[Sale/Trade] Smith and Wesson model 23. 38 spl

[Camo]

Sub Category

Handguns

Is this item for sale?

1. For Sale

Sale Price

650$

Is this item for trade?

1. For Trade

Trade Value or Items Looking For

O/u 12, 308 bolt, maybe others.

Caliber

38 special

Location

73099, Yukon, Oklahoma, United States

Yukon ok

$650 or trade

 

[farpoint]

Is this chambered in .38 WCF or .38 special?

 

[farpoint]

Is it in .38-44? The M23 is showing to be the Outdoorsman in .38-44.

 

[Camo]

Is this chambered in .38 WCF or .38 special?

38 special

 

[Camo]

Is it in .38-44? The M23 is showing to be the Outdoorsman in .38-44.

It’s a model 23 verified by a Smith and Wesson historian by the serial number.

 

[D V US]

More and better quality pictures are needed. The .38-44 Outdoorsman was a .38 Special on a 44 N frame. Hotter ".38-44" ammo was available at the time to make it closer to a mild ".357 Magnum", but this was later discontinued because there was nothing to keep it from being used in weaker .38 special firearms.
Also, a S&W historical letter would be the only way to verify the originality of the gun.

 

[jfrullo]

is there something inscribed on the side of the frame

 

[Camo]

More and better quality pictures are needed. The .38-44 Outdoorsman was a .38 Special on a 44 N frame. Hotter ".38-44" ammo was available at the time to make it closer to a mild ".357 Magnum", but this was later discontinued because there was nothing to keep it from being used in weaker .38 special firearms.
Also, a S&W historical letter would be the only way to verify the originality of the gun.

No sir. Michael Helms who is a historian from Smith and Wesson ran the numbers. He replied to my inquiry with the information from a smith and Wesson page. He also verified the engraving were correct. Washington dept of corrections and the name of the facility it was originally delivered to.

 

[Kid Glock]

I'm not an expert but will add my $.02, based on a question from a gun bud regarding this ad/post and my limited S&W experience.
The .38-44 cartridge is nothing more than "hot or pre-+ P+, etc." .38 Special and not to be confused with .38-40 Winchester, a totally separate caliber.
As previously mentioned in thread, the .38-44 is ballistically a sub- .357 mag.
The Model 23 is a later produced model. IIRC, S&W assigned model numbers around 1957. The pre-M23, called the Outdoorsman, is an adjustable sight version of the S&W "Heavy Duty", an N frame in .38 Special caliber, which dates back to early mid-30's or pre- .357 mag days???
An old saying- ".38 on a .44 frame", comes to mind, hence: Heavy Duty.

ETA:
A common modification to the old HD's and Outdoorsman was to ream the cylinder, allowing the app. 1/8" longer .357 mag case to be fired.

 

[Camo]

I'm not an expert but will add my $.02, based on a question from a gun bud regarding this ad/post and my limited S&W experience.
The .38-44 cartridge is nothing more than "hot or pre-+ P+, etc." .38 Special and not to be confused with .38-40 Winchester, a totally separate caliber.
As previously mentioned in thread, the .38-44 is ballistically a sub- .357 mag.
The Model 23 is a later produced model. IIRC, S&W assigned model numbers around 1957. The pre-M23, called the Outdoorsman, is an adjustable sight version of the S&W "Heavy Duty", an N frame in .38 Special caliber, which dates back to early mid-30's or pre- .357 mag days???
An old saying- ".38 on a .44 frame", comes to mind, hence: Heavy Duty.

ETA:
A common modification to the old HD's and Outdoorsman was to ream the cylinder, allowing the app. 1/8" longer .357 mag case to be fired.

I am not an expert myself but Michael Helms is. I originally thought is was an outdoorsman but he referenced it as a model 23 from the serial numbers in the archives. That’s what I know.?it’s a rare firearm to say the least.