Smith & Wesson 38/44 outdoorsman

Blackberrypriv · March 9, 2018, 10:44 AM

Going be owning this one soon as was wondering if anybody had any input on them. this one also hasn't been bored out to 357 mag either. thanks

joed · March 9, 2018, 02:58 PM

It's a .38 Spl on an N frame. It was made to fire a load that is hotter then a normal Spl load.

I looked at one of these that a friend was selling in his shop. Wanted to buy it but he talked me out of it saying it was nothing more then a .38 Spl chambered in a N frame. Personally I think it's more then that.

**44 AMP** · March 9, 2018, 03:32 PM

Quote:

saying it was nothing more then a .38 Spl chambered in a N frame. Personally I think it's more then that.

It is, and, it isn't. It's a historical collectable for S&W fans, and the gun that proved that the .357 Magnum wasn't just possible, it would be practical.

If you don't care about its place in the history of S&W's model line, then its just an N frame .38 Special. If you do, then its a sweet piece of history, AND an N frame .38 Special.

Bob Wright · March 9, 2018, 03:33 PM

As I remember the fixed sight model was known as the "38/44 Heavy Duty" while the target sighted version was the "38/44 Outdoorsman."

The "38/44" designation came from the .38/44 Special cartridge, the equivalent of the +P of its day. The designation meant it was intended for the 44 framed revolvers.

As a matter of interest, there were two .38/44 cartridges: The .38/44 Special which was the high velocity version of the .38 Special, and the .38/44 Smith & Wesson. This latter cartridge was so named as it was a .38 cartridge intended for use in the .44 framed S&W No. 3 target revolver. The case length was full length of the cylinder, with the bullet nose flush, or just below, the case mouth.

Salmoneye · March 9, 2018, 03:40 PM

Quite a bit of load data on the net for the .38/.44...

Don Fischer · March 9, 2018, 04:01 PM

I have the 38/44 smith but mine has a 5 1/2" barrel and adjustable sight's. Heavy gun but I do like to shoot it. Have another Smith, not for sale, mod 16 32 Long. really love this gun.

coolbreezy · March 10, 2018, 11:49 AM

The outdoorsman is a fine revolver, it'd be pretty awesome to shoot the old school high velocity rounds out of it. I assume nowadays people just duplicate the original high velocity loads if they reload, other wise you're just stuck with +p loads or maybe the BB loads.

Driftwood Johnson · March 10, 2018, 11:19 PM

Howdy

I picked up this 38/44 Outdoorsman last year. It shipped in 1933. Yes, the Outdoorsman was the model with adjustable sights. However they are not like the rear sight you get on a modern S&W. Notice the tiny screw on each side. To adjust the windage, you need a tiny screwdriver. You back out one screw, then push the sight blade over with the other one. Then you snug them both up again. The grips are correct for this model, however they are not numbered to the gun.

The original 38/44 rounds were quite a bit hotter than a 38 Special +P. Pretty much up to 357 Magnum strength. No, I have only fired standard 38 Specials through this one, have not wanted to load anything hot for it.

38/44 Heavy Duty. Notice the fixed sights. This one shipped in 1931. I have only fired standard 38 Specials through this one too.

James K · March 13, 2018, 09:56 PM

Just FWIW, if the Model 1917 had not done so, the 38/44 had the honor of introducing split thumb webs to the American shooter. Ouch!

With the true Magnum, S&W caught wise and introduced the "Magna" stock, saving a lot of pain (and a lot of rusting in the thumb web area of the guns).

Jim

Bob Wright · March 14, 2018, 09:45 AM

Not too long back, I saw and examined a .38/44 Heavy Duty in a pawn shop. I had no intention of buying it, but just had to hold it in my hand. The impression was it is a much better feeling gun in the hand than similar modern DA S&W revolvers.

Don't know why, that's just the way it is.

Bob Wright

SIGSHR · March 14, 2018, 01:13 PM

Handling a revolver of the that era is like time travel.

Jim Watson · March 14, 2018, 01:18 PM

Sights sure were finer in those days. Did everybody have better eyesight?

March 9, 2018, 10:44 AM	#1
Blackberrypriv Junior Member Join Date: February 11, 2017 Posts: 7	Smith & Wesson 38/44 outdoorsman Going be owning this one soon as was wondering if anybody had any input on them. this one also hasn't been bored out to 357 mag either. thanks

March 9, 2018, 02:58 PM	#2
joed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2014 Posts: 442	It's a .38 Spl on an N frame. It was made to fire a load that is hotter then a normal Spl load. I looked at one of these that a friend was selling in his shop. Wanted to buy it but he talked me out of it saying it was nothing more then a .38 Spl chambered in a N frame. Personally I think it's more then that. __________________ The 6 gun was once as common as the cellphone is today, and just as annoying when it went off in the theater.

March 9, 2018, 03:33 PM	#4
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	As I remember the fixed sight model was known as the "38/44 Heavy Duty" while the target sighted version was the "38/44 Outdoorsman." The "38/44" designation came from the .38/44 Special cartridge, the equivalent of the +P of its day. The designation meant it was intended for the 44 framed revolvers. As a matter of interest, there were two .38/44 cartridges: The .38/44 Special which was the high velocity version of the .38 Special, and the .38/44 Smith & Wesson. This latter cartridge was so named as it was a .38 cartridge intended for use in the .44 framed S&W No. 3 target revolver. The case length was full length of the cylinder, with the bullet nose flush, or just below, the case mouth. __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

March 10, 2018, 11:49 AM	#7
coolbreezy Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2010 Posts: 271	The outdoorsman is a fine revolver, it'd be pretty awesome to shoot the old school high velocity rounds out of it. I assume nowadays people just duplicate the original high velocity loads if they reload, other wise you're just stuck with +p loads or maybe the BB loads. __________________ S&W highway patrolman 28-2/ Springfield mil spec 1911 (semi custom)/ Sig P220 match elite .45 acp/Kimber micro 9 stainless/ Remington 870 tac14/ Taurus pt22/ S&W 629-1 3" .44 mag/ S&W 629 PC V-Comp/ Beretta M9/ Stevens/Savage 311A 12 ga double bbl/ Magnum research Desert Eagle XIX .44 mag/ S&W 460 xvr/ Glock g40 10mm longslide/ H&K usp compact .45 acp/ Ruger SuperBlackhawk Lipsey Edition/ S&W 686+ 3-5-7 talo edition

March 14, 2018, 09:45 AM	#10
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	Not too long back, I saw and examined a .38/44 Heavy Duty in a pawn shop. I had no intention of buying it, but just had to hold it in my hand. The impression was it is a much better feeling gun in the hand than similar modern DA S&W revolvers. Don't know why, that's just the way it is. Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

March 9, 2018, 03:40 PM	#5
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	Quite a bit of load data on the net for the .38/.44...

March 9, 2018, 04:01 PM	#6
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I have the 38/44 smith but mine has a 5 1/2" barrel and adjustable sight's. Heavy gun but I do like to shoot it. Have another Smith, not for sale, mod 16 32 Long. really love this gun.

March 10, 2018, 11:19 PM	#8
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy I picked up this 38/44 Outdoorsman last year. It shipped in 1933. Yes, the Outdoorsman was the model with adjustable sights. However they are not like the rear sight you get on a modern S&W. Notice the tiny screw on each side. To adjust the windage, you need a tiny screwdriver. You back out one screw, then push the sight blade over with the other one. Then you snug them both up again. The grips are correct for this model, however they are not numbered to the gun. The original 38/44 rounds were quite a bit hotter than a 38 Special +P. Pretty much up to 357 Magnum strength. No, I have only fired standard 38 Specials through this one, have not wanted to load anything hot for it. 38/44 Heavy Duty. Notice the fixed sights. This one shipped in 1931. I have only fired standard 38 Specials through this one too.

March 13, 2018, 09:56 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Just FWIW, if the Model 1917 had not done so, the 38/44 had the honor of introducing split thumb webs to the American shooter. Ouch! With the true Magnum, S&W caught wise and introduced the "Magna" stock, saving a lot of pain (and a lot of rusting in the thumb web area of the guns). Jim

March 14, 2018, 01:13 PM	#11
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Handling a revolver of the that era is like time travel.

March 14, 2018, 01:18 PM	#12
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Sights sure were finer in those days. Did everybody have better eyesight?