25 or so years ago, those could be had for $150, returned duty weapons from various police departments. I made 3 or 4 of them into .44 Specials in the machine shop I worked in at the time. I'd get a .44 Special barrel and bore and ream the cylinder chambers out to .44 Special on a fixture I built in a metal lathe. I still have one of the revolvers. It shoots well.