Serial numbers for the.38 special Victory model began at about V1 in early 1942 and ran until VS811119 with a date of late August of 1945 (end of production). V1 to approximately V39,999 were predominately.38 S&W Caliber (I have observed revolvers in the 1-40000 range in.38 special caliber). 1 day ago SMITH & WESSON MODEL 60-7 38 SPECIAL REVOLVER for sale online. A continuation of.38 M&P Hand Ejector series. Built from 1905 to 1906. Available in 4', 5', 6' and 6.5' barrels. Finished in blue or nickel, with round or square butt. The.38-caliber serial number range 0, with about 10,800 produced. NOTE: Prices for the following four variations will be the same as those noted above.
.38 Hand Ejector Model of 1905
Produced from 1906-1908. Barrel lengths, finish and butt styles like original model of 1905. The 1st change was produced in serial number range 73251-120000, with 46,749 made.
| NIB | Exc | V.G. | Good | Fair | Poor |
| $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 |
Produced from 1908-1909. Only internal changes were made to this model. Best approach to differentiate this model is by serial number. The serial number range from 120001-146899, with 26,898 produced.
| NIB | Exc | V.G. | Good | Fair | Poor |
| $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 |
.38 Special Revolver 4 Inch Barrel
3rd ChangeProduced from 1909 to 1915. The 3rd Change variation available only in 4' or 6' barrel lengths. The .38-caliber serial number range between 146900-241703, with 94,803 made.
Smith And Wesson .38 Special Revolver Serial Numbers
| NIB | Exc | V.G. | Good | Fair | Poor |
| $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 |
Last variation was also the longest production run. Produced from 1915-1942. Barrel lengths: 2', 4', 5' or 6'; The .38-caliber serial number range from 241704-1000000.
| NIB | Exc | V.G. | Good | Fair | Poor |
| $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 | $0000 |
| Smith & Wesson .38/44 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson |
| Produced | 1930–1966[1] |
| Variants | Heavy Duty Outdoorsman Model 20 Model 23 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 40 ounces (1.1 kg)[2] |
| Barrel length |
|
| Cartridge | .38 Special[1] |
| Action | Double-action[1] |
| Feed system | Six-roundcylinder[1] |
Smith & Wesson .38/44 identifies a series of 6 shot, double-action, Smith & Wesson N-frame revolvers chambered for the .38 Special cartridge loaded to higher pressures than were considered appropriate for earlier revolvers chambered for that cartridge. High-pressure .38/44 loadings of the .38 Special cartridge represented a transition between conventional .38 Special ammunition and the new more powerful .357 Magnum ammo. Revolvers were manufactured from 1930 to 1941, and after World War II from 1946 to 1966 until competitively priced .357 Magnum revolvers became widely available.
History[edit]
In the 1920s and 1930s, the inability of conventional police service revolver ammunition to reliably penetrate automobiles was perceived as a problem as United States law enforcement agencies encountered well organized and funded bootleggers.[1] In response, Smith & Wesson introduced the large frame .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1930. It was based on the .44 SpecialSmith & Wesson Triple Lock revolver and was made with a 5-inch (13 cm) barrel and fixed sights.[3][4] The following year, Smith & Wesson began production of the .38/44 Outdoorsman with a 6.5-inch (17 cm) barrel and adjustable sights.[1]
These new revolvers were chambered for a new more powerful type of .38 Special ammunition capable of firing a 158-grain (10.2 g) metal-penetrating copper-tipped lead-alloy bullet at 1,125 feet (343 m) per second.[5] In comparison, conventional .38 Special ammunition fires a 158-grain (10.2 g) bullets at 755 feet (230 m) per second.[1] It was easily capable of penetrating the automobile bodies and body armor of that era.
A 4-inch (10 cm) barrel was offered in 1935 for users willing to accept the reduced ballistic performance of a more compact firearm.[2] The media attention gathered by the .38/44 and its ammunition encouraged Smith & Wesson to develop the longer .357 Magnum cartridge in 1935. The .38/44 was an option for purchasers unwilling to pay the premium pricing of the new .357 Magnum revolvers.
Rhel 7.6 iso. The 38/44s were available with either blue or nickel finish. Production was interrupted by the second world war. Postwar production serial numbers are prefixed with the letter S.[1] After the war these N-frame revolvers were popular with veterans experimentally handloading the .38 Special at pressures up to fifty percent higher than the 15,000 psi (103 MPa) recommended for conventional .38 Special revolvers.[6]
In 1957, the 'Heavy Duty' fixed sight version was marketed as the Smith & Wesson Model 20 and the 'Outdoorsman' with adjustable sights became the Smith & Wesson Model 23.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ abcdefghijklHacker, Rick (2014). 'Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty'. American Rifleman. National Rifle Association. 162 (February): 92.
- ^ ab'SMITH AND WESSON'S 38-44 HEAVY DUTY'. 1Aspenhill. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^Shideler, Dan, Is This the Greatest .38 Ever, Gun Digest, 4 August 2008
- ^Sharpe, Phil, The New Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty .38, The American Rifleman, November 1931
- ^Western Ammunition Handbook (3rd ed.). East Alton, Illinois: Western Cartridge Company. pp. 54–63.
- ^Barr, Al; Teesdale, Jerald; Keith, Elmer; Hardaway, Ben F. (1951). Reloading Information. 2. Washington DC: National Rifle Association. pp. 71–75.
External links[edit]
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