You are welcome, it is not likely to have been issued or used in either of the wars. At $189.00 your dad did ok, not a steal but not a bad price either. The finish, or what is left of it is likely original if it were mine I would carefully remove the grips an give it a soak submerged in a mixture of one part acetone to one part automatic transmission fluid for a few days the using compressed air blow it out then put a good quality gun oil in all the openings working the action as you go wipe the exterior with the same the wipe excess off. Then clean the bore as you would normally. Modern 38 special can be shot in these no +P and cast lead bullets of the 158 grain weight will shoot best. You can get a letter that will tell you where and when it shipped.