Here are a couple I'd never heard of

WB
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:27 (2064 days ago)

the .32-44 Gallery and .38-44 calibers. I did not know what they were. One load showed a 50 gr. RB and only 6 grains of powder. This was from a 1905 UMC catalog. The ammo was shown as just cases with no bullets.

I then found that one was a .32 cartridge and the other a .38 but the "Gun" they were designed for was a .44 chassis. Hence the name.

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As you can see the bullet was seated fully in the case. Chambers were bored straight through like a heeled bullet ctg. I think the cases might have been full cylinder length.

[image]


This was well put from a fellow who seemed to know: Helping the confusion of a .38-44 Gallery and .38-44 S&W HD.

"The original .38 - 44 Cartridge was for the Smith & Wesson 'New Model 3' Target Revolver, and was never a Rifle Cartridge.

It's Length occupies the length of the Cylinder, and the Ball or Bullet is seated entirely inside the Cartridge Case.


The later mid 1920s and on a ways ".38/44" aka ".38 Heavy Duty" and whatever other names were used, were intended for use with the S&W N Frame 'Outdoorsman" and with the S & W ".38-44 Heavy Duty" Revolvers, and the Colt 'New Service' Revolvers chambering .38 Special, and was not the same Cartridge as the original ".38 - 44".

The later one, was simply a .38 Special, loaded to something approaching .357 Magnum power levels...which then gave rise to the .357 Magnum Cartridge after a few years.

The original .38 - 44 is same diameter as .38 S&W, but a lot longer...and uses a .361 Bullet.

Both versions of the ".38 - 44" Cartridge derive their name on the same logic - both were nominally .38 Caliber, and both intended for use in the Smith & Wesson .44 Caliber Frame-size Revolvers. "

This was discovered while researching Bisley revolvers. I've already learned in a couple days more than I knew in 50 yrs.

[image]

So if you run across a Bisley Colt, numbers matching

WB
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:31 (2064 days ago) @ WB

no matter the condition in either .38 Special or .45 Colt and no rifling at all.... BUY IT! Or simply call me.

I see a ".45 Smoothbore Bisley"

Jim Taylor
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:31 (2064 days ago) @ WB

My Dad had a Colt SAA .45 Smoothbore that was from the 101 Ranch. They used the smoothbores in trick shooting demonstrations breaking glass balls and clay pigeons.

I'd read that from the old shows. Like CCI Shotshells..

Huey
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:35 (2064 days ago) @ Jim Taylor

To fool the public. The onlookers couldn't tell the difference between the shotshells or bullets. All they saw was the glass balls break.

That's still pretty tight shooting from the hip or behind

WB
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:41 (2064 days ago) @ Huey

the back. I figure they were lots safer too, not peg someone a mile away. Denning has one I really admire. Maybe one day I can trade him out of it or hook up with him to at least toy with it. The mischief we could get into...

Fascinating to read about Adolf Topperwein's exploits

Huey
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:46 (2064 days ago) @ WB

He'd throw a washer up and shoot thru it. After bets were placed that it was a hoax, he'd put a postage stamp over the hole and repeat the rest. His wife was quite a shot herself.

There are some Hillbillies around here shoot skeet with .22

WB
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 15:49 (2064 days ago) @ Huey

and hit aspirins pitches up in the air with a .22 rifle. Heck I can't even follow it to see it. They do miss every once in a while. Mostly at stuff sitting still!!!

Wow, I would of thought more had been made.

JPL
[subject]
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 20:49 (2064 days ago) @ WB

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