S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty, a.k.a. the .38 Extra Special

[Dave DeLaurant]

Looked for one of these for quite some time:



This example has some "experience" but the bore and chambers are fine and it indexes accurately. I'm calling it a win, though an action job might be nice someday.

I just got it out of CA 10-day purgatory today so I've only fired a couple of cylinders through it so far. Still, it groups as well as I can see, and shooting 158 grain handloads at 1100 fps feels shockingly comfortable.

That's because it really lives up to the "heavy" part of its name. Here's a comparison of my two CCW revolvers with it:



Yeah, it's a lot of gun.

S&W introduced this model, at least in part, as a reply to Colt's .38 Super and it's superior penetration through car bodies and armored vests. The ballistics of the two platforms are comparable, though the 38/44 was usually loaded with a heavier bullet than the Super's 130 grainer.

I love how it looks. I love how it feels in the hand. I love the way it shoots.

 

[golden]

Dave,

There nice, but the last one I looked at was going for over $1200.00 and that was before covid. It would be a great gun to shoot heavy .38 Special loads.

Jim

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Love it, warts and all!

 

[1KPerDay]

Gorgeous. Congrats!

 

[StrawHat]

OP, you have a nice prewar 5” barreled revolver. I have a postwar 5”.
The Heavy Duty was introduced in 1930. In 1931, the Outdoorsman’s revolver (adjustable sights) was introduced in 1931. Phil Sharpe used an Outdoorsman’s revolver to load what he called the 38 S&W Special Magnum. Dan Wesson call it the 357 magnum, in 1935, at the rest is history!

Kevin

 

[dickydalton]

I want one...

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

This 38/44 Heavy Duty shipped in September of 1931.

This 38/44 Outdoorsman shipped in January of 1933.

 

[Riomouse911]

That’s a sweet chunk of blue steel and walnut you brought home @Dave DeLaurant! The pencil barrel, half moon sight and grip adapter (A Tyler’s T-grip?) gives it even more of a nostalgic look. Just awesome, IMHO.

The only N frames I have owned all were .41 or .44 calibers, I bet all that steel wrapped around those .38 caliber charge holes do make if quite a pleasant handful to shoot.

Stay safe.

 

[Pat Riot]

 

[Mosin77]

I have an Outdoorsman from the late 1930s, which has the smoothest double action pull I think I have ever experienced from a revolver.

Nice addition!! The heavy duty is a true police gun and a piece of history, even if they’re not well-known today.

I once handled one that belonged to the chief of police in Las Vegas in the ‘30s.

And I love the prewar grips too.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

The pencil barrel, half moon sight and grip adapter (A Tyler’s T-grip?) gives it even more of a nostalgic look.

Tyler knockoff from eBay -- I hope to replace it with an authentic Tyler, Mershon or Pachmayr grip adapter once I find one in the right size/condition/price.

 

[mm93]

Dave,

There nice, but the last one I looked at was going for over $1200.00 and that was before covid. It would be a great gun to shoot heavy .38 Special loads.

Jim

$1200 for a .38/44 HD is a bargain unless it's below average condition! I've seen nice ones go in the $2500 range with no box or papers!
I love older S&W revolvers, and the 38/44 is one of my favorites! The size is part of it, but also the feel of them in my hand and the accuracy they usually have. Mine dates to 1953 and one of my favorite shooting S&W handguns!

 

[nofendertom]

N - Frame Smiths - Gotta love 'em ! My favorite Smiths, in all calibers.

 

[Mannlicher]

what a wonderful score!

 

[tominboise]

Very nice. I will say that mine will knock over rams at the 200yd range using the 170gr Keith bullet and 2400 powder. Not every time but often enough to know it's not all luck. These are great pistols.

 

[Onty]

Howdy

This 38/44 Outdoorsman shipped in January of 1933.

This is real beauty!

$1200 for a .38/44 HD is a bargain unless it's below average condition! I've seen nice ones go in the $2500 range with no box or papers!
I love older S&W revolvers, and the 38/44 is one of my favorites! The size is part of it, but also the feel of them in my hand and the accuracy they usually have. Mine dates to 1953 and one of my favorite shooting S&W handguns!

Those "short action" 38-44, did S&W make any with 8-3/8 barrel?

 

[mm93]

This is real beauty!



Those "short action" 38-44, did S&W make any with 8-3/8 barrel?

Not that I've heard of? My reference states that post WII were only offered in 6.5" barrels; nothing shorter or longer.

 

[CraigC]

That's a nice one! I had a nice 6.5" but always wanted a 4" or 5".

 

[adcoch1]

5" on an N frame Always looks great!

That's a nice one! I had a nice 6.5" but always wanted a 4" or 5".

 

[PapaG]

I had one about fifty years ago but, like most of us, something else caught my fancy. A few years back we got in a few GP100s in 38 special, used PD guns. I bought one ($250) and made it my 38/44.

 

[Jeff olson]

My 5" from 1954

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

My 5" from 1954View attachment 1253482View attachment 1253483View attachment 1253484

How many limbs had to be sacrificed to pay for this beaut?

 

[Jeff olson]

How many limbs had to be sacrificed to pay for this beaut?

This was my daddy's gun. I got lucky.

 

[Gladius]

Mine is a former Washington State Patrol sidearm...

 

[orionengnr]

Had one for a while; nice revolver. Mine had been re-blued so was not "original" but was a nice shooter. Loaded up some "Keith-ish" handloads up to 12.5 gr of 2400. Stout, but not unpleasant. Accurate.