While I am a single action sixgun guy ....

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but they work. They're a great combination of size, weight, power and reliability gathered together in an accurate handgun.

eventually settled on a mod 65. I've shot a lot of 38 out of it but have the option for 357 when needed. Makes a great backpack pistol being stainless and a bit lighter than a lot of other 357s.

and have never owned a 357 magnum. The 38 is my most loaded, most shot caliber when up north and my only caliber here in Coffee Country as far as cartridge arms go.

I keep looking at those J&G specials. If I could locate a 6" barrel for it I'd be tempted to pick one up next summer and set it up for target use. Yeah, it's not as "sexy" as an adjustable sighted gun and not as packable as my 4" HB, but I miss having a 6" 38 in the stable, they make a great tractor gun if you're only looking for small game and snakes.

A 125 to 160 grain cast lead projectile over a sort of some fast powder makes for a dandy shooting package. I ran a bunch of them through my old Rossi back in the day. Had a load made up with a Lyman wadcutter lubed with my stingless bees' wax home made lube and pushed out the barrel by a 22 LR case of Especial de Caça (roughly same burn rate as Bullseye) that the old Rossi simply loved. Didn't have a lot of punch to it, but was accurate as could be. I'd love to try a similar load on ground squirrels one day.

Anyway, I've been cogitating on the project ever since I first saw pics of your HB made up on the J&G base gun. Are those J&G's all RB models?

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I'm a peaceful man and prefer the pursuit of peaceful sports. Those involving teams and balls of any sort tend to be deleterious to one's body and promote violence by both spectators and participants.

I hope you still have the short ejector rod, they are hard to find.

I have several .38's but only this "Pre" Model 10. Not sure when it was made (S&W serials are a bit of a mystery) but what an odd duck. My Great Uncle Waymon Goree kept it in his Patrol car as a "drop gun" for emergency. So the family story goes. It's actual origins are a bit shaded. Uncle Waymon was our local Chief of Police the year I was born 1963. Actually, also the year Kennedy was killed by the Mafia via the CIA. I have a photo of me as a very small baby with his Chief's hat on. I am barely big enough to sit unassisted.

I ended up with his 2" .38 after he passed from his nephew, my Uncle Ed, who also became police Chief of a couple small towns in our area. The Deputy badge was Ed's father, my Grandfather's, who was a member of the mounted patrol (horses).

This Pre-M10 has very odd ergonomics, not at all like a normal later M10. I can hardly reach the trigger DA, it's very awkward. The trigger shoe I got from Gary, and it's very helpful for me to reach the trigger, I NEEDED it, thanks again so much Gary! I found a home for every one you've ever given me. The gun is a re-chrome. Nickel guns have case colored hammer/triggers and nickel just looks different. I have the grip adapter (also much needed) and later 1980's grips. Note the barrel is off a M10 built much later than the rest of the gun. But it seems it was chromed with that odd barrel on it. What a mongrel. But boy it shoots great. The cylinder is a bit loose from a worn locking bolt. They make oversize replacements where I could fit it to be tight as Dick's hat band, if I wanted to. But it's fine for now. The 130 gr. RN FMJ military ammo is what he carried on duty back then.

in 47 states that (as far as I can remember) does not have a 38 special revolver. Colleen has a 2" S&W model 66 in 357 Mag but I don't think that counts as a 38. I feel neglected.