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11-22-2009, 08:20 PM
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Smith and Wesson Safety in .38 S&W
I have a Snubnose S&W safety in .38 that has a short barrel unlike others that I have seen. It has a serial # 257023. The gun is tight and the finish appears to be near 100%. It has wooden grips. Can anyone tell me it approximate date of manufacture? It shoots well and I carry it on a regular basis.
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11-22-2009, 11:12 PM
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Hello rsettle,
Your gun is a 5th model 38 Safety Hammerless. On checking my data base it is most likely that it shipped in 1927, but it could be a year either way. S&W didn't necessarily ship guns in numerical order. I can't tell for sure from the picture but it looks like your gun was refinished. It looks like the trigger is nickel which I have never seen on a factory finished Safety Hammerless. If the finish was redone there is a good chance that the barrel was cut also. The only way to know for sure is to pony up $50 for a factory letter of authentication. The Grips are I believe from a 32 I frame hand Ejector from the 1930s. They could have been special ordered for a Safety hammerless, but not for a couple of years after yours was probably manufactured. i have never seen a 38 Safety with silver medallion grips, but I'm sure a few of them probably were special ordered that way. Now, after having said all that, with S&W never say never. I'm just giving my opinion of the probabilities. If you carry it and it shoots well, then all of the above is moot. If it does the function you desire, you have the perfect gun.
Mark
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Mark Connot
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11-22-2009, 11:41 PM
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Very cool little gun. I love everything about it. The grips looks GREAT on that thing. It does look like it could be an older refinish but better pics would help determine this. It does appear that the trigger and trigger guard are nickel which is not something the factory did as stated above. By the looks of the stamping on the side of the barrel the barrel length looks correct and not cut down.
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11-23-2009, 11:39 AM
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Neat little gun. Agree with Twaits, lettering looks centered and possibly original. I question the grips. They look a little new to me. In this model they were predominately hard rubber. The wood ones I don't think had medallions.
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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
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11-24-2009, 11:49 AM
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Thanks to all of you.
I have been away from the pc, so I'm late in saying thanks for the replies. I may invest in the letter from S&W just to be sure of the facts. The little gun once belonged to a dear friend and I really enjoy it. Thanks again
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11-24-2009, 11:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsettle
I have been away from the pc, so I'm late in saying thanks for the replies. I may invest in the letter from S&W just to be sure of the facts. The little gun once belonged to a dear friend and I really enjoy it. Thanks again
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Yes you should definitely letter this gun. It will be $50 well spent. If you do please post the results. This is a great little gun.
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12-10-2009, 08:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cflier
The Grips are I believe from a 32 I frame hand Ejector from the 1930s. They could have been special ordered for a Safety hammerless, but not for a couple of years after yours was probably manufactured. i have never seen a 38 Safety with silver medallion grips, but I'm sure a few of them probably were special ordered that way.
Mark
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I didn't know S&W offered wood grips on any of the small top breaks until I saw a copy of the 1923 S&W catalog posted here: S&W Catalog D3 from 1923
But like stated above the ones shown in the picture in the catalog had no silver medallions.
Last edited by twaits; 12-10-2009 at 08:20 AM.
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