I found this yesterday while going thru a back issue (Nov. 1931). The magazine format is so large that I am unable to scan the whole thing on my little machine but if you run into this issue, it might be a nice thing to have with your period revolver. Just FYI.
Ed

I found this yesterday while going thru a back issue (Nov. 1931). The magazine format is so large that I am unable to scan the whole thing on my little machine but if you run into this issue, it might be a nice thing to have with your period revolver. Just FYI.
Ed

Nice! Written by somebody who actually knew what he was writing about, and in the days when The American Rifleman was truly worth reading!

I love how Sharpe saw the 5" as a 'short' barrel. It's a shame that nobody mainstream (remfedchester) loads .38sp anywhere near its potential anymore.

For those who may be unfamiliar with Phil Sharpe, he was one of the foremost gun writers of that, or any other, time, and during his career wrote numerous articles and books on guns, plus a widely-used reloading manual. He was up there with Whelen, Hatcher, Keith, Brown, Page, Nonte, and O'Connor. This was back in the time when there were no dedicated gun magazines in the U.S., except for the American Rifleman, nor reloading manuals anything like those available today. He is credited by many as being responsible for initiating the development of the .357 Magnum, but never personally claimed any credit.

One of the older issues of Gun Digest contained a very lengthy biography of Phil Sharpe. Unfortunately, I can't provide the edition, but it would be difficult to find anyone else who lived and breathed guns as much as Phil Sharpe. I believe he died rather early in life.

I had every issue of American Rifleman from 1930 to about 61. Sadly, they were destroyed in a fire.

I have a ton of old gun mags that my Dad collected. A few years ago I found that article and sent a PM to the Big Gorilla asking if I could post it. He said sure. We never could figure out how to do it.
Glad you did. Pretty interesting.
Jim

Back in the 60s I shot 38-44 ammo in my N frame.

__________________
A gun has no brain.. use yours

See below:

Shooting with Hobie

Thanks for the post. Now to see if I can find the complete article.

__________________
Hue 68 noli me tangere

"In the 1951 edition of Gun Digest, Mr. Sharpe reports that he left the service in 1946, found the Pennsylvania farm and moved there in 1947. This doesn't quite jive with the public record. However the Gun Digest article has photos and specifics on his farm and range setup. Pretty neat. "

That's the reference I gave earlier. Worth a read if you have that GD edition, or the CD set of all the GDs. He had a barn set up as a ballistics laboratory and fired at targets from the upper floor.

Hi
here is some more information on Phil Sharpe. Phil was given Reg # 2 by the factory
see attached write up. The gun was a part of the SWCA display in Pittsburgh.
and the gun won a silver metal.
Jim Fisher







Here is information on Reg no 2

Jim, Any details on reg #2. Barrel length, Sights, Grip adaptor? Mike

Good point! There was a period in the early 70s when +P loads did approach the .38/.44, the W-W FBI load hitting 1014fps from a 4" Model 10. R-P produced 125 and 158gr scalloped JHPs with tiny cavities which seem to be loaded with a slow burning (for handgun) powder. Even from a 16" .357 carbine bbl, there would be unburned powder granules in the case. Would be interesting to chrono these 125s, still have some. S&W/Fiocchi also produced loads similar to the R-Ps, and I almost forgot to mention the original Super Vel.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

The "Original" .38/44 factory loads from 1931 (and later) used a 158 grain lead bullet or a 150 grain metal-capped bullet at about 1100-1150 ft/sec MV, depending upon barrel length. The original loading used a propellant something like Hercules 2400, and early reloading manuals from the 1950s recommended using only 2400 to duplicate factory ballistics. It produced peak chamber pressures far above .38 Special SAAMI limits, and I guess that today it would be called a +P+, or maybe a ++P++. I estimate it would have been in excess of 25,000 psi.

I have a First Edition copy of his book "The Rifle in America." It still has the dust jacket and is inscribed by Sharpe with a several-line note to his editor. I found it several years ago in an old gun shop in Ft. Collins, CO. I think it is still the best reference out there on prewar American longarms.

I have a 1995 reprint of the original 1938 edition. At one time, NRA had many of the classic gun books of an earlier time reprinted in fancy library bindings, and mine is one of them. I have several other titles in the same series also. All of mine came from one of the local "Half-Price Books" store. "The Rifle in America" is a very detailed reference on rifles of the pre-WWII period, and there are many copies available listed on eBay, Abe Books, and Amazon for anyone who wants one..

Both of my copies of Sharpe's best works (Reloading and the Rifle) are autographed. I think he did that to a lot of them.

Excellent thread. Thank you to all that contributed to it.

__________________
SWCA 1646

My .38-44 is from 1931 or 1932.....maybe someone like Phil Sharpe owned it......maybe.....

***GRJ***

For a mere $50 you can find out.....

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

Is this a coincidence or what? I just finished cleaning up a George Lawrence
holster, that I received the day before, for a holster for my "1930" 38/44 HD. The article by Phil Sharp seems to indicate that a perceived problem by 38/44 owners, or would be owners, was the extra weight of the 38/44 over a .38 special, and that it would be unnoticeable if fitted up with a quality Holster. I would sure like to have a print out of that article, by Phil Sharp. Here is a picture of my .38/44 HD, That is one year older than Me, and the holster that it is fitted up with, a George Lawrence mod. 25 L B 8 6. Thanks for sharing.
Chubbohttp://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=176809&stc=1&d=1418502465http://smith-http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=176811&stc=1&d=1418502573wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=176810&stc=1&d=1418502509

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"...and that it would be unnoticeable if fitted up with a quality Holster."

Entirely true - were there a large Helium balloon tethered to the same holster.