History:
S&W brought out the .44 American, which had an outside lubed bullet, like the .22 Long Rifle. The Russian liked the top break S&Ws, but didn't like the outside lubed bullet. An cartridge with a bullet encased was developed and called the .44 Russian.
In about 1907, S&W lengthened the .44 Russian case and called it the .44 Special.
In the 1950s, Elmer Keith went to S&W and Remington and asked them to load his heavy .44 Special rounds. In 1956, S&W and Ruger brought out revolvers chambered in the .44 Magnum, which is a lengthened .44 Special.