Smith & Wesson .38/44

• Name — Smith & Wesson.38/44 • Origin — United States • Type — Revolver • Is Ranged — yes • Manufacturer — Smith & Wesson • Production Date — 1930–1941 1946–1966 • Variants — Heavy Duty Outdoorsman Model 20 Model 23 • Weight — 40 oz • Part Length — * 4 in • 5 in • 6.5 in • Cartridge —.38 Special • Action — Double-action • Feed — 6-round cylinder

In the 1920s and the 1930s, the inability of conventional police service revolver ammunition to reliably penetrate heavy steel framed automobiles was perceived as a problem as United States law enforcement agencies encountered well organized and funded bootleggers. In response, Smith & Wesson introduced the large frame.38/44 Heavy Duty in 1930. It was based on the.44 Special Smith & Wesson Triple Lock revolver and was made with a 5 in barrel and fixed sights. The following year, Smith & Wesson began production of the.38/44 Outdoorsman with a 6.5 in barrel and adjustable sights. These new revolvers were chambered for a new more powerful type of.38 Special ammunition capable of firing a 158 gr metal-penetrating copper-tipped lead-alloy bullet at 1125 ft per second. In comparison, conventional.38 Special ammunition fires a 158 gr bullets at 755 ft per second. It was easily capable of penetrating the automobile bodies and body armor of that era. A 4 in barrel was offered in 1935 for users willing to accept the reduced ballistic performance of a more compact firearm. 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.38/44 revolvers were available with either a blued or nickel-plated finish. Production was interrupted by the World War II. Postwar production serial numbers are prefixed with the letter S. After the war, these N-frame revolvers were popular with veterans experimenting with.38 Special handloads at pressures up to 50% higher than the 15,000 psi recommended for conventional.38 Special revolvers. 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.