Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W HD Model of 1950 Caliber Conversions Times Two

I wanted to share a couple of caliber conversions on older S&W revolvers. These would have been originally manufactured from around 1951 to 1954 or so per the Standard Catalog. Both with original 5" barrels that were rebored. Top is a Bowen 45 ACP conversion and bottom is a Huntington etal 45 Colt conversion.



Bowen on top: Barrel rebored and pinned serrated front sight with fine gold bead. SN S89XXX. The cylinder was supposedly chosen for tight chambers. Original grips. Original hammer and trigger. Very smooth. I have fired this one, and it is FUN. This one came with a decent floral carved holster and Bowen's "Custom Revolvers" book, which is worth quite a bit itself nowadays.

Bottom gun was fitted and blued by Jack Huntington with parts sent. SN S82XXX. The barrel was sent to Al Siegrist for reboring and was remarked by Alan Harton. Harton also rechambered with recessed case heads a Model 29 44 mag cylinder. It was a nickel cylinder that was stripped, thus the beautiful plum blue that doesn't really come through in the pics. Has a wide trigger and original hammer. I had the grips from a newer N-frame in my spare parts box. Seems perfect and tight. Can't wait to shoot it.

A few more pics:

I was going to ask about the one in the holster thread. You must have read my mind. Where’d you dig these up? They might give purist collectors the shivers, but I think they are really cool pieces of history and very serviceable to boot! I’d be proud to own either.

Thanks! I picked up the 45 Colt today and had the Bowen out to take the holster pic, so thought I would share details. I bought both second-hand. No idea what condition they were in when sent for the work. Neither seem to have any evidence of previous pitting, etc. I'll be looking out for some affordable factory diamond grips for the 45 Colt.

Cool and very interesting.

Thanks. Bowen stopped doing caliber conversions that required reboring for several years because his guy either retired or died. Not sure who he used. But I believe he's doing them now.

Very very nice ! I’m trying to learn a little about S&W, we’re these originally 38 special ?

Those are very cool. I’m a big time N frame 38 fan but those are well executed and a good use of two of the most common of the H/D guns.

I do find it a little odd that someone went to the trouble and expense to have Bowen basically build a 1950 Military 45 when they were and are reasonably common. They were and are generally more expensive than a 5” H/D but Bowen doesn’t work cheaply.

Hamilton Bowen won't work on Smith revolvers at this time, only Rugers.

Yes sir. The earlier HD’s were 38/44. I believe all of the Model of 1950 HD’s were 38 special.

257heaven, these are indeed remarkable revolvers that will probably never be replicated. In this world of polymer and red dots and bucket holsters, I totally get them. Thanks for sharing.

They actually were all chambered for 38 special and so marked. The 38/44 loads were essentially an early day 38 +P+ loading. 38/44 referred to the revolvers being chambered for the 38 while built on the 44 sized frame.

Thank y'all for the info,,,