SCORE! Classic S&W Revolver Find

[BirdsThaWord]

Just got back from meeting a cop to buy his revolver. He admitted he didn't know revolvers, someone told him it was a K38, but that he a $700 trade value on it. Said he did good on his other trade, so after some negotiating, he said I could have it for $400. From what I can tell, it is a 6 1/2" barreled "Pre 23", a.k.a. an "Outdoorsman". I guess it is in the 96%-97% range. Grips are near perfect, case hardening of hammer & trigger look near perfect and no holster wear exists. I'm stoked!!!16591
16592
165931659416595

[I_Like_Turtles]

$400? DID YOU KNOW IT'S A SERIOUS CRIME TO STEAL FROM A POLICE OFFICER? :p

You certainly got a smoking hot deal there, congratulations!

I like revolvers too. I am hoping to get a Model 19 (up to -4) at some point. I have a great Model 66 that is just a joy to shoot.

Also I want to get a Colt Police Positive in 32.20 because my mother used a cheaper Spanish copy of that to stop a rapist that was crawling through her window about 1963.

[gb6491]

Oh my, that is quite a score on one fine revolver! The 38/44 frame will stand up to some pretty hot .38 Special loads. This site, https://38-44heavyduty.com , is dedicated to the 38/44 Heavy Duty and gives you some history of it's development. There is brief mention of the Outdoorsman:
"Some special orders were received early in production for the pistol with adjustable sights which was the precursor of the 38/44 Outdoorsman which would first appear in 1931. The 38/44 Heavy Duty was the father of the .357 Registered Magnum which appeared in 1935."
Regards,
Greg

[BirdsThaWord]

$400? DID YOU KNOW IT'S A SERIOUS CRIME TO STEAL FROM A POLICE OFFICER? :p

You certainly got a smoking hot deal there, congratulations!

I like revolvers too. I am hoping to get a Model 19 (up to -4) at some point. I have a great Model 66 that is just a joy to shoot.

Also I want to get a Colt Police Positive in 32.20 because my mother used a cheaper Spanish copy of that to stop a rapist that was crawling through her window about 1963.
Lol! Yes, Luckily he is about an hour away and was happy with the deal.
I have a also recently acquired Model 29 (“classic”) that I am yet to shoot. Another pretty good deal @ $500! Anxiously awaiting the Altamont grips I ordered. I’ve read that the grips on the “classic” version were a bit of a design flaw, causing more pain than a 44 mag usually does. Good luck with hunting down your desired revolvers. Always feels great to find ‘em!!! Crazy about the rapist story. Good thing she was armed!

[BirdsThaWord]

Oh my, that is quite a score on one fine revolver! The 38/44 frame will stand up to some pretty hot .38 Special loads. This site, https://38-44heavyduty.com , is dedicated to the 38/44 Heavy Duty and gives you some history of it's development. There is brief mention of the Outdoorsman:
"Some special orders were received early in production for the pistol with adjustable sights which was the precursor of the 38/44 Outdoorsman which would first appear in 1931. The 38/44 Heavy Duty was the father of the .357 Registered Magnum which appeared in 1935."
Regards,
Greg
Thanks Greg! I appreciate the added info on it. Looks like a pretty neat history behind them. Unlike my other guns, I won’t be adding fancy grips to this one, but I definitely intend to run it some. Interestingly, I was also able to score some 38 spcl (5.5 boxes) and some 357 mag (10 boxes defense rounds) ammo for $10 a box. A great price right now, more so considering all the gouging going on. The gun & ammo gods have been smiling upon me as of late!

[I_Like_Turtles]

The original grips on the Model 29 were painful to shoot as they led to skin abrasion. I shot mine 12 times with the original grips and then sold it to a friend. Later I bought it back from him with new grips on it! :-)

What dash is your 29? Mine is a -2, recessed chambers, pinned hammer, barrel, and trigger. In fact, that's what I look for on vintage Smiths.

It was good mom was armed, even though she had no shells and that old thing would likely explode if you shot it but the bad guy didn't know any of that. She was able to halt him half-way through the window and then chase him off even! I have though, wondered, if that man went on to target other victims. Maybe it was Ted Bundy! You never know.

[BirdsThaWord]

16598Nice you were able to get it back from your buddy, with even better grips! I sold a snubbie to a friend, thinking I’d get it back one day, only for him to pawn it and lose it. : (
It’s a -10. The new school w/lock, so they call them the “classic” line. Supposedly the new grips are not as thick as the old one’s. The Altamont's I ordered were partly for looks (although the stocks on it now don’t look too bad in my opinion) and partly due to the thickness. I watched Hickock 45’s review of it and he definitely did not like the factory grips on the “classic”. His review cemented me getting something different on there.
Man oh man! You are right about your mom’s ordeal. No telling what that guy coulda done after that. Good thing for her he had no clue it wasn’t loaded.

[I_Like_Turtles]

16598Nice you were able to get it back from your buddy, with even better grips! I sold a snubbie to a friend, thinking I’d get it back one day, only for him to pawn it and lose it. : (
It’s a -10. The new school w/lock, so they call them the “classic” line. Supposedly the new grips are not as thick as the old one’s. The Altamont's I ordered were partly for looks (although the stocks on it now don’t look too bad in my opinion) and partly due to the thickness. I watched Hickock 45’s review of it and he definitely did not like the factory grips on the “classic”. His review cemented me getting something different on there.
Man oh man! You are right about your mom’s ordeal. No telling what that guy coulda done after that. Good thing for her he had no clue it wasn’t loaded.

Thanks man. I bought the M29 for $375 back in 2003 as a personal "graduation present" after missing out on a department-marked Model 66. I sold it to him for $550 to raise skydiving funds. All I asked was he give me first refusal if he decided to sell it. Well I decided I wanted it back and asked him. He jokingly replied "how about the $1500 or so it's worth now?" I would have paid it if he wanted it. Instead he sold it to me for $550 and threw in the new grips, some ammo, and 3 HKS speed loaders. He and I have been close for a long time, we do things like this for each other.

Ah ha....pretty gun you have there but oh no! It has the Hillary hole in the side. S&W.....you so silly!

Mom got that revolver from her dad's estate as he had passed on when she was 22. No idea on the history of that old Spanish Colt copy. It's very badly worn, but it did its job!

[BirdsThaWord]

I think you have a great friend there! Seriously doubt that you could say that about more than 1 or 2 others. (Very, very lucky if you can!)

Yes, mine has the Hillary Hole. I used that as part of my negotiations. My 686 has it too, but removed and plugged. I may do that to the 29 as well. I was looking at those 19’s before coming across the 686. It has an amazing trigger and the stainless got me on that one, all though I really prefer blued. Maybe a 19 in my future, if I can come across a deal. (Why are you planting seeds in my head?!?!?)

I think grandpa was looking down and smiling that day, knowing his little pistol he left behind was the saving grace for his daughter at that moment!

[Armybrat]

Some lucky guys here indeed.
Handsome revolvers, beautiful women, good whiskey.
Life can still be good.

[BirdsThaWord]

Some lucky guys here indeed.
Handsome revolvers, beautiful women, good whiskey.
Life can still be good.
Yes! Yes! And, Yes! : )

[dao]

I could pretty much pick any two of the three and be happy :)

[340pd]

Beautiful gun. Get on over to the S&W forums for great help with mfg. date etc.

[BirdsThaWord]

Beautiful gun. Get on over to the S&W forums for great help with mfg. date etc.
Thank you! I did just that. Looks like 1954 according to the serial #.

[Bawanna]

I'm a 1954 production model myself. No serial number or dash tattooed on me. Always thankful for that.

[skiflydive]

I'm a 1954 production model myself. No serial number or dash tattooed on me. Always thankful for that.

I went SCUBA diving in Curacao a few years ago. A Dutch navy submariner joined us for a day of dives. You've never seen ANYONE barf over the side like this guy. He said submariners don't get seasick submerged. At any rate, he had a bar code tattooed on the side of his chest under his upper arm. He told us that was his military ID number. The Hollanders figured out that was the least likely place to be burned/obliterated in conflict and they did that for body identification. There's my contribution to your serial number tattoo thing...

[Bawanna]

That's crazy huh? I was hoping Bird would send me that revolver since we was born in the same year but somehow I don't think that's gonna happen....................
It's damn sweet for sure.