.38 Special

The .38 Special is a rimmed, centerfire revolver cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson and introduced in 1898. It is also known as .38 S&W Special, .38 Spl and 9x29mmR, and is sold under the metric designations 9x29.5mmR and 9.1x29mmR in other parts of the world. It should not be confused with the older .38 S&W cartridge. The round was the standard service cartridge of most United States police departments from the 1920s to the 1990s, and United States military personnel also used it as a common sidearm cartridge in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It is known for its accuracy and manageable recoil, and more than a century after its introduction it remains one of the most popular revolver cartridges in the world, used for recreational and formal target shooting, personal defense and small-game hunting.