Just inherited my Grandfather's 38/44 Outdoorsman

[rocknroad]

My Grandfather was a an old-time Pasadena Motor Police officer, in the 40's and 50's. He actually used a 6.5" barrel as his duty weapon, while on the motorcycle. Dad gave me the old duty pistol, a S&W 38/44 Outdoorsman, the other day.

I am assuming the manufacture/ship date is pre-war, due to the lack of the "S" prefix. My mother thought he acquired it in 1941.

Can anyone tell me the exact year of this gun? (**edit** The yolk number is shown here. The serial appears to be 62041)

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...that's not the serial number...it's on the butt under those target grips...

...it should also be on the rear face of the cylinder...

...also the right side view of the revolver will reveal more information than the left side does...

...nice revolver!...and with family history...can't beat that...

 

[rocknroad]

My bad. Here is the number on the back of the cylinder...

#62041

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you info on that serial number...

...a motor officer carrying an Outdoorsman with a six and a half inch barrel and a Patridge front sight is REALLY COOL in my estimation...

 

[rocknroad]

Here is the right side of the gun. The blurry area under the S&W logo was where I smeared out Gramp's engraved name, from the picture.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...unfortunately I don't have the serial number info...

...the first year for the 38/44 Outdoorsman was 1931 I believe...

...the one line "Made in USA" phased out and went to the four line in early to mid 1948...

...that narrows it down to...1931 to 1948...

...your Mom's 1941 recollection would be just about in the middle of that range...

 

[andy52]

According to the S&W 4th edition your mother was most likely correct, I came up with 1941 as the production date.

 

[H Richard]

I agree with Andy52, 1941 and near the end of production before WWII, the last # being 62350 when production stopped for the war.

These are very fine revolvers, and worth a reasonable amount in value as well as sentimental value, which cannot be replaced. That gun was made to shoot, enjoy it.

I envy you, as that would be a birth year gun for me.

 

[rocknroad]

Thank you, everyone. I appreciate the reinforcement of my mom's memory.

This will not be a shelf queen. I am looking forward to shooting it next week.

This guy seems to think I will enjoy it... Gun Digest Classic: Is This the Greatest .38 Ever? | Gun Digest

 

[The Gila Bender]

THAT is wa-ay too cool. A pre-war OD in the box with family history. Clean it, shoot it, love it. Do yourself a favor and collect every scrap of information, photos, and credentials related to his LE career. A photo of him in uniform with his motorcycle and the OD would be priceless. Get a historical letter from Roy Jinks. We might be able to scare up a set of pre-war Magna stocks for you, too! Congratulations, very nice!

 

[22hipower]

Quote: "We might be able to scare up a set of pre-war Magna stocks for you, too! Congratulations, very nice!"

A nice pre-war set sold on eBay yesterday for a mere $571.00.

Very nice gun.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[model3sw]

Check your serial number on the underside of the barrel and on the butt. The center number may not be a zero " 0 ".

The finest shooting S&W N frame next to the RM. It's the poor man' s Registered Magnum but just as sweet, I think.

Good luck with that one.

 

[rocknroad]

Whoa! $571 for Magna stocks? Too rich my blood...or gun.

My pops has Gramp's original holster and belt. I should be getting it in a few days. Time to dig up old photos of Gramps in uniform, with his sidearm.

 

[Grayfox]

A wonderful acquisition. You'll love it!
One thing you might want to check is to see if Grandpa had it reamed out to .357. Simple enough to check, just drop a .357 cartridge in the chambers and see if it goes all the way in or not. Usually this would lessen the value. But since this is a family heirloom, I don't see where it would matter.
If you reload, whip up some old time .38/44 high velocity loads just to see what shooting these guns was really like. Its a hoot!

 

[rocknroad]

Check your serial number on the underside of the barrel and on the butt. The center number may not be a zero " 0 ".

It is definitely a zero. Without removing the grips, I found the serial number on the inside of the ejector guard. So, it looks to have been about 309 units prior to the pause in production for WWII

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Nice gun! Enjoy it!

It was a .38-44 that got me into this Forum and the SWCA when my LGS owner sold me the gun and told me about this campfire. The serial number is half that of yours, 3xxxx (I don't have it handy) and I think it is 1932 manufacture.

 

[1Aspenhill]

62075 shipped Aug 1940. Yours should be in the same vicinity. I hope this helps.

 

[ABPOS]

Super duper nice. And what a cool way to remember your Grandfather by.

 

[rocknroad]

Update: My dad gave me my Grandfather's duty holster and belt, last night. Here are the pictures, with Gramp's OD...

Gramps was a Pasadena, CA motor officer (at the time) so, it makes sense that he wore a belt from a local company...

To the best of my knowledge, my Grandfather loaded these rounds onto the belt, decades ago...

Nice for show but...

Dad seems to remember having a photo of my Grandfather, on his 1938 or 1939 Indian Motorcycle, with his belt on. The pic was from the left side so, we don't think the gun can be seen. I will share when I receive the photo.

 

[bulletslap]

Outstanding family treasure !