Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this double-action revolver today for a penny-start auction; this is the Smith & Wesson .38/44 Outdoorsman Model Of 1950 "Pre-Model 23"!
The owner said, “I've looked into the strange cylinder on the Smith and Wesson pre-model 24 38 special that keeps getting sent back. I have a book called Magnum, The S&W 357 Magnum Phenomena, by Timothy J Mullin. The whole book is about S&W N Frame 357s. The first 357s ever made were the Smith and Wesson Registered Magnum. Their cylinders were like the one that is on the Pre-model 38 special we are trying to sell. That is why I believe it is a 357 conversion. The first advertisements for the Registered Magnum said this modification was for recessed headspace to allow the rim of the cartridge to be fully seated rather than on top of the cylinder for safety with high-pressure ammunition. This can be seen on page 43 of the Mullin book in figures 44 and 47.”
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: .38/44 Outdoorsman Model Of 1950 "Pre-Model 23"
Serial: S101692
Range of Manufacture: 1953-1954
Caliber: .357 Conversion - Registered Magnum Cylinder (According to the Owner)
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 6 ½" Pinned Barrel
Optics/Sights: Patridge Front with Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Oversized Wood Grips with Checkering and S&W Medallions
Action: Double/Single-Action
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Smith & Wesson .38/44 is a series of double-action, six-round cylinder revolvers with an N-frame chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. These revolvers were manufactured from 1930 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1966 after World War II. They were designed to fire high-pressure .38/44 loads, which were more powerful than conventional .38 Special ammunition but not as powerful as the new .357 Magnum ammo. During the 1920s and 1930s, law enforcement agencies in the United States faced a problem with conventional police service revolver ammunition. It was unable to penetrate heavy steel-framed automobiles. This issue was brought to light when they encountered well-organized and well-funded bootleggers. In response, Smith & Wesson introduced the .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1930. It was based on the .44 Special Smith & Wesson Triple Lock revolver and had a 5-inch barrel with fixed sights. The following year, Smith & Wesson began producing the .38/44 Outdoorsman, which had a 6.5-inch barrel and adjustable sights.
These new revolvers were chambered for a new, more powerful type of .38 Special ammunition that could fire a 158-grain metal-penetrating copper-tipped lead-alloy bullet at 1,125 feet per second. In comparison, conventional .38 Special ammunition could only fire a 158-grain bullet at 755 feet per second. This new ammunition was capable of penetrating the automobile bodies and body armor of that era. In 1935, a 4-inch barrel was offered for users who wanted a more compact firearm, although it had reduced ballistic performance. The .38/44 and its ammunition garnered a lot of media attention, which led Smith & Wesson to develop the longer .357 Magnum cartridge in the same year. The .38/44 was an option for buyers who did not want to pay the high price of the new .357 Magnum revolvers.
The .38/44 revolvers were available with either a blued or nickel-plated finish. Production was interrupted by World War II, and postwar production serial numbers were prefixed with the letter S. After the war, these N-frame revolvers were popular with veterans who experimented with .38 Special handloads at pressures up to 50% higher than the 15,000 psi recommended for conventional .38 Special revolvers. In 1957, the "Heavy Duty" fixed-sight version was marketed as the Smith & Wesson Model 20, and the "Outdoorsman" with adjustable sights became the Smith & Wesson Model 23.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: .38/44 Outdoorsman Model Of 1950 "Pre-Model 23"
Serial: S101692
Range of Manufacture: 1953-1954
Caliber: .357 Conversion - Registered Magnum Cylinder (According to the Owner)
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 6 ½" Pinned Barrel
Optics/Sights: Patridge Front with Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Oversized Wood Grips with Checkering and S&W Medallions
Action: Double/Single-Action
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Smith & Wesson .38/44 is a series of double-action, six-round cylinder revolvers with an N-frame chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. These revolvers were manufactured from 1930 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1966 after World War II. They were designed to fire high-pressure .38/44 loads, which were more powerful than conventional .38 Special ammunition but not as powerful as the new .357 Magnum ammo. During the 1920s and 1930s, law enforcement agencies in the United States faced a problem with conventional police service revolver ammunition. It was unable to penetrate heavy steel-framed automobiles. This issue was brought to light when they encountered well-organized and well-funded bootleggers. In response, Smith & Wesson introduced the .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1930. It was based on the .44 Special Smith & Wesson Triple Lock revolver and had a 5-inch barrel with fixed sights. The following year, Smith & Wesson began producing the .38/44 Outdoorsman, which had a 6.5-inch barrel and adjustable sights.
These new revolvers were chambered for a new, more powerful type of .38 Special ammunition that could fire a 158-grain metal-penetrating copper-tipped lead-alloy bullet at 1,125 feet per second. In comparison, conventional .38 Special ammunition could only fire a 158-grain bullet at 755 feet per second. This new ammunition was capable of penetrating the automobile bodies and body armor of that era. In 1935, a 4-inch barrel was offered for users who wanted a more compact firearm, although it had reduced ballistic performance. The .38/44 and its ammunition garnered a lot of media attention, which led Smith & Wesson to develop the longer .357 Magnum cartridge in the same year. The .38/44 was an option for buyers who did not want to pay the high price of the new .357 Magnum revolvers.
The .38/44 revolvers were available with either a blued or nickel-plated finish. Production was interrupted by World War II, and postwar production serial numbers were prefixed with the letter S. After the war, these N-frame revolvers were popular with veterans who experimented with .38 Special handloads at pressures up to 50% higher than the 15,000 psi recommended for conventional .38 Special revolvers. In 1957, the "Heavy Duty" fixed-sight version was marketed as the Smith & Wesson Model 20, and the "Outdoorsman" with adjustable sights became the Smith & Wesson Model 23.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
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Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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