Harry Sanford who was the president of the Auto Mag Corporation started the design of the 44 Auto Mag, or 44 AMP in 1958. It was based on the 308 Win case cut to 1.298in and loaded with a .429 cal bullet to a muzzle velocity of just over 1,400 fps and was originally conceived as a hunting round. Sanford and his partner Max Gera continued to refine the design and the first Auto Mag pistols were produced in 1969. In 1970 the company leased property in Pasadena Ca, and the first pistols were shipped on the 8th of August 1971. The guns were extremely well made, but they were sold way under market value and the company declared bankruptcy on the 3rd of May 1972. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 400)