It was stamped .38 WCF and not re bored to a larger caliber. I had a 44-40 and the fired cases look completely different. As I had both at that time, I tried to fit a .44 into the .38 and it would not go.
Like I said, I read years later that the .38 was purposely chambered deeper and I figured out it was to split the case at the shoulder.
Ok. I can see that
I have sized, fired 38-40 cases to 44-40. They are basically the same case sized for either .40” bullets for 38-40 and .427” bullets for 44-40.
Lots of brass available today, for both because of Cowboy Action Shooting.
Old brass splits sometimes. I sometimes anneal brass to make it more flexible.
That’s about it.