I took a chance on an unusual 38 M&P Target a short time ago and have finally got it all cleaned up and ready for the range. I was able to remove every screw like they had been turned yesterday and easily stripped the insides to clean up as well. The slots of all screws were full of oil/dust and I had to clean out the slot before turning them. My guess is that the owner took very good care of the gun, but it had been a very long time in storage.
What makes this 38 HE Target unusual is that it has an 8” Target barrel. Perfectly made barrel with forged front sight base and proper swell at the frame. The barrel also has the forged lug for the extractor rod and has only the last three numbers of the serial number under the barrel. The gun is unusual enough since it is such an early target model, shipped in 1908 with serial number 106688. The gun has smooth metal, never buffed or sanded, but much is blue/brown patina. Oil makes it look very nice, but the finish is no longer glossy.
I know of only two 8” 38 Military revolvers and they were Model 1899s. Mike Priwer owns them. They apparently left the factory as special orders, but without barrel stampings. This barrel is also completely naked, except for the 3 digit serial number 688, so certainly a curious gun. It appears that the barrel has the same patina as the frame and probably been together for a very long time, if not forever. Actually, I do not care if the barrel is factory or not, since it is such a great looking old target revolver, but am curious if it came out the front or back door of the factory that way? Oh, the last thing is that it is a left hand twist barrel??
So I will be off to the range soon to see how it shoots and also take along my 1910 5” Target and 1925 6” Target. All I need to find are some left-hand bullets!
