38 S&W special-Heavy Duty?

[ScottZ]

S&W retired from guard duty and forgotten in its holster.
6 1/2 barrel #42920
What is she?

 

[410bore]

that is a pre war 38/44 Outdoorsman. the adjustable sighted option to the fixed sighted Heavy Duty.

 

[DWalt]

Correct in all regards. It probably shipped around mid-1934. These are fairly desirable and valuable revolvers. They were built on the heavy N frame normally used for .44 and .45 cartridges, but designed to fire the .38 Special cartridge in a more heavily-loaded and powerful version called the .38-44, .38 Special Hi-Speed, .38 Special Super Speed, or .38 Special Super-X, depending upon the ammunition manufacturer. This cartridge has a muzzle velocity of about 1100-1150 ft/sec, vs. the typical .38 Special standard MV of 825-870 ft/sec. Many consider the .38-44 the forerunner of the .357 Magnum cartridge. And in fact it is not unusual to find revolvers of this type that have been rechambered to .357 Magnum (not considered safe, but it apparently worked). It will, of course, also fire regular .38 Special cartridges, and the barrel of these is typically stamped as ".38 S&W Special CTG."