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03-11-2017, 10:58 PM
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It's About Time...Prewar Outdoorsman - Function, Beauty & Perfection
I thought I'd start another 38-44 prewar Outdoorsman thread - just because it's been a while (even though it might have been only a few weeks or so... ). The lines on these guns are some of my favorite.
This one shipped in May of 1939 with the HBH and a Call gold bead front sight.
I'd love to see some photos of your Outdoorsmans.
Thanks for letting me share,
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Last edited by RKmesa; 03-13-2017 at 10:29 AM.
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03-11-2017, 11:05 PM
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LOVE LOVE LOVE the hump back hammer and gold bead sight.
Those options make it stand out even more than normal. Cant neglect to mention the box!
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03-11-2017, 11:07 PM
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Best looking guns S&W ever made.
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03-11-2017, 11:18 PM
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My only N frame.......so far
I saved these old shoes for a couple years waiting for the right gun.
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03-11-2017, 11:30 PM
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I treasure my Outdoorsmans!
This one shipped to the Foxborough Police Chief in 1933
This is my reblued shooter
I recently found this Transitional at a local gun shop. It has some prewar parts
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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SWCA #2864
Last edited by bengal fan; 03-11-2017 at 11:32 PM.
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03-11-2017, 11:48 PM
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Beautiful guns!! You guys are killing me!
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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102
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03-12-2017, 12:15 AM
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Here's a pretty crisp specimen with the original box and HBH. SN 620XX shipped July 22, 1940.
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03-12-2017, 01:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paplinker
...I saved these old shoes for a couple years waiting for the right gun.
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Stunning package with those Ropers - one of the most beautifully grained sets of Ropers that I have ever seen.
Thanks for sharing,
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
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03-12-2017, 01:18 AM
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This N frame is the only pair I own with the larger checkering.
It feels more durable and I think shows better. Wonder if the larger checkering had to be asked for.
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03-12-2017, 06:25 AM
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This is one of those "newer" post war models, it wasn't made until 1957.
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03-12-2017, 05:10 PM
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One that was transformed...
Before (with some corrosion and surface pitting):
After the touch of an engraving master, grips by Keith Brown and Turnbull color case on the hammer/trigger:
With the appropriate box and a box of period ammo:
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
Last edited by RKmesa; 03-12-2017 at 05:14 PM.
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03-12-2017, 05:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightowl
Beautiful guns!! You guys are killing me!
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10-4.... I concur wholeheartedly!!!
These are some of the most beautiful Smiths ever!!
Best Regards, Les
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03-13-2017, 08:57 PM
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Interesting how all the boxes for these Outdoorsmans have faded differently over the past 75-80 years...
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
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03-13-2017, 09:28 PM
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I'll throw one in the ring.
Bill
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03-14-2017, 09:31 AM
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Here's mine. You've got to find the right holster for them.
Regards,
turnerriver
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03-15-2017, 01:07 AM
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Here are my two with several full boxes of prewar .38 Special ammunition. One on the left shipped August, 1936, and the other November, 1937. Not a great photo I admit.
These are two of forty eight S&W's I am about to ship back to the U.S. for sale. Have BATF approval and am just tidying up the paperwork at this end.
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03-15-2017, 09:32 AM
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Rick
SWCA #2727 , SWHF #435
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03-15-2017, 07:12 PM
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Moderator SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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When I 1st started collecting S&W I bought a collection of nice old Smiths. In it there was a RM 6.5" and this Outdoorsman. I took them to Tulsa and decided then to keep the OD over the RM and sold the RM. Eventually I sold the Outdoorsman too big regret on this one.
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03-16-2017, 08:44 AM
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One with a funky rib
Transitional with a King hammer and short action conversion
Another with King hammer, rear sight blade, and trigger shoe. McGivern gold bead front sight
Another with King sights front and rear, hammer, and roper grips. This one has LEO provenance
Finally, a very early first year OD with some giraffe bone stocks with original pre war medallions.
Safe to say I love ODs!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM
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03-16-2017, 09:43 AM
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Here's mine. This is one of a few "Grail" revolvers that I couldn't live without. Any ideas out there on a ballpark date of manufacture? SN: 461xx.
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03-16-2017, 01:40 PM
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Vendor
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Beautiful guns all. paplinker, your Ropers are the chisel cut variety, my favorite. Very nice!
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03-16-2017, 01:47 PM
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Wow what beautiful revolvers, those pre-war S&W's are something else, adding Kieth Brown grips is the icing on the cake so to speak.
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03-16-2017, 10:21 PM
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My early OD has a gunsmith skeletenized hammer (and exceptional action). Does anyone recognize this workmanship ? border bud Picture is pending
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03-17-2017, 12:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janman
Here's mine. This is one of a few "Grail" revolvers that I couldn't live without. Any ideas out there on a ballpark date of manufacture? SN: 461xx.
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janman, my guns in my post above are numbered 44712 and 53221. This may give you a rough idea when yours shipped.
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03-17-2017, 04:08 PM
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Hey Gang,
You make me envious. I'm still looking for an Outdoorsman like that. The workmanship and attention to detail in these old Smiths make me melt. They are from a time when craftsmanship and artistry really mattered. Nothing beats blue steel and walnut.
Taj
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03-17-2017, 05:05 PM
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Vendor
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My only 38/44 Outdoorsman, got this from handejector hisself a few years back. The pachyderm tooth grips are long gone sad to say, but made for a pretty sweet combination.
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03-17-2017, 05:42 PM
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Wow!!! Kieth, did you make those grips?? Those are just stunning, and what a beautiful contrast to the rich deep blue of the gun!! If you still have the gun, what grips are on it now??
Best Regards, Les
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03-17-2017, 07:55 PM
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Vendor
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Thanks Les, I did make them for a friend out of ivory he supplied. The ivory is not to difficult to shape but a real chore to checker. The photo doesn't really do the material justice, its beautiful stuff but hard to photograph, at least for me. The gun is naked at the moment, have had various grips on it but end up selling them off. Like everybody else I wish I'd started buying these years ago.
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03-17-2017, 09:26 PM
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Heres my '53 later model, matching grips and box...picked up in a trade, the guy did not know what he had.
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03-18-2017, 02:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by frankynohankypanky
janman, my guns in my post above are numbered 44712 and 53221. This may give you a rough idea when yours shipped.
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Thanks for the help Franky!
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03-18-2017, 09:19 AM
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5" Outdoorsman . . . aka McGivern Model
Any discussion of the pre-war 38/44 Outdoorsman would not be complete without inclusion of the 5” McGivern Model.
Here is a link to one that letters as a McGivern Model from its debut post in 2013:
38/44 McGivern Model a.k.a. 5” Outdoorsman
It was one of eight shipped 6/18/34 to Seattle Hardware and believed to have been used by the Seattle Police Revolver Club’s eight-member pistol team and now resides in an appropriate Montana collection.
More recently I came across another interesting 5” target 38/44 that has a more checkered past. Based on Roy Jink’s factory letter, it originally shipped 1/20/32 to Wolf & Klar in Ft. Worth as a fix-sighted Super Police (as 38/44 Heavy Dutys were known in the 1931 factory catalog). The 1931 published retail price was $36.75 . . . not a small sum during the depression era.
Based on S&W Historical Foundation research by Bill Cross, it was returned to the factory on 2/21/33 with the Montana owner requesting it be converted to a target model. The owner paid $11.80 for the target conversion . . . $10 for grooved tangs (grip frame), grooved trigger adjusted for target shooting, square notch adjustable rear sight, and a Patridge front sight . . . $0.80 additional for a Call gold bead . . . and $1 for Express shipping.
The original service stocks were long gone when I bought the gun so I purchased these circa-1938 pre-war magnas from forum member “weatherby” to replace the plastic Franzite grips that came on the gun.
Although it didn’t ship that way, it ended up a Super Police Target . . . the forerunner of the McGivern Model.
Hope you enjoy
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03-18-2017, 10:43 AM
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
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03-18-2017, 11:04 AM
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03-20-2017, 12:45 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKmesa
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You are indeed a very very sick man. I feel so terrible that I ever enabled you; I should never have sponsored you into the S&WCA. The weight of my deed is quite a burden on me. So I must tell you that your only path to recovery and healing is first to sell off all your N frames (to me) and then after years of counseling and N frames anonymous meetings, you will overcome the addiction brother. I will be praying for you. You are not alone.
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03-20-2017, 12:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kobold_27
You are indeed a very very sick man. I feel so terrible that I ever enabled you; I should never have sponsored you into the S&WCA. The weight of my deed is quite a burden on me...
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... and my wife curses your name regularly . Seriously, it has been a fun ride since you sponsored me almost 10 years ago and I am still enjoying the addiction.
Thanks for sharing your passion,
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Richard
Engraved S&W fan
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03-20-2017, 08:50 PM
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These are mine, a 22 & a 38...
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Posting Rules
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