This early 1950s 38/44 Outdoorsman has a matte blue finish.
I’m confused about when Smith & Wesson applied the matte blue finish and on what models. Both of my Model of 1950 Target revolvers (44 & 45 ACP) plus a 1951 K-22 Masterpiece Target and a 1954 K-38 Heavy Masterpiece Target are matte blue, but I recently learned that some of the Model of 1950 came in bright blue. The “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” 4th edition states that the finish of the 38/44 Outdoorsman changed to bright blue with the “Model of 1950”. However, it also notes a 25-50% premium for bright polish finish.
The Patridge front sight on my example appears to put it in the 1950-1951 range. The sharp shoulders on the Magna grips also point to early 1950s. My other matte blue Smith & Wessons range from 1951-1955. Was this finish standard from 1950-1955 on all revolvers or just some models? Was “bright blue” a special order upgrade?
I did find it interesting to learn from Roy Jinks that the “R-Bi” stamp on my 44 Magnum which shipped July of 1956 specified a refinish in bright blue. I’ve never heard of a 44 Magnum in matte blue; however, someone at S&W in 1976 thought it was worth using a distinct stamp on their work on that revolver.
Postscript: If Smith & Wesson introduced the matte blue finish to reducing costs (polishing time), I prefer that over the plastic “Coltwood” grips some outfit in Hartford was putting in their revolvers in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
I’m confused about when Smith & Wesson applied the matte blue finish and on what models. Both of my Model of 1950 Target revolvers (44 & 45 ACP) plus a 1951 K-22 Masterpiece Target and a 1954 K-38 Heavy Masterpiece Target are matte blue, but I recently learned that some of the Model of 1950 came in bright blue. The “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” 4th edition states that the finish of the 38/44 Outdoorsman changed to bright blue with the “Model of 1950”. However, it also notes a 25-50% premium for bright polish finish.
The Patridge front sight on my example appears to put it in the 1950-1951 range. The sharp shoulders on the Magna grips also point to early 1950s. My other matte blue Smith & Wessons range from 1951-1955. Was this finish standard from 1950-1955 on all revolvers or just some models? Was “bright blue” a special order upgrade?
I did find it interesting to learn from Roy Jinks that the “R-Bi” stamp on my 44 Magnum which shipped July of 1956 specified a refinish in bright blue. I’ve never heard of a 44 Magnum in matte blue; however, someone at S&W in 1976 thought it was worth using a distinct stamp on their work on that revolver.
Postscript: If Smith & Wesson introduced the matte blue finish to reducing costs (polishing time), I prefer that over the plastic “Coltwood” grips some outfit in Hartford was putting in their revolvers in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
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