Seeking Information About .38-.44 Outdoorsman

[SavageSara]

Several years ago, I inherited a revolver and had no idea of its age at the time. After a bit of research, I believe that it is a .38/.44 Outdoorsman.

6-shots, swing out cylinder

6 1/2 inch barrel

Rubber grips marked "N Frame, Small Grip" on the inside

Serial Number S 819xx

No model number


What little I have learned about the history of these revolvers has come from two Youtube videos and a few threads I found in your forum.

I have several questions:

1) Is this revolver Transitional (1946-1949) or Pre Model 23?

2) Possible reasons why the number inside the ejector shroud doesn't match the serial number on the butt of the frame and back of the cylinder?

3) Are there any visible alterations?

[22hipower]

Probably looks like this one which is sn S101699; a pre-23. Although this one is bright blue and most of them were a satin blue. The stocks on yours when it left the factory were probably like the ones shown here. A different number in the ejector shroud from the SN on the butt suggests a barrel change. Post a picture and possibly some here can tell you more. And welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Your revolver dates to 1951-52. The grips are after market, made by Pachmayr. The front sight appears to have been altered to a ramp. Can you post a close-up of the front sight?

The diamond inside of the shroud indicates it is a replacement part. It is possible that when this revolver went back to S&W a new barrel wasn't available and a previously numbered barrel was fitted.

Looking at the grip frame, is there a date stamped there, like 8.69, which would be August 1969? That would be the date it was worked on at the Smith & Wesson factory.

[SavageSara]

Thanks for the welcome and info. I had to format pictures but they should be visible now. And yes, it looks like the one shown, but not nearly in such pristine condition.

[22hipower]

The only thing I note from the pictures is the ramp front sight, I think, but don't know for sure, that these all came with the patridge sight as shown on mine. If I'm not correct about that someone here will let us know soon enough. Can you post more detailed pictures of the stamps on the barrel? The right side should say 38 S&W Special. And are there any stamps/numbers on the left side of the frame under the grips? If so those might confirm a trip back to the mothership sometime in its history. Have you tried to insert a 357 magnum round? Many of these and the HDs were reamed for 357 magnum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[SavageSara]

Here is a close up of the sight.

[SavageSara]

Ill remove the grip in a few and get more pics of possible stamps. I did put a .357 round in it by mistake, but the cylinder wouldn't close. I shot 2 full loads of .38 158 GR RN and it's very smooth and accurate. I would actually like to shoot some of the heavy loads to see what that is like. What is the heaviest load it will fire safely?

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by SavageSara

Here is a close up of the sight.

Thank you. Most of these revolvers came with the Patridge sight shown on 22hipower's Outdoorsman. Looks like yours has had a Baughman ramp installed
.

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by SavageSara

Ill remove the grip in a few and get more pics of possible stamps. I did put a .357 round in it by mistake, but the cylinder wouldn't close. I shot 2 full loads of .38 158 GR RN and it's very smooth and accurate. I would actually like to shoot some of the heavy loads to see what that is like. What is the heaviest load it will fire safely?

I understand that Buffalo Bore makes a .38/44 round.

Buffalo Bore Ammunition | Strictly Big Bore - Strictly Business

[22hipower]

Originally Posted by SavageSara

I would actually like to shoot some of the heavy loads to see what that is like. What is the heaviest load it will fire safely?

Good from a collector perspective that the cylinder hasn't been reamed for 357. However, many were and folks shoot them with 357s. Any 38 Special ammo you have will be just fine. Today's +P loads are considerably lower powered than the original factory 38-44s.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[SavageSara]

There is also a visible diamond on the bottom-right.

[Muley Gil]

I'm guessing that the previous owner carried this revolver quite often and wanted the ramp front sight because the Patridge sight eats up the inside of a holster. I know, I converted a M27 .357 to .44 Special using a 6 1/2" target barrel that also had the Patridge front sight. I wound up filing it to a modified ramp.

[SavageSara]

Thank you Muley Gil and 22hipower for sharing your knowledge. I’m not a collector, but I do love the gun after shooting it. I’m really impressed with its craftsmanship and it’s history is interesting. I was able to take some better pictures and can clearly see 1 53. So January of 1953, this piece went back to the factory.


Can anyone tell me about the heavily stamped 8 under the service date? Or the 44? There is a 5 pointed star after the serial and a diamond on the opposite side of the service repair date. On the right side of the frame are the initials W H L.

Also, does anyone know all the locations of serial number placement? I have found 3 so far. The butt, rear cylinder, and inside the the extractor shroud.

[Muley Gil]

The star on the butt indicates that this revolver went back to S&W for service. IIRC, the "8" indicates that it was to be built as a .38 special. .44 Specials would have a "4" and .45 ACP revolvers would have a "5". The initials are inspector's marks.

[tennexplorer]

The S93XXX serial number on the barrel coincides pretty well with the serial numbers of new guns being produced when yours went back to S&W. If I were to guess, that barrel had been mated to another gun, but not finally assembled. Perhaps the frame had a defect and was scrapped before final assembly, or whoever owned the gun in 1953 had a good enough reason that they grabbed a finished barrel and fitted it to your gun so that it could be returned quicker.