I have noticed that some 38/44 outdoorsman have a round barrel with a half moon front site while others have ribbed barrel and the front site is slanted. (can't remember what it's called) Do these variations have different names? Is one or the other more rare?
Different 38/44
- Thread starter jag22
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Don't know about rarity, but round barrel is pre-war and ribbed barrel is post war.
That said, round barrel with a half moon front sight (and fixed rear sight) is a "Heavy Duty" 38/44 rather than an Outdoorsman (which is a target grade gun).
Ralph Tremaine
And SCSW notes more post-war Outdoorsman produced than pre-war, and the fixed sight Heavy Duty model with more than either Outdoorsman. None of these would be thought of as rare---not even scarce. Some early post war examples fit with pre-war magnum barrels (ribbed) are thought of as rare "transitionals". The more practical realists think of them as examples of S&W's penchant for using up obsolete parts before moving on.
That said, round barrel with a half moon front sight (and fixed rear sight) is a "Heavy Duty" 38/44 rather than an Outdoorsman (which is a target grade gun).
Ralph Tremaine
And SCSW notes more post-war Outdoorsman produced than pre-war, and the fixed sight Heavy Duty model with more than either Outdoorsman. None of these would be thought of as rare---not even scarce. Some early post war examples fit with pre-war magnum barrels (ribbed) are thought of as rare "transitionals". The more practical realists think of them as examples of S&W's penchant for using up obsolete parts before moving on.
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As Ralph noted above, the 38/44 Outdoorsman was the target model (two-screw adjustable rear sight and almost always a Patridge front sight, sometimes with a gold McGivern or Call bead). To add to the conversation and description, below are some photos of configurations for the pre-war O/Ds:
With Standard Grips:
With Magna Stocks:
With Magna Stocks and a Humpback Hammer:
There was also the 38/44 Heavy Duty that was a fixed sight gun:
Post WW II, S&W still made the 38/44 Outdoorsman, but it came with a micrometer rear sight and ribbed barrel:
They also still offered the fixed sight 38/44 Heavy Duty:
Hope that this helps.
With Standard Grips:
With Magna Stocks:
With Magna Stocks and a Humpback Hammer:
There was also the 38/44 Heavy Duty that was a fixed sight gun:
Post WW II, S&W still made the 38/44 Outdoorsman, but it came with a micrometer rear sight and ribbed barrel:
They also still offered the fixed sight 38/44 Heavy Duty:
Hope that this helps.
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Private Smith
Member
Outstanding collection !,
