1. S&w Model 651 For Sale
2. S&w 648 22 Magnum For Sale

Make: Smith & Wesson. Model: ‘The.38 Military & Police’, Pre-Model 10, Square-Butt K-Frame. Serial Number: C 153055. Year of Manufacture: The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson puts “C” prefix serial numbers from 1948 to 1951 from C1 to C223998, putting the DOM around 1950, the 2nd year of production. Caliber:.38 Special. Please enter the serial number below. Please enter the serial number below. ©2004 - 2013 C&C Global grips4guns.com P.O. Box 22222 San Diego, CA Phone: 858-997-5138.

Today, Smith & Wesson is mostly known for revolvers and their growing line of M&P pistols. Despite the rapidly growing popularity of these polymer-framed striker fired semi-auto pistols, there’s also a lot of buzz around the former metal-framed S&W pistols that were discontinued a few years ago.

M&p shield ez pistol important safety recall notice for pistols manufactured between march 1st, 2020 and october 31st, 2020 learn more. Please enter the serial number below. Please enter the serial number below. The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson.38 Hand Ejector. Serial numbers for the Military & Police ranged from number 1 in the series to 20,975. Most of the early M&P revolvers chambered in.38. World Guns page Smith & Wesson Model 10 at the Internet Movie Firearms Database.

• Weight: 34.4 oz / 975.2g

Overview

Smith & Wesson makes it possible for you to own a piece of history-in-the-making with these Classic revolvers. They're the finest new handguns possible with designs harkening back to the most famous and collectible guns that Smith & Wesson ever constructed. Each is based on a model known for legendary performance then enhanced with modern advantages. They're the timeless best of both worlds,­ Smith & Wesson Classics.
ALL BACKED BY OUR SMITH & WESSON LIFETIME SERVICE POLICY.
Availability subject to applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Specifications

The Smith & Wesson Model 36 (also known as the Chief's Special Eureka capture vacuum manual. ) is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. It is one of several models of J-frame revolvers. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production in the classic blued Model 36 and the stainless steel Model 60.

History[edit]

The Model 36 was designed in the era just after World War II, when Smith & Wesson stopped producing war materials and resumed normal production. For the Model 36, they sought to design a revolver that could fire the more powerful (compared to the .38 Long Colt or the .38 S&W) .38 Special round in a small, concealable package. Since the older I-frame was not able to handle this load, a new frame was designed, which became the J-frame.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Serial Numbers Date

The new design was introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention in 1950, and was favorably received. A vote was held to name the new revolver, and the name 'Chiefs Special' won.^[1][2] A 3-inch (76 mm) barreled version design went into production immediately, due to high demand. It was available in either a blued or nickel-plated finish.^[3] It was produced as the 'Chiefs Special' until 1957, when it then became the Model 36. The 'Chiefs Special' continued to be manufactured as a separate variant.

In 1951, Smith & Wesson introduced the Airweight Model 37, which was basically the Model 36 design with an aluminum frame and cylinder. The aluminum cylinders proved to be problematic and were abandoned in favor of a steel cylinder.^[3]

In 1989, Smith & Wesson introduced the LadySmith variant of the Model 36. This was available with 2 in (51 mm) or 3 in (76 mm) barrel and blued finish. This model also featured special grips designed specifically for women, and had 'LADYSMITH' engraved on the frame.^[4]

Approximately 615 Model 36-6 Target variations were produced. This variant had a 3-inch full lug barrel with adjustable sights and a blued glass finish.

In 2002, Smith & Wesson reintroduced the Model 36 with gold features (hammer, thumbpiece, extractor, and trigger), calling it the 'Model 36 Gold'. The gold color was actually titanium nitride.

In 2005, Smith & Wesson produced the 'Texas Hold 'Em' variant. This was produced with a blued finish, imitation ivory grips, and 24k gold plate engraving.

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Serial Numbers

Many Model 37 variants with a lanyard ring attached were made for Japan. Part of this contract was cancelled, resulting in many of these being sold to a wholesaler, who then re-sold them for civilian use. These entered the civilian market in 2001. In 2006, the Model 37 was dropped from Smith & Wesson's catalog.

Serial number 337 was shipped to J. Edgar Hoover and is engraved with his name.

In 1958, Spanish manufacturer Astra developed a high quality revolver line based on this weapon, under the name of Astra Cadix, Astra 250 and Astra NC6.

Design and features[edit]

Designed to be small and compact, the Model 36 has been produced with 2-inch (1.875 inch actual length) or 3-inch barrels with fixed sights. A version with an adjustable rear sight, the Model 50 Chief's Special Target, was also produced in limited numbers with both 2-inch and 3-inch barrels.

Like nearly all other 'J-frame' Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a 5-round capacity in a swing-out cylinder, and features an exposed hammer. It features a nickel-plated or blued finish and either wood or rubber grips.

Users[edit]

Smith And Wesson Pre Model 10 Serial Numbers

• Japan: Shipped 5,344 Model 37s in 2003^[5]and additional 5,519 in 2005 for the National Police Agency.^[6]
• Malaysia: From 1970 to 2000, the Model 36 is standard sidearm for plainclothed detective in Royal Malaysian PoliceSpecial Branch or Criminal Investigation Division before Glock 17 adoption. It also used by RELA Corps Medium/Lower Rank Officer (permanent or volunteer) as training or self-defence weapon before the adoption of the Glock 19/26 and HK USP 9mm and is still used until today.
• Malta: It was standard issue for the Mobile Squad in the Malta Police Force until the arrival of the Glock 17 in 2007. They have since then been withdrawn from active carry, but they are still all being kept in the General Police Headquarters in Floriana.
• Norway: Although never a standard service gun in Norway, it is kept in the Norwegian Police Service inventory as a pure self-defensive option, for off-duty officers who meet certain criteria.
• South Korea: In 1974, it was used in the failed attempt to assassinate South Korean president Park Chung-hee, killing his wife Yuk Young-soo instead. Five years later, M36 Chief Special was, once again, used to assassinate Park.
• United States: For many years, the Model 36 was the standard police detective and 'plainclothes man' carry weapon for many police agencies including the NYPD. Many police officers still use it or one of its newer Smith & Wesson descendants as a 'back up' weapon to their primary duty pistol or as their 'off-duty' weapon. For several years in the mid-1970s, the Model 36 was issued to and carried as a duty weapon by administrative and command staff of the NC State Highway Patrol, but it was later replaced when all troopers were required to carry the then duty issue weapon, the S&W Model 66 .357, which was in turn later replaced with the last Smith revolver, the Model 686, before the agency switched to semi-automatics in the early 1990s.

References[edit]

1. ^Ayoob, Massad. Greatest Handguns of the World (Krause Publications, Inc., 2010) p. 208
2. ^Jinks, Roy G. History of Smith & Wesson (Beinfeld Publishing,1977), p. 225.
3. ^ ^abArmed for Personal Defense by Jerry Ahern
4. ^'Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson' By Jim Supica, Richard Nahas
5. ^'Department of State Letter on May 18, 2003'(PDF). US Department of State. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 16, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
6. ^'US Department of State Letter on September 6, 2005'(PDF). US Department of State. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 16, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-09.

External links[edit]

Smith And Wesson Model 10 Serial Number D

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot, .38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in (130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also known to have been made for special contracts.^[2] Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most popular handgun of the 20th century.^[3]

• 1History
• 2Model 10 Variants
• 4Users

Nov 23, 2013 I have a Smith & Wesson 38 Special with a serial number of C1826. The only other numbers I can find on it 95225 with a E above the number when I release the cylinder. Any idea of the age and appoximat read more. Feb 12, 2012 How to Identify/Date a S&W. Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Pilgrim, Jun 5, 2009. This is where to look for the model number (not used until around 1957). Sometimes the serial number is here, especially in later models. 36 1950 J 38 Spl 38 Chief Special 37 1952 JA 38 Spl 38 Chief Special.

History[edit]

In 1899, the United States Army and Navy placed orders with Smith & Wesson for two to three thousand Model 1899 Hand Ejector revolvers chambered for the M1892 .38 Long Colt U.S. Service Cartridge. With this order, the Hand Ejector Model became known as the .38 Military and Police model.^[4] That same year, in response to reports from military sources serving in the Philippines on the relative ineffectiveness of the new cartridge, Smith & Wesson began offering the Military & Police in a new chambering, .38 S&W Special (a.k.a. .38 Special), a slightly elongated version of the .38 Long Colt cartridge with greater bullet weight (158 grains) and powder charge increased from 18 to 21 grains of gunpowder.^[4]

In 1902 the .38 Military & Police (2nd Model) was introduced, featuring substantial changes.^[2] These included major modification and simplification of the internal lockwork and the addition of a locking underlug on the barrel to engage the previously free-standing ejector rod. Barrel lengths were 4-, 5-, 6-, and 6.5-inches with a rounded butt. Serial numbers for the Military & Police ranged from number 1 in the series to 20,975. Most of the early M&P revolvers chambered in .38 Special appear to have been sold to the civilian market.^[4] By 1904, S&W was offering the .38 M&P with a rounded or square butt, and 4-, 5-, and 6.5-inch barrels.

• The Victory Model Smith and Wesson.38 Caliber Revolver. 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.
• Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - Sigma Series. Smith Wesson Serial Numbers - SW99. Once you've located the serial number, then you can try to contact Smith and Wesson and see if they can give you an information about your particular gun like date of manufacture or other specific details.
• Dating a Smith & Wesson Revolver: This list is merely a general guide and not meant to be exact. There is some dispute regarding the dates on some serial numbers. Your gun may actually be a year off from what is listed. The precise shipping date as 'lettered' can be several years off depending on model.

World War I[edit]

The .38 S&W Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change, introduced 1915, incorporated a passive hammer block and enlarged service sights that quickly became a standard across the service revolver segment of the industry. The M&P revolver was issued in large numbers during World War I, where it proved itself to be a highly reliable and accurate weapon. Although WWI saw the rise of semi-automatic pistols, revolvers such as the M&P were often the weapon of choice, as they were generally considered more reliable and easier to use than automatic pistols.

After the War, the M&P would become the standard issue police sidearm for the next 70 years. It would also become very popular with civilian shooters, with several new models being made, including the first snubnosed 2-, 2.5- and 3-barrel models being made in 1936.^[2][5]

World War II[edit]

The S&W M&P military revolvers produced from 1942 to 1944 had serial numbers with a 'V' prefix, and were known as the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. It is noteworthy that early Victory Models did not always have the V prefix. During World War II over 570,000 of these pistols were supplied to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa under the Lend-Lease program, chambered in the British .38/200 caliber already in use in the Enfield No 2 Mk I Revolver and the Webley Mk IV Revolver. Most Victory Models sent to Britain were fitted with 4-inch or 5-inch barrels, although a few early versions had 6-inch barrels.^[6][7]

The Victory Model was used by United States forces during World War II, being chambered in the well-known and popular .38 Special cartridge. The Victory Model was a standard-issue sidearm for United States Navy and Marine Corps aircrews, and was also used by security guards at factories and defense installations throughout the United States during the war.^[8]

Some of these revolvers remained in service well into the 1990s with units of the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Air Force and the Coast Guard. Until the introduction of the Beretta M9 9mm pistol in 1990, U.S. Army helicopter crew members and female military police officers were equipped with .38 caliber Victory Model revolvers. Criminal Investigation Division agents were issued .38 caliber revolvers with two inch barrels. The Victory Model remained in use with Air National Guard tanker and transport crews as late as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and with United States Navy security personnel until 1995.^[9]

Some Lend-Lease Victory Model revolvers originally chambered for the British .38/200 were returned to the United States and rechambered to fire the more popular and more powerful .38 Special ammunition, and such revolvers are usually so marked on their barrels. Rechambering of .38-200 cylinders to .38 Special results in oversized chambers, which may cause problems. Lee Harvey Oswald was carrying a re-chambered Victory Model when he was apprehended on November 22, 1963.^[10]

The finish on Victory Models was typically a sandblasted and parkerized finish, which is noticeably different from the higher-quality blue or nickel/chrome finishes usually found on commercial M&P/Model 10 revolvers. Other distinguishing features of the Victory Model revolver are the lanyard loop at the bottom of the grip frame, and the use of smooth (rather than checkered) walnut grip panels. However some early models did use a checkered grip, most notably the pre-1942 manufacture.^[11]

Model 10[edit]

After World War II, Smith & Wesson returned to manufacturing the M&P series. Along with cosmetic changes and replacement of the frame fitting grip with the Magna stocks, the spring-loaded hammer block safety gave way to a cam-actuated hammer block that rode in a channel in the side plate (Smith 1968). In 1957, Smith & Wesson adopted the convention of using numeric designations to distinguish their various models of handguns, and the M&P was renamed the Model 10.^[9]

The M&P/Model 10 has been available in both blued steel finish and nickel finish for most of its production run. The model has also been offered throughout the years with both the round butt and square butt grip patterns. Beginning with the Model 10-5 series in the late 1960s, the tapered barrel and its trademark 'half moon' front sight (as shown in the illustrations on this page) were replaced by a straight bull barrel and a sloped milled ramp front sight. Late model Model 10s are capable of handling any .38 Special cartridge produced today up to and including +P+ rounds.^[9]

As of 2012 the Model 10 was available only in a 4-inch barrel model, as was its stainless steel (Inox) counterpart, the Smith & Wesson Model 64.^[12] Some 6,000,000 M&P revolvers have been produced over the years, making it the most popular handgun of the 20th century.^[13]

Smith And Wesson Model 37 Airweight 38 Special Serial Numbers

Model 10 Variants[edit]

.357 Magnum variations[edit]

After a small prototype run of Model 10-6 revolvers in .357 Magnum caliber, Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 13 heavy barrel in carbon steel and then the Model 65 in stainless steel. Both revolvers featured varying barrel weights and lengths—generally three and four inches with and without underlugs (shrouds). Production dates begin in 1974 for the Model 13 and end upon discontinuation in 1999. The Model 65 was in production from 1972-1999.^[2] Both the blued and stainless models were popular with police and FBI, and a variation of the Model 65 was marketed in the Lady Smith line from 1992 to 1999.

.38 S&W variations[edit]

From the Late 1940's to early 1960's Smith & Wesson made a Variation of the Model 10 chambered for .38 S&W called the Model 11^[14] that was sent to British Commonwealth countries to supply their armies^[14] and police forces.^[15] they were also sent to Canada as well.^[16]

Replacement[edit]

The S&W Model 10 revolver was a popular weapon before the semi-automatic pistol replaced the revolver in many police departments, as well as police units and armies.

• Certain units of the Ireland's Gardaí (Irish Police) had replaced the Model 10 by the SIG Sauer P226 and Walther P99C semi-automatic pistols.
• Victoria Police replaced the K frame model 10 with the M&P in .40 S&W.
• New Zealand Police replaced the revolver with the Glock 17.^[9]
• New South Wales Police Force replaced the Model 10 with the Glock 22, Glock 23 and Glock 27.
• The weapon was used by Norway's Home Guard until 1986 and the Norwegian Police Service until 2008, being replaced by the Heckler & Koch P30
• Portuguese police replaced the weapon by the Walther PP, subsequently by the Glock 19.^[9]
• Royal Malaysia Police used Model 10 as standard sidearm from early 1970 alongside Model 15 before it fully replaced by Beretta PX4 and Walther P99. It was used by Police Volunteer Reserve as standard sidearm and also by RELA Corps for training and self-defence purpose for their officers alongside with Smith & Wesson Model 36 2 inch barrel.^[9]
• The Model 10 was formerly the standard issue for many firearms-trained police officers in the United Kingdom and in many forces they were replaced by the Glock 17.^[9]
• The weapon was used by United States Army and United States Marine Corps, only to be replaced by the M1911A1 and the M9 pistols.^[9] Prior to the introduction of the M9 pistol in 1986, the Army issued Model 10s to helicopter crew members and female military police officers. Snub nose versions were used by Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents.

Users[edit]

Many of the S & W Military & Police revolvers were captured and used by some of the police forces, such as the Austrian Police, during the occupation after World War II. It is incorrect to refer to them as 'the Model 10' as model numbers were not introduced by Smith & Wesson until 1957. Note that, during First World War, copies (slightly undersized) of the Military & Police were produced in Eibar and Guernica (Spain), in 8mm 1892 caliber for the French armies; the Milice man on the right holds such a copy.

The weapon is currently^[when?] used by French cash couriers and banks, Disciplined Services of Hong Kong, Myanmar Police Force officers and other Burmese paramilitary units, Peruvian National Police and other police units.

A few copies of Smith & Wesson Model 10 were produced in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI) as the Revolver IMI 9mm. The weapon was chambered in the 9mm Luger caliber, instead of .38 Special, the original caliber.^[17][18] Also, Norinco of China has manufactured the NP50, which is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Model 64, since 2000.

List[edit]

• Algeria^[19]
• Australia^[20] - Was used by police across the country. Replaced by multiple different semi-automatic pistols between 1990-2010.
• Canada- Various Police Forces.
• China^[9]
• Costa Rica^[9]
• France^[9]
• Hong Kong- Hong Kong Police Force.^[9]
• Iceland- Armed officers of the Icelandic Police, Replaced by the Glock 17. The Icelandic Coast Guard has also used the Model 10 in the past.
• Iran^[21]
• Ireland- Armed units of the Garda Síochána (To be phased out).
• Israel^[9]
• Jamaica
• Japan - Used in some prefectural police headquarters since late 1940s.^[22]
• Jordan
• Kingdom of Laos: Received from US Government during Laotian Civil War.^[23]
• Latvia
• Libya^[24]
• Malaysia^[9]
• Myanmar
• New Zealand^[20]
• Norway - standard firearm of Norwegian Police Service from 1981 until about 2007.
• Paraguay - used during the Chaco War.^[25]
• Peru^[9]
• Philippines^[9]
• Portugal^[9]
• Saudi Arabia^[9]
• Singapore: Used by the Singapore Police Force before switching to the Taurus Model 85 revolvers in 2002 and the Model 85 revolver's are still in service today.
• South Africa^[20]
• South Korea^[9]
• South Vietnam^[26][27]
• Vietnam^[9]
• Thailand^[9]
• Turkey- Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü (Turkish National Police).^[28] Used between 1951 and the mid 1990s.
• United Kingdom - formerly a police-issue weapon.^[9]
• United States- Various Police Forces, Different prisons who had armed guards, Also used by the US Army.^[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Arms for freedom'. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
2. ^ ^abcdSupica, Jim; Richard Nahas (2001). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Iola Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 1068.
3. ^Boorman, Dean K., The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms (2002), p. 46: 'The .38 in Military and Police Model 10 has historically been the mainstay of the Smith & Wesson Company, with some 6,000,000 of this general type produced to date. It has been described as the most successful handgun of all time, and the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th Century.'
4. ^ ^abcCumpston, Mike (2003-01-16). 'The First M&P'. Gunblast.com. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
5. ^http://sportsmansvintagepress.com/read-free/smith-wesson-hand-guns/sw-terrier/ Smith & Wesson did not succumb to the fad for short-barreled revolvers until 1936, when the firm brought out what was termed the 'S&W .38/32 2″,' later christened the 'Terrier' which was simply the round butt Regulation Police Model with a two-inch barrel.
6. ^Shore, C. (Capt), With British Snipers to the Reich, Paladin Press (1988), p. 55
7. ^Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Samworth Press (1948), p. 142
8. ^Ayoob, Massad (15 March 2010). Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 71. ISBN978-1-4402-1503-2.
9. ^ ^{abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw}Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2007). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media, Inc. pp. 141–143, 174, 210–211. ISBN978-0-89689-293-4.
10. ^Martin, Orlando (January 2010). JFK. Analysis of a Shooting: The Ultimate Ballistics Truth Exposed. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 118–119. ISBN978-1-60844-315-4.
11. ^Hunter, Hunter (2009). 'S&W Victory & Colt Commando Revolvers'. American Rifleman. 157 (6): 36–37. ISSN0003-083X.
12. ^Shideler, Dan (7 August 2011). Gun Digest 2012. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 420. ISBN978-1-4402-1447-9.
13. ^Boorman, Dean K., The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms (2002), p. 46: 'The .38 in Military and Police Model 10 has historically been the mainstay of the Smith & Wesson Company, with some 6,000,000 of this general type produced to date. It has been described as the most successful handgun of all time, and the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th Century.'
14. ^ ^ab'Wiley Clapp: The .38 S&W—Isn't That Special?'. www.americanrifleman.org. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
15. ^'Info on s&w model 11 needed'. smith-wessonforum.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
16. ^'Anybody have a S&W Model 11 revolver?'. forums.gunboards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
17. ^'The Mystery of the IMI 9mm Revolver'. 12 May 2015.
18. ^'Rock Island Auction: I.M.I. (Israeli) - M&P'. www.rockislandauction.com.
19. ^'World Infantry Weapons: Algeria'. 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016.
20. ^ ^abcArnold, David (28 February 2011). Classic Handguns of the 20th Century. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 33. ISBN978-1-4402-2640-3.
21. ^'WWII weapons in the Ayatollah's Iran'. wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com. 16 October 2016.^{[self-published source]}
22. ^Sugiura, Hisaya (September 2015). 'Pistols of the Japanese police in the postwar era'. Gun Professionals: 72–79.
23. ^Conboy, Kenneth (23 Nov 1989). The War in Laos 1960–75. Men-at-Arms 217. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN9780850459388.
24. ^'World Infantry Weapons: Libya'. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
25. ^Alejandro de Quesada (20 November 2011). The Chaco War 1932-35: South America's greatest modern conflict. Osprey Publishing. pp. 18, 44. ISBN978-1-84908-901-2.
26. ^'Smith & Wesson .38 / NAM 64-75'. www.nam-valka.cz.
27. ^'Army of the Republic of Vietnam 1955–75'. United States.
28. ^Schwing, Ned (5 November 2005). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 323. ISBN978-0-87349-902-6.

External links[edit]

• Smith & Wesson Model 10 at the Internet Movie Firearms Database

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 until lower-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.

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 pounds per square inch (1,000 atm) 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]

38 Special Smith And Wesson Serial Numbers By Year

1. ^ ^abcdefghijklHacker, Rick (2014). 'Smith & Wesson .38/44 Heavy Duty'. American Rifleman. National Rifle Association. 162 (February): 92.
2. ^ ^ab'SMITH AND WESSON'S 38-44 HEAVY DUTY'. 1Aspenhill. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
3. ^Shideler, Dan, Is This the Greatest .38 Ever, Gun Digest, 4 August 2008
4. ^Sharpe, Phil, The New Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty .38, The American Rifleman, November 1931
5. ^Western Ammunition Handbook (3rd ed.). East Alton, Illinois: Western Cartridge Company. pp. 54–63.
6. ^Barr, Al; Teesdale, Jerald; Keith, Elmer; Hardaway, Ben F. (1951). Reloading Information. 2. Washington DC: National Rifle Association. pp. 71–75.

S&w Model 651 For Sale

Smith Wesson Ctg Serial Number

S&w 648 22 Magnum For Sale