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Old 05-31-2018, 05:05 PM
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Default Where did the term “special” as in 38spl or 44spl originate?

So i know “magnum” term came from extra large bottles of champagne and “express” came from the faster express trains from the era but where did the term “special” come from?
Not sure what other forum to post this question.
Just curious as to the history and nomenclature
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Old 05-31-2018, 06:12 PM
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I would guess straight out of the S & W advertising/marketing department, as both cartridges were simply longer versions of the .38 Long Colt and .44 Russian. Others here probably know for certain or have period ads or literature.
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Old 05-31-2018, 06:37 PM
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If express is a train, so is special
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Old 05-31-2018, 06:42 PM
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Default Yeah, like this one...

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Originally Posted by oddshooter View Post
If express is a train, so is special

Specials were fast and made few stops.
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Old 05-31-2018, 06:53 PM
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I thoufht it had to do with being loaded from the factory with smokeless powder, but reloadable with Black powder. I think I read that somewhere about the .32WSctg. If I'm wrong, someone will flame me, directly.......
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Old 05-31-2018, 07:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwsmith View Post
Specials were fast and made few stops.
But there warn't anything orange about it. . .


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Old 05-31-2018, 07:16 PM
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Wink I did NOT just make up 100% of this!

The .38 cartridge they had made revolvers for for decades was the .38 S&W. Inside the factory .38 S&W continued to be called the regular .38 cartridge long after .38 Special was introduced. .38 U.S. Service and similar names were alternate names for the .38 Long usually associated with their competitor. A special name had to be dreamed up that both distinguished the new cartridge from older ones and did not make their competitor's name better known. Wait a minute! What did I just write?

About 5 years later they needed a name to distinguish their new longer .44 cartridge from the .44 Russian. The .38 Special was selling well. They hoped naming another cartridge Special would capitalize on that success. It did not. The quantity of .44 Specials sold has always been minute compared to .38 Special sales.
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Old 05-31-2018, 07:20 PM
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Old 05-31-2018, 08:26 PM
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Default At midnight...

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueRidgeBoy View Post
But there warn't anything orange about it. . .

Creedence Clearwater Revival: The Midnight Special - YouTube

At midnight you couldn't SEE that it was orange.
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Old 05-31-2018, 08:48 PM
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Default How would you like to be in charge....

...of coming up with snappy names for new cartridges?

Grendel and Blackout are pretty good. 6.5 Creedence sounds better than 'Creedmore'. Popular references, you know.

Here are some names I'd use:

.38 Extreme

.38 Effective

.38 Repulse

.38 Venom


It's easier to think up names I WOULDN'T use:

.38 Vulnerable

.38 Discount

.38 Pathetic

.38 Insecure

.38 Silly

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Old 06-01-2018, 12:15 AM
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I have an early pre-war set of Ideal dies for their tong tool loader (that became known as the Lyman 310 series) they are marked 44 S&W, and referred to the 44 Russian cartridge (44-40 are called 44 WCF), these can be adjusted out for the "Special Length" round also, as per the printed instructions! My dies for 38 are from the 1950's or 60's and are Lyman brand dies. The instructions make no mention of fitting 357 cases, but they do.

Ivan
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Old 06-01-2018, 12:24 AM
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Nothing more complicated than "Special Cartridge for Smith & Wesson." since that was what the .38 "Special" was originally designed for, and originally the only brand of revolver chambered for it! Naming the new, lengthened cartridge in .44 caliber was sort of a no-brainer as a follow-on. Designating things as "special" or "especially adapted for" was fairly common at one time.
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Old 06-01-2018, 09:50 AM
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Default "special" designation

Based on my reading dd884 has it right. "Special" was the terminology for a round that could be purchased as a black powder round, or as a smokeless powder round and could be reloaded either way also. This included the .32 Winchester Special, the S&W .38 Special and the S&W .44 Special. Blackpowder rounds for the .38 Special were first loaded by Union Metallic (UMC) in May of 1899 with the smokeless loads following in September, as I recall (U.S. Cartridges and Their Handguns, Charles Suydam 1977).
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Old 06-01-2018, 12:25 PM
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Default Here's another..

One you don't see much anymore. Express.

a : traveling at high speed; specifically : traveling with few or no stops along the way

express train

b : designed or intended to be used for fast movement or travel

an express highway with few local exits

the express lane at the supermarket

c (1) : delivered faster than usual

an express shipment

(2) British : designated to be delivered without delay by special messenger


.450 Nitro Express. Does that give you the picture or what?

PS I'm not saying that the thing about black powder or smokeless powder is wrong, but there are a LOT of cartridges that have that capability that aren't named 'Special'. .38 Long Colt, .38 S&W, .39-40....
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Old 06-01-2018, 05:27 PM
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Just for some historical perspective on names, Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range. I expect it's all high rises and sub divisions now. Unless parts of it are the grounds of someones mansion.
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Old 06-01-2018, 06:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmxcop View Post
Based on my reading dd884 has it right. "Special" was the terminology for a round that could be purchased as a black powder round, or as a smokeless powder round and could be reloaded either way also. This included the .32 Winchester Special, .....
Had a friend in High School had an old L/A Winchester and I believe it was marked .32-40. Half a century makes recollections "less than accurate." Joe
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Old 06-02-2018, 12:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WR Moore View Post
Just for some historical perspective on names, Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range. I expect it's all high rises and sub divisions now. Unless parts of it are the grounds of someones mansion.

If you are really curious where the Creedmore Range was located plug these coordinates into Google Earth, Google Maps, Bing Maps, etc. 40°44'11.37"N 73°43'56.11"W

It is the location of Creedmore Range, which is now a mental health facility on Long Island known as the Creedmore Psychiatric Center and others grouped on the range and Creed Farm property. Note street names in the area, Winchester, Musket, Sabre, Range, Springfield.
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Old 06-02-2018, 08:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WR Moore View Post
...Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range.
*Creedmoor*

Creedmoor Rifle Range - Wikipedia
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Old 06-02-2018, 05:44 PM
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The version I have is like K22's version.
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