, it will take the sale of something I have now to finance the purchase!

zohar · Post by **zohar** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 1:19 pm

Hey, I've owned 2 of those Kit guns. One with a 2" barrel, and the other with a 4". Those little J-frames are fun to shoot.

My favorite S&W is my K-22 6" barrel with a lug under it. That thing shoots like a rifle. It has good accuracy even at 100 yards.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Wed Sep 10, 2003 1:41 pm

At my local gunshop, I just found a used S&W Model 10, blued with the tapered barrel for $200. It's in good shape, too! Now that's ALSO tempting!

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 9:25 am

Two other possible Indy revolvers are the old Heavy Duty, which is a .38/.44 caliber on an N-frame, and a model 58 .41 magnum. Both of these guns are fix-sighted and can be re-chambered and re-barrelled for .45 ACP. Sometimes, you can find good deals on these revolvers for around $250 to $300.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 9:55 am

Peacock's Eye, I'm looking into getting a .38/44 Heavy Duty. I found one at last month's gun show here in Austin for a fair price. It would make a great Indy revolver.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 11:41 am

Well, just as a piece of COMPLETELY uselss trivia, Guns and Ammo originally replied to a question back in 1989 that the original Raiders revolver was an N-frame .38/44 Heavy Duty, and was believed until the actual revolver info was found. So you'd be right based on information known back in 1989.....and wrong with after the fact info. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:07 pm

Funny you should mention that, Michaelson, I remember a 1995 article in Handguns in which the author stated that Indiana Jones carried a S&W 1926 H.E. in .44 Special. A subsequent article by a different gun writer said that he had paused his Raiders' tape and discovered that it was actually a second model H.E. I paused my tape and found that it was indeed a second model H.E. As knowledgeable as they often are, gun writers don't know everything.

RonC, if you do get a .38/.44, you'd have a great revolver, even if you don't have a gunsmith re-chamber and re-bore it. Good luck!

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:08 pm

Yep! I'll just consider it my "small-bore" Indy revolver, should I get it!...and, I may eventually have it re-chambered, and re-barreled for .45 Colt or .44 Special.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:10 pm

That's the truth. Makes one wonder if the real reason they went with the Webley in the 3rd movie was to be sure ANY bonehead gun mag writer could recognize it. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:27 pm

.....but here's the REAL quandary, mi amigos....do I get the .38/44 Heavy Duty...OR...the 2nd Model Hand Ejector that I've also found....won't be able to get both! HHMMMM...let's see...a .38/44, or a H.E. 2 to modify into the "Stembridge" revolver....hhmmmmm?????

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:44 pm

Which one do you plan on shooting the most? I'm not one for having something I can't or won't use.The 39/44 would be heavier, as it's just a 38 on a 44 frame, so you'd have more metal in the cylinder walls, so there's THAT factor to consider when you talk about holster weight in carry. That's a couple of the things I'D base a decision on myself. Regards. Michaelson

Farnham54 · Post by **Farnham54** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 5:35 pm

Well as much as I love shooting, I can't say that I get out NEARLY often enough.

But to me, one of the key factors that decides what gun I shoot the most is ammunition cost!

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 5:45 pm

Michaelson: all good points. After returning from the desert a decade or so back, I believe I had a semi-permanent list to port from carrying a Beretta M9 w/ 3 x 15-round clips in my shoulder holster for all those months! While the .38/44 is a VERY nice revolver, there is a lot to be said for lighter. If I truly want a .38, I'd be better off with a good ol' Model 10! Having said that, Farnham'a point about ammunition is also good....and I do have a LOT of .38 special laying around...and no .38 in which to shoot it!

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 11, 2003 6:31 pm

...and as much as I TRULY love a model 29, NOW you understand why I now tote a model 13. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:38 am

Weight is also a factor for me. Most of the time I carry a model 629 in the woods, but sometimes I swap it out for my model 696, which is about 6 oz. lighter. I hardly know it's there.

RonC · Post by **RonC** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:43 am

P.E., the 696 is a good choice...fine revolver! You know, it's probably a good thing I am NOT a wealthy man...I've been sort of "eyeing" one of those new S&W 1917's they came out with...with the round butt...and thinking "Hmmm...what if I got one and had the barrel cut back to 4"...and had the front sight reset.....yeah!....that would be neat!".....like I said, good thing I'm not wealthy!!!

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 11:03 am

I'm sure Smith and Wesson is keeping their fingers crossed that you hit the lottery some day, though. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Peacock's Eye · Post by **Peacock's Eye** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 1:36 pm

I know what you mean. If we were wealthy, gun shops would love to see us coming.

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 4:00 am

Michaelson wrote:Well, just as a piece of COMPLETELY uselss trivia, Guns and Ammo originally replied to a question back in 1989 that the original Raiders revolver was an N-frame .38/44 Heavy Duty, and was believed until the actual revolver info was found. So you'd be right based on information known back in 1989.....and wrong with after the fact info. (grins) Regards. Michaelson

I thought I was the only one that remembered that! I wonder if I still have that article anywhere in my thousands of gun mags?

You know, with the release of the Indy movies on DVD, maybe I should write a new article on Indy guns for one of the rags. Hmmnnn...

Doesn't someone here know the guy from Stembridge who has the U.S. Indy HE2? If you read this, shoot me a PM.

Rob