Questions on Smith and Wesson 38/44

[benjamin101677]

I don't know much about the revolver, I just picked up a Smith and Wesson 38/44 revolver, supposed to be made in 1950 comes with the original cardboard box. Ones of those guns that I knew if I passed it up I would regret it.

Anybody know much about them?

[Fishwishin]

You lucky dawg!!!! That is a very important model in the world of revolvers!

[Tim padilla]

That is a very nice Smith and Wesson .i have a very good condition 38/44 heavy duty in my stable but not mint in the original gold top box .Yours is a little later production than mine,yours has the later diamond Magna grips on it.This was the answer for law enforcement prior to the invention of the 357 magnum . They needed a heavy duty round that could punch through automobile sheet metal at the time and the normal 38 special load was not cutting it. They slapped a 38 cylinder in a big N frame and souped up the 38 round and referred to the cartridge as the 38/44 heavy duty just so they didn’t accidentally throw it in a normal service revolver such as the M&P pre model 10 . A very nice addition to any Smith collection. The revolver did double duty as a more powerful field revolver as well .
A good amount of these revolvers were reamed out to 357 magnum once that cartridge was more accepted which drops the collector value a decent amount . Try slipping in a dummy 357 mag shell , if it seats all the way it has been reamed.

[Tim padilla]

If you can find original 38/44 ammo in the original box it is also very collectible.

[Spaffo]

20190731_155145.jpgVery collectible, especially with the box. Here is mine They shoot .38 special well.

[plumbum]

Beautiful find! Wonderful revolvers with history

[hambam105]

My eyes!

Have some respect and give us financial under-achievers, and you know who you are,
a warning statement before subjecting us to viewing S&W Porn like this.