Smith & Wesson .38/44 identifies a series of 6-round cylinder, 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 from 1946 to 1966 until competitively priced .357 Magnum revolvers became widely available. Smith & Wesson introduced the large frame .38/44 Heavy Duty in 1930. 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. This example comes with it’s original box and shows some finish wear in places. Still a lot of gun for the money.
