38/44 Outdoorsman unmarked model 23

[Bobbijean]

I picked up a 38/44 a couple of months back that dealer said was a pre 23 Outdoorsman, s/n s 146114 (no model # marked) just received S&W letter. It states it's a Model 23 shipping April 1959 to so & so also has copy of invoice that is date stamped & s/n recorded. S&W book records s/n as a 1955. Any help would be greatly appreciated.




Those who dares to not offend, can not be honest. Thomas Paine

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Hi Bobbijean. Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Would you post pictures of the gun, the serial number inside the extractor shroud and on the butt, and the last paragraph of the Historian's letter? If you need help posting pictures, see this:
Video Tutorials on Posting Pictures

 

[demkofour]

AS ABOVE ^^^^^^^^ Wiregrassguy beat me to the punch!

First off, WELCOME.
You're in the right place to receive tons of information about your gun. And many experts, present company excluded!, will be along to help. If you're gun is in fact a true model marked 23, it is a very rare find.
We'll need to see pictures, along with a detailed description, of the gun, and a copy of the second page of the letter will surely help…

 

[22hipower]

Don't see how it can be a Model 23 if it is not stamped as such on the frame when you open the cylinder. The OP says "no model # marked" so most likely an oversight in the letter. Would be great if it is an actual Model 23 though as I've never seen one. Shipping in 1959 perhaps it "should" be model stamped but as we know S&W often held these quite awhile before they shipped. I have several pre-model 24s/25s with higher SNs all shipping in 1955 or earlier. Looking forward to pictures and welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Mine is S798xx.
I don't think I ever saw a Model 23 stamped gun either.

 

[demkofour]

Mine is S798xx.
I don't think I ever saw a Model 23 stamped gun either.

Don't see how it can be a Model 23 if it is not stamped as such on the frame when you open the cylinder. The OP says "no model # marked" so most likely an oversight in the letter. Would be great if it is an actual Model 23 though as I've never seen one. Shipping in 1959 perhaps it "should" be model stamped but as we know S&W often held these quite awhile before they shipped. I have several pre-model 24s/25s with higher SNs all shipping in 1955 or earlier. Looking forward to pictures and welcome to the Forum.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

They exist- MOD-23

 

[Bobbijean]

Thanks y'all, I'll get back to you later. I've got family obligations ����

 

[quinn]

This sorta sounds like a gun that was assembled in say 1955 as a pre model 23, sat in the warehouse and not shipped until 1959 when it would have been a model 23 (shipped after model numbers assigned). JMHO

 

[LPD256]

My pre-Model 23 serial S146130 was shipped in 1959 as well. Probably sat in the safe with yours. Mine is the only one I've seen with a red ramp front sight. Most were equipped with a patridge front sight as they were typically target guns. Our guns probably sat in the safe together while folks bought other stuff.

 

[Walter Rego]

My .38/44 Outdoorsman Model "Pre-Model 23" is serial # S147755 and shipped in June 1956.

Those models were slow sellers by the mid-1950's so some inventory with serial numbers assigned around 1955 or so sitting on the shelf for a few years before being shipped would not have been unusual.

 

[AKtinman]

I think Randy is on the mark.

38/44 Outdoorsman, Model of 1950 pre-model 23 #S145211 shipped April 14, 1959. It had Target Hammer, Target Trigger, blue finish, checkered Walnut grips.

 

[Bobbijean]

38/44 pictures

View attachment 567465







[/ATTACH]

Hope this helps

 

[demkofour]

Wow! Very interesting, but… Can we see a photo like this, showing the stamping(s) inside the frame area…?

 

[22hipower]

Presumably the information specific to your gun provided in your letter was taken from the shipping document. By the time it shipped in 1959 model numbers had been assigned for awhile so referring to it as a Model 23 makes sense, even though the specific gun was probably manufactured before model numbers were assigned. Nice gun, enjoy it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Truckman]

I'm impressed that you would have obtained the letter before presenting your gun to us for evaluation...That shows a genuine interest in doing research rather than just asking for the knowledge of others...I'm a well-known sucker for .38-44's so my interest is high on this one......Ben

 

[Muley Gil]

I picked up a 38/44 a couple of months back that dealer said was a pre 23 Outdoorsman, s/n s 146114 (no model # marked) just received S&W letter. It states it's a Model 23 shipping April 1959 to so & so also has copy of invoice that is date stamped & s/n recorded. S&W book records s/n as a 1955. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like we could create ANOTHER category of Smith & Wessons:

UNMARKED MODELS!!! These would be firearms that should have been model marked, but weren't. This designation would go along with pre-models, skinny and pencil barrels, etc.

 

[22hipower]

Sounds like we could create ANOTHER category of Smith & Wessons:

UNMARKED MODELS!!! These would be firearms that should have been model marked, but weren't. This designation would go along with pre-models, skinny and pencil barrels, etc.

Sounds like a great idea to me. I have a non-registered magnum that was assigned a registration number (but not stamped) before the Reg Mag program was cancelled. So in addition to your proposed category of "firearms that should have been model marked but weren't" I propose another category of "Registered Magnums that weren't stamped with their registration number but should have been."

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[LPD256]

I guess they are model marked or not at the time of manufacture according to orders at the time. For my gun shipped in 1959 as well as all the others in this post, they would have to pull all of them and stamp them, which should have been done before they were blued. I enjoy owning several Pre-models. My 38/44 Outdoorsman is the only one I have made before 1957 but shipped later.

 

[BAM-BAM]

SCS&W 4th edition; page 223.......50-100 marked Model 24 ; 1957-1963.

Production(cataloged?) 1957-66.

Note that is was a slow seller...............

 

[Bobbijean]

38/44 pictures

Thank y'all for your help and consideration & patience from a new user.
One last picture for demkofour.