First month letter, Post-war, 38/44 Outdoorsman

[Gun Relics]

This is one of my favorite pistols, the .38/44 Outdoorsman transitional. The letter came in a while back, but the details of the letter took a while to sink in.

The last pre-war Outdoorsman was made in early 1941, followed by a 5 year and 8 month hiatus on production. After the war, production started in August of 1946. This letter came in a few months ago detailing an August, 1946 ship date, serial number S 708xx.

This example has the single line "Made in the USA" which is not commonly seen on these transitional models. It's in excellent condition and completely original down to the numbered grips. The box was obtained separately but is is a slightly lower number from the same period.

Although the Standard catalog shows this serial number range should have been in 1947, S&WHF included the shipping invoice. That's why I think it's good to have the letter - you never know what you may learn from it.

 

[22hipower]

Does that one have a pre-war 357 Magnum barrel with the checked rib? I would think the very first ones would have used those left over barrels although mine (S69805) has a pre-war barrel but didn't ship until months after yours, January 9, 1947. Nice gun, enjoy!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://flic.kr/p/2qwmV3f https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2qwfZNZ https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[RKmesa]

GR - Congrats!!! Great gun (and Jeff, I love your O/D as well). My records show that all three of my Transitional O/Ds shipped in January 1947 (each with the single-line Made in USA and none with the checkered rib):

 

[dobegrant]

Wow there are some really cool looking revolvers in this string, thanks all for sharing

 

[GLL]

GR: Beautiful Outdoorsman's Revolver ! The shipping dates of these transitional ODs are all over the map considering that some of the very lowest serial numbers were 1947 guns while some of the highest serial numbers are 1946. Even some with RM style barrels were shipped in 1947.

Here are a pair of mine with the checkered RM style barrels.

 

[RKmesa]

GR: Beautiful Outdoorsman's Revolver ! The shipping dates of these transitional ODs are all over the map considering that some of the very lowest serial numbers were 1947 guns while some of the highest serial numbers are 1946. Even some with RM style barrels were shipped in 1947.

That has always been one of my favorite photos!!!! What a fun group shot of 38/44 O/Ds drifting off into the horizon.

 

[Gun Relics]

Does that one have a pre-war 357 Magnum barrel with the checked rib? I would think the very first ones would have used those left over barrels although mine (S69805) has a pre-war barrel but didn't ship until months after yours, January 9, 1947. Nice gun, enjoy!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

No, mine has the serrated rib. Wish it did! That's a really attractive look.

 

[paplinker]

My Trans OD is seven numbers higher than the OPs
S 70835 Shipped 9/1946

Been thinking about lettering it but it's not high on my list of guns that need a letter.

At some point a King cockeyed short action hammer was installed. I have always been curious if the hammer was converted by King before or after the factory started N frame short action production.

 

[22hipower]

My Trans OD is seven numbers higher than the OPs
S 70835 Shipped 9/1946

Been thinking about lettering it but it's not high on my list of guns that need a letter.

At some point a King cockeyed short action hammer was installed. I have always been curious if the hammer was converted by King before or after the factory started N frame short action production.

Very interesting stocks, tell us about those please.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[paplinker]

Very interesting stocks, tell us about those please.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

They are Sanderson grips. For a short time a few custom guys including Roper were trying this design. I forget the specifics on them but I believe they were built to be a sort of finger stop in double action. Before I sold them I tinkered with them in single action,just using a finger flex to pull the trigger.

I have a K Roper set with the same setup I like for shooting 22long.

 

[Oscarflytyer]

Historical coolness - for me, at least/lettered - is that mine shipped to a GA hw store on 1 Sept 1939 - the day the Blitzkrieg started.

Additional coolness is that it has a very sweet set of Keith Brown grips!

 

[RKmesa]

Historical coolness - for me, at least/lettered - is that mine shipped to a GA hw store on 1 Sept 1939 - the day the Blitzkrieg started.

Additional coolness is that it has a very sweet set of Keith Brown grips!

We'd love to see some photos...

 

[Hawg Rider]

About 10 years ago one of my son's co-workers (they worked in a local gun store) bought a trade-in .38/44 Outdoorsman transitional from the shop. A month or so later he wanted to buy a new guitar so he asked if I'd like to buy that .38/44 from him. He handed it to me in a small box- it was in pieces. The revolver's finish was in nice condition, but it was missing the rear sight and a couple of screws, and it was also missing the original stocks. I made what I thought was a fair offer at the time considering its condition...$800. He laughed and said that it was worth much more than that. I said "not in that condition", thanked him, and wished him luck. I believe he still has that .38/44 and it's still in pieces. I told my son that if his friend still wants to sell it, my $800 still stands. We'll see what happens.

 

[GLL]

My Trans OD is seven numbers higher than the OPs
S 70835 Shipped 9/1946

Been thinking about lettering it but it's not high on my list of guns that need a letter.

At some point a King cockeyed short action hammer was installed. I have always been curious if the hammer was converted by King before or after the factory started N frame short action production.

I would love to see more photos of this gun and its grips !

Jerry

 

[boykinlp]

My Trans OD is seven numbers higher than the OPs
S 70835 Shipped 9/1946

Been thinking about lettering it but it's not high on my list of guns that need a letter.

At some point a King cockeyed short action hammer was installed. I have always been curious if the hammer was converted by King before or after the factory started N frame short action production.

They are Sanderson grips. For a short time a few custom guys including Roper were trying this design. I forget the specifics on them but I believe they were built to be a sort of finger stop in double action. Before I sold them I tinkered with them in single action,just using a finger flex to pull the trigger.

I have a K Roper set with the same setup I like for shooting 22long.

Both of those pairs of grips are spectacular, especially the Roper's, of course! I remember seeing posts about them in the past, but had forgotten about them. They are really COOL for this grip junkie! Thanks for sharing.
Larry

 

[TXBryan]

Obviously not an Outdoorsman, however it's from the same era of this discussion as an early post-war ship. This one is S67316 and the letter indicates it was shipped on July 29, 1946 as part of a larger shipment to Adolph Blaich Co. in San Francisco. Invoice price was $31.60.

Bryan

 

[Shotguncoach]

I won an online auction for S 70201 a few minutes ago. I won't take possession for a few days, so more pictures and a letter request will be forthcoming. I'll start my own thread when it arrives, but here's a teaser:

 

[The Gila Bender]

It just occurred to me to find out when S&W switched from "single-line" to "four-line" address. Good thread here: History of 4 line address on frame?

"The order to start stamping the four-line address came down in April 1948. I believe the first guns with the four-line address shipped in late April or early May. That's for the N-frame and K-frame models." - DC Wilson.

There are variances among different models. HDs, for example, "...the transition to 4 Line Address occured in the mid S68000 serial number range in 1946" - 1Aspenhill.

The highest serial number single-line in my pile is 38/44 OD #S72161, shipped November 4, 1946. All of my transitional .44 3rd Model Militarys are single-line long action, highest serial being #S68780, shipped August 5, 1946.

Check out the thread. I love nerding out on this stuff.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Interesting. My cut down post war transitional OD serial is S-69816. I assume it would be one of the early ones that went out post-war.

 

[JP@AK]

The last pre-war Outdoorsman was made in early 1941, followed by a 5 year and 8 month hiatus on production. After the war, production started in August of 1946.

Although the Standard catalog shows this serial number range should have been in 1947, S&WHF included the shipping invoice.

The All Model Circular from 1946 says the following:

". . . as soon as the Military & Police Model and all of the Masterpiece Models have been produced in sufficient volume to satisfy all demands, we plan to concentrate on our line of heavy-frame revolvers, such as the . . . 38/44 Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman . . ." (emphasis added).

Since the first K-38 Masterpiece wasn't assembled until June 6, 1947, and the K-32 didn't start to ship until December 1948, it seems the company did not exactly follow the plan set forth in that AMC.