Smith & Wesson, in conjunction with Davidson’s of Prescott, Arizona, is bringing back an old staple of highway patrolmen and border agents — the S&W Model 20, otherwise known as the Heavy Duty .38/44.
The S&W Heavy Duty and the 38/44 Frame
In the 1920s, the .38 Special cartridge was king in the law enforcement market. But in the era of the Prohibition motor bandit, deputies were looking for any means to improve the round. Handloaders began putting more powder in the .38 Special’s generous case and Smith & Wesson introduced the 38/44 series of revolvers including the fixed sighted Heavy Duty in 1930.
The Heavy Duty, later known as the Model 20, is a .38 Special revolver built on a large .44 caliber frame, later known as the N-Frame. This revolver was robust enough to handle new supersonic .38 Special loadings designed to pierce car doors and early body armor.
In 1935, these revolvers were superseded as the .38 Special Hi-Speed rounds morphed into the .357 Magnum. But the 38/44 remained in production until 1966 and found favor with highway patrolmen, particularly those who could not afford a higher-priced Magnum revolver.
As part of Smith & Wesson’s Classic Series, the Model 20 is back.
This heavy N-frame revolver features a 6-inch tapered barrel, along with a distinctive yet removable half-moon front sight and a square-notch rear sight. The barrel also features the distinctive solid half-lug around the ejector rod that is shared with other N-frame .357 Magnums like the Model 27. Additionally, the revolver is equipped with checkered Altamont rosewood grips.
The Model 20 has a six-shot capacity but unlike the originals, the new Model 20’s cylinder is chambered for the slightly longer .357 Magnum cartridge. This new offering, exclusively offered through Davidson’s, ships in a hard case and has an MSRP of $1,549.
Smith & Wesson Model 20 Quick Specs
- Barrel Length: 6.0 inches
- Overall Length: 11.25 inches
- Weight: 39 ounces
- Capacity: 6
- Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
- Action: Double Action/ Single Action Hammer Fired
