Hi folks, new to the forum and gun ownership at the young age of 59 yrs old. I just acquired an older 38 S&W CTGE handgun, serial number 490187. One side of the grip is broken into several pieces and the other side has chips out of it. My questions include:
1.) How can I find out how old the gun is.
2.) Can the grip(s) still be purchased and where if so.
3.) What ammunition is recommended for the gun.
4.) Is this a decent gun for home security and worthy of investing money in it.

I have included link(s) showing pictures on the gun in case I’m describing it wrong and hopefully they will tell the true story?

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091338.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091344.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091343.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091342.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091341.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091340.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091339.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/P3091336.jpg

Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated………Moorwhine

I don't believe that is actually a S&W made revolver. The caliber stamped on the barrel is 38 S&W (not the same as the modern 38 Special) but the gun was made by another manufacturer. I am sure someone more knowledgeable than I will be along soon with more info.

I can tell you due to its age this would not be a good choice for protection or serious shooting. Such guns are collected more than fired.

First of all thanl you for the reply SaxonPig. So even though it is stamped 38 S&W, it isn't a Smith & Wesson? I didn't see any other name anywhere on it but will now check again.

The .38 S&W on the barrel is the caliber of the gun. The gun was built to fire the .38 caliber round that S&W invented way back in the day. It will NOT fire the newer .38 special rounds, as SaxonPig said. A closer/clearer photo of the emblems on the grips may help identify the manufacturer of the gun.

It may be worth investing some money into. But wouldn't make a very good home defense gun.

I agree with SP - that is not a Smith & Wesson. .38 S&W is a caliber,
but has nothing to do with the manufacturer of the gun. It looks like
there might be some kind of initials, or a symbol, in the top part of
the grip. You might also look for any other markings on the sides of
the barrel, or on the frame.

If you have epoxy, you can probably get that grip panel back together,
except for perhaps piece that appears to be missing. For a Smith
and Wesson, the grip material is called hard rubber. It seems more akin
to Bakelite; I'd try epoxy, see what happens.

Its also possible that a pair of hard-rubber black S&W grips might
fit the frame. They are always available at gun shows, etc.

Mike Priwer

It's a Harrington & Richardson, looks like a later made gun, 1940's or so when they started using the "target" logo on their grips. H&R made "utility" grade breaktops and solid frame revolvers for a lot of years.

These were basically on the better level of the"Saturday Night Specials", good solid guns priced for the people who couldn't afford or didn't want to pay for a Colt or S&W. They don't stand up to much shooting, and weren't meant to. Most of them spent their time in a pocket or in a nightstand drawer.

I had a "set" of the H&R "Young American" solid frame revolvers, they were made well enough but my .38 S&W H&R broke while I was shooting it. It ironically had a nice action and was accurate at self defense ranges, but these weren't made as range guns.

If it is in working condition, and fires safely, it could work as a home defense or CC gun until you can obtain something better. .38 S&W loads that are safe for this gun are very low in stopping power but will certainly kill a bad guy. There were quite a few people put in graveyards who were put there before their time by .38 and .32 S&W rounds, which by today's standards are "anemic".

Thank you all and there were more markings on the gun after I investigated furture. Yes Stantheman86, it is indeed a Harrington & Richardson pistol. States that on top of the barrel and comes out quite clearly with a bit of rubbing and elbow grease. So now I'm not sure whether to trust the gun and fire it before considering investing any money in it or taking it back and finding something better? I certainly do appreciate everyones help and the time they took to write me on this........Thank you very much!

Find a local gunsmith. He should be able to tell you if the gun is safe to fire.

You need a better gun for defense. This may be a useful curiosity or heirloom.

Look for .38 Special Plus P or 9mm auto as a minimum defense caliber.

If you got it cheap, it might be cool to hold on to as a curio. Most of these break top pocket guns had large barrel-cylinder gaps, so a lot of the gas from the already weak .38 S&W gets blown out, you might be lucky to get 4-500 fps. out of those lead .38 pills coming out of there. Still deadly but I would consider it a last resort. Besides, factory .38 S&W ammo is hard to find and expensive, since no one really shoots that stuff anymore.

I used to collect the .32 and .38 pocket revolvers but ended up selling most of them, I had a bunch of H&R, Iver Johnson, Hopkins & Allen, etc. pocket revolvers, as well as quite a few S&W breaktops. I held on to one First Model S&W .32 short because I thought it was neat, but I sold the rest because they aren't much good for anything but firing a few rounds in my backyard once or twice during the summer. The S&W breaktops have very fragile actions,100+ years don't help any...... one of my S&W .38 break tops went out of time while I was shooting it and spit a small sliver of lead back in my face.

THANK YOU ALL FOLKS!!! What a great site and equally great folks to take your own time to both help me in my direction of my first purcahse of a firearm and the offering of such great advice. The truth on this gun is a neighbor gave it to me if I would search the net for a clip for another gun he owns (and purchase it for him). But from what you all have been saying, it doesn't sound like this gun is worth both the cost of buying him a clip and buying new grips (plus shipping on both) for this relic. I will broaden my search and again Thanks to all for everything.

Moorwhine,
You should be able to get newly manufactured grips for it here: Gun Grip - Home Page
Neat little gun. As others have said, the 38 S&W cartridge is somewhat hard to find and underpowered by today's standards. I see these top breaks sell for less than $50 at many local auctions. The 38's are harder to find than the 32 cal.
John

nevermind.

If you are really interested in a home defense gun, buy a short barreled shotgun. Semi automatics are preferred and the sound of racking home a round is many times all you will need to discourage even the most agressive home invader.

At night, half asleep, in the dark, without your glasses etc., even the better pistol shots will have difficulty finding their mark with a hand gun.

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497