Airweight .44 special

[Gun Smoke]

How about a j frame or most likely a k frame airweight in .44 special like a Charter Arms bulldog pug but with S&W quality...Also would like to see a S&W version of the Taurus Judge public defender .45 colt/.410 shotgun...

 

[P&R Fan]

K and certainly J frames are too small for the .44 Spl. unless they went to a 4 round cylinder. They did make L-frame .44 Spls. including Airweights. The 396 was an adjustable sight gun and the 296 was a concealed hammer fixed sight, both in 5 shot configuration.

 

[zercool]

You're looking for the Model 296. It's a 2.5" 5-shot .44Spl on a Centennial AirLite L-frame. VERY limited production, but they are out there to be had. One just went through the classifieds for about $700, if memory serves.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

Taurus made a "K" frame .44spl 5 shot snubby a while back, available in blue, stainless, or titanium.

Rossi made a "K" frame 5 shot .44spl a while back also but with a 3" bbl.

both of these guns used (and fit) the same speed loaders made for the illfaited Charter Arms Bulldog .44spl.

 

[Elmer]

both of these guns used (and fit) the same speed loaders made for the illfaited Charter Arms Bulldog .44spl.

Ill fated?

A lot of us owned CA Bulldogs and had good service from them for what they were. Not one for shooting hot loads or shooting a lot, but reasonable guns considering their price.

I've owned the 396 mountain lite and now a 396 Night Guard, and also have a couple .44 Special converted guns like my ASP .44 Special Speed Six, and while they're obviously much higher quality guns, they don't really compare in size to the old bulldog.

Smith would have to come out with a new frame to make a 5 shot comparable in size. With some of their improved strength/weight innovations like Scandium and Titanium, I think they would be successful doing so. Considering they could also make it in a 5 shot .40 S&W, and maybe a couple other interesting calibers, it could really end up filling a niche in the market.

 

[681ismyfavorite]

illfated as in the q.c. problems they had years ago, the in and out of business years, the poorly executed "charco" years.....and while they werent bulldogs the new .38 versions ive shot bound up with standard loads.

that being said i got two p.o.s. Bulldog .44spls in the 80's tried twice with two different guns...they werent worth shinola.

but i did have a 3" blued .22lr pathfinder that was down right good and id have no problems buying another old school pathfinder today.

 

[Elmer]

illfated as in the q.c. problems they had years ago, the in and out of business years, the poorly executed "charco" years.....and while they werent bulldogs the new .38 versions ive shot bound up with standard loads.

that being said i got two p.o.s. Bulldog .44spls in the 80's tried twice with two different guns...they werent worth shinola.

but i did have a 3" blued .22lr pathfinder that was down right good and id have no problems buying another old school pathfinder today.

Ahhh... gotcha. Your point's well taken about all their troubles, and certainly their QC wasn't the best.

Though in fairness, if we're talking about the 80's, I saw an awful lot of Smiths that were p.o.s.'s as well, some non functional out of the box.