Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns S&W "N" 38

Asking did S&W ever make N frames in just 38 cal. Looked at a large Nickle Smith in 38 Sp. looked like a 2" barrel, I held it, but didnt look to close as some one took the rear sight off and mounted a plate, Im thinking for a red dot sight? it got me thinking about what this might be. might go back later next week and take a better look if its still there!

They had these, way back when...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_.38/44

Yep. Heavy Duty, Outdoorsman, 38/44, plus variations of all three. The 357 Magnum pretty much ended that, though.


Okie John

were they marked 38/44 ? this ones just marked S&W 38 special, after I got home I looked at my 38 smith md10 and that other pistol was alot bigger frame!

They were marked 38 S&W Special.

The 38/44 with the adjustable sights was the Outdoorsman and the fixed sight model was the Heavy Duty. The Heavy Duty could be had with 4,5, or 6 1/2 in barrels and aside from a few Prewar examples that were special orders all of the Outdoorsman revolvers had 6 1/2 in tubes.

Nickel Heavy Duties are more rare than blued ones and I’m not certain but don’t believe they offered the Outdoorsman in nickel finish. Either way if it has a 2” barrel it’s probably not original.

Thanks all, I wished that id took a better look at it! it may have been a fixed sight, because I didnt see a screw hole on the top frame! it had the 3/4 in square plate where the sight notch would have been. the grips were after market Birds eye maple, looked nice and were hand filling!

Got back to the gun store today the pistol is a 15-2 I put it in a LayAway at $385.00 I can live with the 2 holes, just have to find plug screws!

Even better than a cut up 38/44! I have a 2” 15 that is one of my most carried revolvers.