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05-31-2018, 05:05 PM
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Where did the term “special” as in 38spl or 44spl originate?
So i know “magnum” term came from extra large bottles of champagne and “express” came from the faster express trains from the era but where did the term “special” come from?
Not sure what other forum to post this question.
Just curious as to the history and nomenclature
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05-31-2018, 06:12 PM
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I would guess straight out of the S & W advertising/marketing department, as both cartridges were simply longer versions of the .38 Long Colt and .44 Russian. Others here probably know for certain or have period ads or literature.
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05-31-2018, 06:37 PM
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If express is a train, so is special
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05-31-2018, 06:42 PM
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Yeah, like this one...
Quote:
Originally Posted by oddshooter
If express is a train, so is special
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Specials were fast and made few stops.
Last edited by rwsmith; 05-31-2018 at 06:45 PM.
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05-31-2018, 06:53 PM
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I thoufht it had to do with being loaded from the factory with smokeless powder, but reloadable with Black powder. I think I read that somewhere about the .32WSctg. If I'm wrong, someone will flame me, directly.......
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05-31-2018, 07:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwsmith
Specials were fast and made few stops.
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But there warn't anything orange about it. . .
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05-31-2018, 07:16 PM
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I did NOT just make up 100% of this!
The .38 cartridge they had made revolvers for for decades was the .38 S&W. Inside the factory .38 S&W continued to be called the regular .38 cartridge long after .38 Special was introduced. .38 U.S. Service and similar names were alternate names for the .38 Long usually associated with their competitor. A special name had to be dreamed up that both distinguished the new cartridge from older ones and did not make their competitor's name better known. Wait a minute! What did I just write?
About 5 years later they needed a name to distinguish their new longer .44 cartridge from the .44 Russian. The .38 Special was selling well. They hoped naming another cartridge Special would capitalize on that success. It did not. The quantity of .44 Specials sold has always been minute compared to .38 Special sales.
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05-31-2018, 07:20 PM
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05-31-2018, 08:26 PM
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At midnight...
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueRidgeBoy
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At midnight you couldn't SEE that it was orange.
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05-31-2018, 08:48 PM
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How would you like to be in charge....
...of coming up with snappy names for new cartridges?
Grendel and Blackout are pretty good. 6.5 Creedence sounds better than 'Creedmore'. Popular references, you know.
Here are some names I'd use:
.38 Extreme
.38 Effective
.38 Repulse
.38 Venom
It's easier to think up names I WOULDN'T use:
.38 Vulnerable
.38 Discount
.38 Pathetic
.38 Insecure
.38 Silly
Last edited by rwsmith; 05-31-2018 at 08:51 PM.
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06-01-2018, 12:15 AM
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I have an early pre-war set of Ideal dies for their tong tool loader (that became known as the Lyman 310 series) they are marked 44 S&W, and referred to the 44 Russian cartridge (44-40 are called 44 WCF), these can be adjusted out for the "Special Length" round also, as per the printed instructions! My dies for 38 are from the 1950's or 60's and are Lyman brand dies. The instructions make no mention of fitting 357 cases, but they do.
Ivan
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06-01-2018, 12:24 AM
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Nothing more complicated than "Special Cartridge for Smith & Wesson." since that was what the .38 "Special" was originally designed for, and originally the only brand of revolver chambered for it! Naming the new, lengthened cartridge in .44 caliber was sort of a no-brainer as a follow-on. Designating things as "special" or "especially adapted for" was fairly common at one time.
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06-01-2018, 09:50 AM
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"special" designation
Based on my reading dd884 has it right. "Special" was the terminology for a round that could be purchased as a black powder round, or as a smokeless powder round and could be reloaded either way also. This included the .32 Winchester Special, the S&W .38 Special and the S&W .44 Special. Blackpowder rounds for the .38 Special were first loaded by Union Metallic (UMC) in May of 1899 with the smokeless loads following in September, as I recall (U.S. Cartridges and Their Handguns, Charles Suydam 1977).
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06-01-2018, 12:25 PM
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Here's another..
One you don't see much anymore. Express.
a : traveling at high speed; specifically : traveling with few or no stops along the way
express train
b : designed or intended to be used for fast movement or travel
an express highway with few local exits
the express lane at the supermarket
c (1) : delivered faster than usual
an express shipment
(2) British : designated to be delivered without delay by special messenger
.450 Nitro Express. Does that give you the picture or what?
PS I'm not saying that the thing about black powder or smokeless powder is wrong, but there are a LOT of cartridges that have that capability that aren't named 'Special'. .38 Long Colt, .38 S&W, .39-40....
Last edited by rwsmith; 06-01-2018 at 12:39 PM.
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06-01-2018, 05:27 PM
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Just for some historical perspective on names, Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range. I expect it's all high rises and sub divisions now. Unless parts of it are the grounds of someones mansion.
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06-01-2018, 06:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nmxcop
Based on my reading dd884 has it right. "Special" was the terminology for a round that could be purchased as a black powder round, or as a smokeless powder round and could be reloaded either way also. This included the .32 Winchester Special, .....
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Had a friend in High School had an old L/A Winchester and I believe it was marked .32-40. Half a century makes recollections "less than accurate." Joe
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06-02-2018, 12:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WR Moore
Just for some historical perspective on names, Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range. I expect it's all high rises and sub divisions now. Unless parts of it are the grounds of someones mansion.
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If you are really curious where the Creedmore Range was located plug these coordinates into Google Earth, Google Maps, Bing Maps, etc. 40°44'11.37"N 73°43'56.11"W
It is the location of Creedmore Range, which is now a mental health facility on Long Island known as the Creedmore Psychiatric Center and others grouped on the range and Creed Farm property. Note street names in the area, Winchester, Musket, Sabre, Range, Springfield.
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Last edited by Alk8944; 06-02-2018 at 12:05 AM.
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06-02-2018, 08:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WR Moore
...Creedmore was the name of a renowned long distance range.
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*Creedmoor*
Creedmoor Rifle Range - Wikipedia
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06-02-2018, 05:44 PM
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The version I have is like K22's version.
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