.38/44 Outdoorsman Target Model

[oneeyedpete]

OK Guys, I really need your help here. I just picked up this revolver with a 6.5" barrel, target grips and target sights. It is pristine with 98-100% bluing and appears unfired or maybe a few shots through it. The weird thing is that it has two serial numbers. Under the grips and inside the lug it has 57XXX but behind the cylinder carriage it has 42XXX. Does anyone know what the age is of this gun? It looks to be a pretty rare variant of the .38/44.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

OK Guys, I really need your help here. I just picked up this revolver with a 6.5" barrel, target grips and target sights. It is pristine with 98-100% bluing and appears unfired or maybe a few shots through it. The weird thing is that it has two serial numbers. Under the grips and inside the lug it has 57XXX but behind the cylinder carriage it has 42XXX. Does anyone know what the age is of this gun? It looks to be a pretty rare variant of the .38/44.

The only number that matters is the number on the bottom of the butt. All the rest are either assembly numbers or possibly the same number on the butt.

 

[oneeyedpete]

Thanks! That's what I have always heard. Any idea on age?

 

[daddio202]

Which is the number on the butt? The number on the butt of frame is the serial. We need this number or first 3 digits to help on age.

 

[StrawHat]

And photos never hurt. Especially if you think you have something out of the ordinary.

Kevin

 

[rct269]

It is a variant of the 38-44. It isn't rare. I dare say it isn't even scarce----but it's a first class example of the gun maker's art---and one of my favorites. It started off in the early 1930's, and continued on until the mid 1960's.

As to it's age, you'll need to get a letter---if you're a stickler for accuracy. If a somewhat unscientific wild guess will suffice, #59378 was shipped on June 7, 1940-------------and another of our colleagues (one or more) will be along with some earlier shipping dates for your viewing pleasure and extrapolation.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[oneeyedpete]

Well, as I said the butt number is 57XXX, so sometime prior to 1940. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure

 

[SVT28]

That's a really nice Outdoorsman. The stocks are not original but are Cokes, a fantastic substitute. Cheers!

SVT28

Sent from my LM-V450 using Tapatalk

 

[PeteC]

Some people might buy the gun just for the grips!
(calling fleabus101, )

 

[rct269]

It at least appears you have the "two screw) rear sight, so that puts it after 1932----and the serial number is fairly close; so I'll guess yours left in the late '30's. (Now just to illustrate the unscientific part of all this, I have another/different model in the same serial number series. It's number is , 54911, so you'd figure it shipped way before my Outdoorsman----and a good bit before yours too. It didn't. It shipped January 28, 1941.)

The bottom line of this guessing game is it's a guessing game. If you want facts, you want a letter from the historical foundation. You find their part of this forum down below.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[RKmesa]

Well, as I said the butt number is 57XXX, so sometime prior to 1940. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure

For reference, this one is SN 57709 and it shipped in May 1939. I would expect that yours shipped sometime near that, but only an historical letter will tell you for sure.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful O/D - which in my opinion was one of the finest revolvers to ever flow off the factory floor.

 

[oneeyedpete]

Thanks guys! I was not aware of "coke" grips but they sure do feel good in the hand! That nickel example is sweet. I don't really care about the exact date, just wanted to get a ball park number.

 

[JP@AK]

Yes, those "Coke Bottle" stocks are somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 years newer than the gun. But they are extremely nice and not a bad thing to have on a prewar .38/44 Outdoorsman's revolver.

 

[rct269]

Thanks guys! I was not aware of "coke" grips but they sure do feel good in the hand! That nickel example is sweet. I don't really care about the exact date, just wanted to get a ball park number.

That nickel example isn't----it's just squeaky clean.

If you'd like to have a rare Outdoorsman, just keep looking until you find a real nickel one.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[oneeyedpete]

That nickel example isn't----it's just squeaky clean.

If you'd like to have a rare Outdoorsman, just keep looking until you find a real nickel one.

Ralph Tremaine

All I can say is "WOW" to that finish!

 

[rct269]

All I can say is "WOW" to that finish!

Well he has some that are all scratched up, so we figure he's entitled to a really nice one like that every now and then----even if it does have the wrong hammer on it.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[fleabus101]

You have one of the nicest S&W revolvers
that were ever produced. While the 50s target grips aren't period correct..they are one of the best feeling factory grips you can use on it.
Congrats on your terrific aquisition.
Randy..

 

[daddio202]

Well, as I said the butt number is 57XXX, so sometime prior to 1940. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure

Sorry for the confusion it just threw me off when you said under the grips. Now seeing it has a beautiful set of post war Cokes it all makes sense now. That is a real beauty of gun and I just love mine, so I know you will love and enjoy yours!

 

[SuperMan]

Beautiful find to say the least....

Don't know what you paid, but the Cokes alone go for $6-800....

Enjoy that one...

Bob

 

[oneeyedpete]

Thanks Fleabus, the fit and finish on it is really very nice even though my pics aren't very good. I can't wait to get it to the range and see how it shoots. I have never owned an N frame S&W. The seller had quite a collection of older revolvers including two pristine Model 29s, a 29-2 and 29-3.