Outdoorsman Questions

[DallasMac]

This is my first post since joining the Forum, so please be patient as I’ll probably make some mistakes. I have a 38/44 Outdoorsman which I traded for around 40 years ago, but I have never fired it and am debating whether to use it or sell it, so I have some questions for the Forum.

I am attaching the limit of 5 photos, have more but not sure how to add the rest. The serial number on the butt, crane (no photo), and cylinder is S69805, which based on my limited research is early post-WWII, as in 1946. Question 1: can anyone date it more precisely? If so, I would greatly appreciate it.

You will also see it was fitted with target stocks somewhere along the way. Again based on limited research, it appears these are from the 1958-68 time period. Also, it appears they have been coated with lacquer or some other glossy finish. Question 2: should I leave the stocks alone as part of the history of the piece, or look for a period- correct set?

Question 3: any guesses as to the current market value? Pistol is tight, bore is excellent. Thanks!

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard! Your gun probably shipped right after WWII (1946-7) and is a long action.

Find a period correct set of Magna's and leave those later target stocks alone. They're what collectors call "Cokes" and were standard on .44 Magnums and early adjustable sight .41 Magnums. The stocks alone are worth around $500.

 

[MG34/bar]

My Outdoorsman is S698XX and letters to September of 1946. Very smooth long action and yours will likely be the same.

 

[gjamison]

Those are stocks are cokes, if you look at them you’ll notice a palm swell or a coke bottle shape. As mentioned above they came on pre model and model 29s, model 57s and some pre model 27s. They’re quite valuable.

The 38/44 outdoorsman has a large following and value is based on condition, the original stocks are missing so that hurts it a little.

 

[DWalt]

Note that the barrel caliber stamping is for .38 S&W Special, which is correct. However, the selling point for the N-frame .38 revolvers was their ability to handle the so-called .38-44 cartridge. That was simply a more heavily loaded .38 Special cartridge, and the predecessor of the .357 Magnum. It produced a muzzle velocity in the 1100-1150 ft/second range, as opposed to the approximate 800-850 ft/second MV of the standard .38 Special cartridge. The .38-44 (equivalent) cartridge is still available from some specialty ammunition companies, or it can be easily handloaded. The larger mainstream ammunition companies stopped offering those high-velocity .38 Special loads around 50 years ago. It is not unusual that some N-frame .38 Special revolvers were later rechambered by their owners to accept the longer .357 Magnum cartridges, and that is something you should be aware of and check for.

 

[Gun Relics]

You asked about value so I'll give an opinion.

Your model serial numbers fall in the "transitional" category, which is the post-war period prior to 1950. Since the magna stocks of the day were numbered, there is no value in replacing the cokes. in fact, the Cokes make the pistol more valuable than mis-matched magnas to most collectors.

From the photos I can't tell the condition of the finish, but I would guess somewhere around 85%. it looks like it was holstered a bit to me. Based on that, with the Cokes, i would say the current value is around $1500. If you replaced the cokes with mismatched period Magnas, maybe around $1200.

These are averages I would expect at an auction. I have a transitional model similar to yours. The most difficult thing is to find the correct box. After much looking, I found one and it was not cheap.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Welcome aboard! Most everything has been said already. Great gun and quite collectible as are the stocks even though they’re not original. It’s the best set of non- original stocks that could have happened to that gun. You may have your reasons to sell it, but if you don’t need the money, you’d be hard put to find a better gun to shoot the full spectrum of 38 special loadings from mild to wild… and doing it in style. The craftsmanship on that gun is top notch. Unless you need the money, keep it and shoot it. I’d say it’s at least a $1,500 gun with the coke stocks.

 

[Gun Relics]

My Outdoorsman is S698XX and letters to September of 1946. Very smooth long action and yours will likely be the same.

It's not 69,866 is it? If it is, I have your box!

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! You made quite an entry with your .38/44 Outdoorsman. It is a very popular revolver here on the Forum, and yours appears to be in very nice condition. As others have said, it's too bad it doesn't have it original numbered stocks, but having a nice set of very valuable Coke Bottle stocks kind of makes up for it! It's a shame that you haven't shot it over all these years because these excellent revolvers are outstanding and accurate shooters. Good luck with your decision on whether to keep it as a family heirloom or to sell.

 

[Shotguncoach]

Welcome to the forum! You have one of the best revolvers ever made, and if you decide to keep it your heirs will enjoy it for centuries to come.

Your date and value questions have been taken care of, so I'll address question #2: please consider embracing the word "and". Keep the Coke stocks and find a set of period correct Magna stocks. The stocks were numbered during that period so you're looking for a set with as close a serial number as possible. They'll look like this:

You never know...someone here may pop up and say "I have them". Scroll up a bit to the post from Gun Relics about the box and you'll see what I mean.

If you do decide to sell it this is your market. There are quite a few of us here that would happily wave a wad of cash at you for that one.

 

[paplinker]

I have a set of transitional magnas in the 698xx range. Will check them when I get home from work. That would be cool if they matched

EDIT 63496 Sorry no match but good luck!

 

[gmborkovic]

Is this Outdoorsman frame the same size as the 1956 N frame?

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

Is this Outdoorsman frame the same size as the 1956 N frame?

Yes the Outdoorsman and Heavy Duty are both N frame revolvers. 38 cal built on the 44 frame.

 

[paplinker]

Is this Outdoorsman frame the same size as the 1956 N frame?

The grip area on the trans guns are roughly an 1/8 longer.

It's not much but 1956 magnas will be shorter

 

[gmborkovic]

So it is a smidge longer, right?

 

[Kansasgunner]

Yes, grip frame is a touch longer on the prewar and early post war N frames.

 

[RM Vivas]

I've seen a gun lettered as Jan 47 that was a few digits from yours.

Best,
RM Vivas

 

[DallasMac]

Many thanks to all of you who posted comments and information. Concerning the "coke bottle" stocks, kudos to you sharp-eyed experts who recognized them immediately. I did read about them in Hoosier45's informative N-stock post from 2018, but didn't occur to me they might have been retrofitted to my gun. Also, I did check for chamber reaming, and a 357 mag round does not chamber fully (chamber depth is ~30 mm and rim-to-face gap is ~2-3 mm), so it seems to be unmolested. Value estimates are in the range I expected, but I'm on the fence about keeping or selling. I'm getting up there (84 in November) and my heirs have no interest in firearms, so I'm leaning toward selling.

 

[Casual Smith Nut]

I’m sure there’s many Outdoorsman-Hungry folks on this forum if you should decide to post it online here.

 

[reflex264]

Beautiful 38/44 Outdoorsman. As has been said already one of the best revolvers ever built. The coke bottles look pretty cool on it. It would be cool if someone popped up with the original magnas and that box mentioned above match.