Happy old man here. I have never seen a 38/44 in the wild. One walked into the LGS yesterday while I was there and it walked back out with me. S 816XX. Any info on the sights and the target grips that came with it would be appreciated.
New owner 38/44 Outdoorsman
- Thread starter tybochip
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Very cool gun..
The sights I can't help with but I'd sure like to try them.
As a shooter I'm imagining they would work very well.
The grips are very nicely grained and colored Goncalo Alves.
They'd date to the late 60's 70's time frame.
I'd like to hear how it shoots.
Congratulations Sir.
The sights I can't help with but I'd sure like to try them.
As a shooter I'm imagining they would work very well.
The grips are very nicely grained and colored Goncalo Alves.
They'd date to the late 60's 70's time frame.
I'd like to hear how it shoots.
Congratulations Sir.
Wondering about that cutout on the target grip. I have never seen anything like those sights.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Congratulations on the find. Right place, right time.
I do not recognize the sight manufacturer, but it's obvious that the previous owner was a shooter. Looks like it would be great for some longer distance shooting.
I do not recognize the sight manufacturer, but it's obvious that the previous owner was a shooter. Looks like it would be great for some longer distance shooting.
Shoots great!
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Neat gun with very interesting sights. I like it!
50 target
Member
I think someone did a cutout for ejection purposes on the grip. Sort of a easyway to doo it, just make it square, sort of. Nicely done though. The front sight looks as if someone put a rifle bead front sight in the ramp. The rear sight...well that is a different rascal altogether as it would appear to me anyway to be a custom gunsmith job. Can't see a manufacturer making a sight with those sharp points on it. Made for carrying in anything but a holster as those points would cut the inside of your arm to shreds. They could double as a bottle opener in a pinch. Looks like someone's idea of a target sight (long range maybe). 1950 Model Outdoorsman and looks well cared for. They are a joy.
I love the sights. Work great for me. You are right about the horns on the rear sight. I thought about filing them, but since my jobby is leather working I am going to make a holster that will cover them.
Congratulations, that is a really cool old revolver and the
Unique sights adds to the gun
Unique sights adds to the gun
Your Outdoorsman is from about 1951. It would have come with Magnas like you show (and they could be numbered to your gun). Those targets are 1968 or later. If you did get target grips for it, they would have been of the non-relieved diamond type as shown below.
I can't help on the sights, but here's an ad for the Outdoorsman from a newspaper in 1951 and some pictures of the box it would have come in.
Attachments
Ditto dat!...
...Ben
My eyes aren't what they used to be, but is it an actual cutout or just the grain of the grips?
Larry
King sights are usually stamped King. A decent price? I would expect to find it tagged somewhere between $1k-$1200 where I shop. Unless it was in one of those shops where they didn't know what they had; I bought mine with bright blue finish, ten years ago, simply tagged as "S&W 38 Special" for $650.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
.455_Hunter
Member
Nice!
I wish my Outdoorsman had magnas instead of the service stocks.
I wish my Outdoorsman had magnas instead of the service stocks.
I took a look at the standard aftermarket sights from the 1950's and couldn't find these. Most were marked with the maker's name. Nothing on them? They could be modified or custom.
Looks like it also had a shoe on the trigger at one time. This was set up as a custom target gun.
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austintexas
Member
Outdoorsmen
Great Revolvers, I just picked up a postwar Outdoorsman 2 Gunshows ago $1100. there was a discussion among the few S&W aficionados there. Gentleman had it priced at $1300. I went to look on the last afternoon of the show and he said he would take less. After I bought it, I ask the other experts how they missed the Cokes that were on it? All expressed surprise, they so fixed on price they didn't check it close and never noticed the cokes.
SWCA 892
Great Revolvers, I just picked up a postwar Outdoorsman 2 Gunshows ago $1100. there was a discussion among the few S&W aficionados there. Gentleman had it priced at $1300. I went to look on the last afternoon of the show and he said he would take less. After I bought it, I ask the other experts how they missed the Cokes that were on it? All expressed surprise, they so fixed on price they didn't check it close and never noticed the cokes.
SWCA 892
No markings on the sights. The target grips have a football shaped relief.
Sadly the Magnas aren't numbered to the gun, all the other numbers match. I was afraid in my excitement I may have paid too much. $1040 OTD including the target grips.
Sadly the Magnas aren't numbered to the gun, all the other numbers match. I was afraid in my excitement I may have paid too much. $1040 OTD including the target grips.
