i have a 38/44 outdoorsman, but i'm having difficulty in deciding exactly what model it is. it appears like a pre model type, but in looking at photos of others mine has a slight difference. it seems as though the ones i've looked at all have 2 pins at the end of the barrel on the rib. mine has those plus one above on the sight. everything else looks the same. the serial number is s93xxx. with this info can anyone ascertain what the model really is?

i have a 38/44 outdoorsman, but i'm having difficulty in deciding exactly what model it is. it appears like a pre model type, but in looking at photos of others mine has a slight difference. it seems as though the ones i've looked at all have 2 pins at the end of the barrel on the rib. mine has those plus one above on the sight. everything else looks the same. the serial number is s93xxx. with this info can anyone ascertain what the model really is?

If the serial number on the butt of the frame below the bottom of the grips starts with an "S" then it's a post-WWII model.
The "pre-Model 23" .38/44 Outdoorsman started at about serial number S 75000 in the 1950 time frame. Yours appears to be in this range.
This model is sometimes called the "pre-Model 23" because the same gun was designated the Model 23 in about 1957 when S&W started assigning and stamping model numbers on their handguns.

(Info from Nahas and Supica's Standard Catalog of S&W, 3d Ed.)

If you could post some pictures it would be a great help. We love pictures of guns here!

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John

i would love to post a couple of pics, but i dont think i have that permission in my profile. it's a beauty though. it has some custom wrap around walnut checkered grips that fit the hands sooo nicely. my father gave this to me as my first pistol in the late 70s. i'm still amazed at how accurate this thing is....

if i can figure out how to post pics i certainly will...

any thoughts on the three pins at the barrel end? is this common?

thx for the response

S

Everyone has permission to post pictures. The process is quite simple. You have to
upload the pictures to some other hosting site, like www.photobucket.com , and then
put an image-link to your picture in your message here. Check around here - there is a
good document about the procedure for posting pictures.

The two lower pins hold the sight base to the barrel rib. The upper pin holds the sight
blade in its base. Over time, the ends of those pins became polished flush to the barrel,
so that they were not easily visible.

Later, Mike Priwer

suds:

Your Outdoorsman was "probably" shipped in 1952.

The pins you mention are normal with two in the base. If the pin on the sight blade is obvious it may mean the blade was replaced

Here is a photo of a 1953 model that shows the base pins that should be like yours.

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

[img] [/IMG]

did this pic post?

so here are a couple more pics of my outdoorsman! i finally figured out how to post pics - thx to Mike Priwer

Beautiful Outdoorsman, suds! I like the target stocks on that gun. One of our members can probably tell you something about them too.

Thanks for the picture,

Jerry

suds:

How about a few close-ups of the front sight !

I also enjoy shooting the Outdoorsman with Target grips ! Here is another one of mine.

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Jerry
your pistol is absolutely beautiful! what grips! that wood is too good to be true


here are 2 pics of the front sight on mine






thanks for those shots of your pistol

suds:

The blade pin is more often flush and difficult to see unless lighting is correct.

Your beautiful gun should be a great shooter !

Thanks for posting !

If you are willing I would appreciate the serial number for my files (offline).

Best Regards,

Jerry [email protected]

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Hey Jerry. Good to see some of those pics.

Are you going to make Tulsa in April?


Chris

Chris:

I was planning on it but economic situation has put a crimp in that idea !

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

Jerry

the serial number is s93804

and thanks for the information.... i'm learning

suds

Awww, its just money.

Well, if you can figure a way, it would be good to see you there.


Chris

Jerry;
Big kerfuffle going on at another site re: transitional Outdoorsmans. Looks to me like yours is one, to wit: Ribbed bbl, knob on ejector rod, long action. Is this correct? I just bought one Sat 2/21 that I would call a "Pre-23": Ribbed, SHORT action, KNURLED ejector rod (and maybe unfired). Does this jibe with the common parlance?

Larry
Seattle

Larry:

Here are some typical "transitional" Outdoorsman. They have long actions !

Please post photos of your new gun.

Where is the "discussion" on tranitional guns taking place?

If you are willing I would appreciate the serial number (email) for my files.

Jerry

[email protected]

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

As promised, here a couple of images of my new Outdoorsman, thanx to the lovely Teen daughter Irene. Maybe not unfired, but certainly not fired much! Maybe I'd better just sell it !

Larry and Suds01, those are good looking revolvers. Later today I am picking up a Pre-23 in about the condition that Larry describes -- fired, but not fired much. It has diamond magnas, not the target stocks seen on Suds01's gun, or Jerry's target Outdoorsman. I'll try to get pictures up within a day or two.

The prices on these late production ODs seem to be high and climbing. A used gun with advanced finish wear is available in low four figures, specimens in better condition are up to $1800, a couple of nice ones have sold recently over $2000, and I found two really choice specimens on the web with an asking price of $2500 on each. Admittedly an asking price is not a value, but these are some attention-grabbing numbers. This model is relatively uncommon -- about 6,000 total were produced between 1950 and 1966, which I believe includes those copies marked as the Model 23.

I think most of these will be 5-screw models like the ones we see in this thread. I doubt there were many four-screw copies at all, but I will be happy to be corrected if someone can set me right on this issue.

David Wilson

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David Wilson

David

Did you pick your outdoorsman? Just curious how it looks and if it was what you thought it would be. I didnt realize how uncommon as you said these really are. I know I'll never let loose of mine, especially as i mentioned before it was the first pistol my father gave to me. After he passed away recently, i found the original stocks that had come with it, so that was a nice find. Having been a gunsmith for 45 years he had lots to go through too.

suds

Yes, check out this thread, which I started a couple of days ago.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...540103904/m/41210841

There was an opinion expressed on page two of that thread that mine might be a <STRIKE>recently</STRIKE> refinished revolver. I understand the argument, but on balance I still believe it is a very well-preserved specimen that has just seen very little handling over the decades.

I don't have any ego involved in this gun, so if someone can persuade me that it is refinished, that's fine with me because I will have learned something about evaluating previously owned weapons. If I bought what I think I did, fine. If I inattentively bought a refinished gun, so what? It's still nice and I have a shooter that looks wonderful.

(Edited to correct a mischaracterization of another poster's suggestion -- strike out "recently.")

David

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David Wilson