Did I Just Miss Out?

[James K]

Been watching this 38/44 on ProxiBid and no one seemed interest all week. Finally, someone put in the minimum bid of $750 just before the start this morning. I was honestly thinking of doing a max at $850 just for grins and it went for $800! It has to be a 4-figure gun, right?

Catalog Description:

38SPL, 5" Barrel, S/N: S-142751. Smith & Wesson Model: 38-44 Outdoorsman Rare "5-Screw Frame" revolver with nickel finish.

This Smith 38-44 Model of 1950 Pre-Model 20 was manufactured in the mid-50's. Factory nickel finish, 5-screw "S" serial number, and pinned barrel. Serial numbered matching checkered walnut grips with S&W medallions and diamond insert.

**Overall in excellent condition. Retains all of the nickel finish and is in excellent shape. Wood grips show a little wear but are excellent. Trigger and hammer have a nice crisp color case hardening finish to them.**

$1,500-$2,500

 

[Dave from Pa]

I'd probably classify that one as a miss, don't worry others will come along.

 

[mojave30cal]

Yup. Definitely a swing and a miss. Good learning experience
for next time.

 

[s&wchad]

No sense dwelling on one that got away.

You probably wouldn't have got it for $850. There was obviously one other person willing to top the initial bid. He well may have gone quite a bit higher and the winners would have been the auction company and the seller.

The winning bidder will pay the $800 gavel price, plus the 16% 23% premium, plus a $12 packaging/handling fee, plus actual UPS/FedEX overnight shipping, plus insurance, plus his FFL's transfer charge, plus any State sales tax. That would add up to about $1200 for me.

 

[handejector]

Post a link to the closed auction.

 

[s&wchad]

Here Lee: **Smith & Wesson .38SPL Model 38-44 Outdoorsman "5-Screw Frame" Revolver Proxibid

 

[Narragansett]

That is an Outdoorsman? I thought it would be a Heavy Duty. Didn't mid 50's Outdoorsman have an adjustable rear sight and partridge front sight? I have one from 1953 or 54, with the box, and it does not look like that

 

[Muss Muggins]

That is an Outdoorsman? I thought it would be a Heavy Duty. Didn't mid 50's Outdoorsman have an adjustable rear sight and partridge front sight? I have one from 1953 or 54, with the box, and it does not look like that

Heavy Duty had fixed sights. Outdoorsman had adjustable. I am unfamiliar with the various adjustable configurations . . .

 

[LPD256]

Fixed sights and listed as a pre-model 20=38/44 Heavy Duty

Adjustable sights would be a pre-model 23=38/44 Outdoorsman.

 

[James K]

So it was listed incorrectly as an Outdoorsman?
Still a nice looking piece.

 

[Narragansett]

So it was listed incorrectly as an Outdoorsman?
Still a nice looking piece.

Did they post pictures of the frame with markings and the cylinder? The finish looks awful nice for the age. Maybe it was renickled?

I believe it was marked incorrectly. I believe the Outdoorsman is worth more

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Was also wondering about the Nickel on that HEAVY DUTY.
Here's my Outdoorsman.

 

[James K]

Did they post pictures of the frame with markings and the cylinder? The finish looks awful nice for the age. Maybe it was renickled?

I believe it was marked incorrectly. I believe the Outdoorsman is worth more

All the provided pictures are on the link above. Description says, 'factory nickel' however did not say 'original'. Tough to buy something like that from just pictures.

 

[H Richard]

I think someone got a heck of a good buy. Not an Outdoorsman, but nickle looks original to me.

 

[handejector]

That gun MAY be a Factory renickel. Note that the sides of the front sight blade are sandblasted. I have not seen a 5 screw half moon that I thought was originally sandblasted- they were bright polished in my observation. I have seen half moons that were sandblasted like that when they were sent back for a refinish.
It is possible that slow moving models built very late with a half moon had the sandblasting, but I have yet to see one.
Still, that gun went CHEAP.

 

[regmag-621]

James K:

I think that the Nickel plating is original, i own 2 post war 5" HD Nickel, and they have the same appearence.
In the meantime I have shipped a mail with several pictures to Lee.

Lee:
If you want you can transfer the mail with the pictures of the revolvers on the forum.

Best regards
Paul from Germany
SWCA 1354

 

[handejector]

That gun MAY be a Factory renickel. Note that the sides of the front sight blade are sandblasted. I have not seen a 5 screw half moon that I thought was originally sandblasted- they were bright polished in my observation. I have seen half moons that were sandblasted like that when they were sent back for a refinish.
It is possible that slow moving models built very late with a half moon had the sandblasting, but I have yet to see one.

James K:

I think that the Nickel plating is original, i own 2 post war 5" HD Nickel, and they have the same appearence.
In the meantime I have shipped a mail with several pictures to Lee.

Paul,
Thanks!
I added your pics. I think you have proved that late half moon sights will be sandblasted. Thanks for that. It was sticking in my mind that I MIGHT have seen some on later Heavy Duties but I had not paid enough attention to that model. I have always focused on the 44s.
I'd love to hear the ship dates on those two.

Also- I do not think S&W used a two step plating. I do think the dull appearance is from sandblasting. That was also how they did the matte finish on top of barrel ribs on guns that were blue or nickel. I did not get the pic of the rear of the cylinders. The rear of cylinders are always a little duller on nickel guns because they are not highly polished.

 

[handejector]

Paul sent pics of the rear of the cylinders on his guns to show the duller nickel. I think that occurs because the rear of the cylinders were not highly polished in this era.
He stated the ship dates are:
#142374 was shipped 1955
#149330 was shipped 1965

 

[bruce5781]

My birth year gun turned out to be a 38/44. Still in its original nickle. Shipped Nov. '55, just a couple weeks after I was born.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[boykinlp]

My birth year gun turned out to be a 38/44. Still in its original nickle. Shipped Nov. '55, just a couple weeks after I was born.

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

Love It! The 38/44 is beautiful, but the popcorn Sambar Stag service style grips are spectacular! For anyone wanting to know why Sambar Stag is superior to Elk, they should see this.
Larry