is it .38 special or .357

rlfcjf

September 23, 2003 18:20

recently purchased a colt revolver, serial number J55040...
it was advertised as a .38 special.. it has been
customized by a gentleman by the name of A.F. Behlert...


there are no markings on the barrel from colt , so i believe
part of the customizing was also a replacement barrel...

.357 rounds fit easily into the cylinder and the revolver
locks up fine...

i believe that the revolver is a MK-III trooper...

from what i am able to find out from reading is that
.357 rounds should not fit into a .38 special cylinder..

but i want to be sure...

thanks for any help

rick

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  Colt Super

  September 23, 2003 18:47

  I believe A F Behlert is August Behlert, who is/was a reknowned gunsmith. If .357 Magnum cartridges fit it the cylinder, it has probably been converted from .38 Special. As you are probably aware, both .38 Special and .357 Magnum calibers have a bore/bullet diameter of 0.357 inches, so nothing would need to be done to the barrel to convert - that may be why the barrel has not been re-marked to ".357 Magnum". Just to be on the safe side, I'd have a gunsmith remote fire a cylinder full of heavy, full-house .357 Magnum cartridges from a Ransome or some other type of fixed rest to test the cylinder strength.
  
  Another possibility would be to contact Behlert - actually, I think the famous gunsmith was named "Beulert" - give him the serial number and see what he says.
  
  Good luck from.... Doug

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  db3s

  September 24, 2003 03:40

  The name is Austin Behlert and he is very much alive. He contributes regularly to the forums at:
  
  http://www.pistolsmith.com/index.php

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  Colt Super

  September 24, 2003 08:45

  Thanks for setting me straight on his name. No excuse... just dumb.

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  kingjoey

  September 24, 2003 20:53

  Be careful with some of the older revolvers. There are quite a few older 38 Special revolvers floating around that don't have a shoulder in the cylinder, hence the 357 will fit. I'm not aware of Colt making any without a shoulder, but it'd be worth having a gunsmith check out. Good luck
  
  Love them Beavers
  
  
  SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN

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