Oldest gun in my safe

[rip2k3]

I purchased this gun in St. Petersburg, Fl in 1962. I have used it for target shooting and a backup when hog hunting. I don't know the history of the gun. It has a serial number 5614x on both the butt and barrel. It has another set of numbers in the yoke 1208x?? Can anyone tell me the age of this gun. I believe it to be a 38-44 Heavy. I have always shot 38 Specials out of the gun. Will it handle +P loads? The gun is mechanically sound and a fine shooter.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[rip2k3]

I purchased this gun in St. Petersburg, Fl in 1962. I have used it for target shooting and a backup when hog hunting. I don't know the history of the gun. It has a serial number 5614x on both the butt and barrel. It has another set of numbers in the yoke 1208x?? Can anyone tell me the age of this gun. I believe it to be a 38-44 Heavy. I have always shot 38 Specials out of the gun. Will it handle +P loads? The gun is mechanically sound and a fine shooter.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[mikepriwer]

Its a 1938 Outdoorssman, or 38/44 target. +P should be just fine.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[Guest]

My oldest is a Model 1, .32 Hand Ejector, that shipped in January of 1898. MAK

 

[digi-shots]

Rip2k3,

Welcome to the forum!

Nice pics! Can you tell me what the small mark might be that's located between the top of the grip and the thumb release? I don't think it's lint since it's on all of the pics.

Looks the letter A or V, maybe an arrow ^ ??

 

[FRBowers]

Originally posted by rip2k3:
I don't know the history of the gun.

Part of the history of this Outdoorsman is that the grips are not original and it appears to have been refinished. Looks like a good shooter!

 

[rip2k3]

Could you tell me what the original hand grips look like. These were on it when I Purchased it in 1962. Gun was blued about 15 years ago. I just now realized the gunsmith blued the trigger and hammer.

 

[gunbarrel]

Originally posted by rip2k3:
Gun was blued about 15 years ago. I just now realized the gunsmith blued the trigger and hammer.

Pity.

GB

 

[m-1911]

This is my oldest Smith & Wesson. It is a 2nd Model American, shipped to M W Robinson on May 15, 1873