I found this Outdoorsman in a LGS. The really neat job of cutting the barrel back and the serious blue wear on both sides of the barrel made me think "law enforcement gun". But if that guess was correct what's with those huge target grips, I doubt you could even insert it into a holster with those grips.
I bought it, got it home, and removed the grips and found the 12-47 factory service date. I knew there was close to zero chance the factory letter would help me with an owner's name, but if the owner shipped it direct to the factory in 12-47 to have the barrel cut, I would have a name.
But, no luck. Don Mundell's letter states "38/44 Outdoorsman Transitional Model, ship 9/19/46 to Hopkins Sporting Goods, Des Moines, Iowa". Bill Cross deep dive search showed no information on the 12.47 factory service.
I still like it, and it loves my handloaded 38 special plus P's.
I bought it, got it home, and removed the grips and found the 12-47 factory service date. I knew there was close to zero chance the factory letter would help me with an owner's name, but if the owner shipped it direct to the factory in 12-47 to have the barrel cut, I would have a name.
But, no luck. Don Mundell's letter states "38/44 Outdoorsman Transitional Model, ship 9/19/46 to Hopkins Sporting Goods, Des Moines, Iowa". Bill Cross deep dive search showed no information on the 12.47 factory service.
I still like it, and it loves my handloaded 38 special plus P's.
If you ever tire of it, it would be more than welcome in my safe and I'd be more than happy to trade you a similarly worn "full-sized" Transitional O/D.
