Newbie here and a newbie to handguns, sort of.

roadhog96 · #1 01-10-2012, 12:05 PM

Hello everyone this is my very first post. I’m interested in learning more about an old S&W .38 Special CTG, its my father in-laws service revolver. My father inlaw use to be a part time police officer for the town we live in back in 1949-1952 and this was the gun he purchased for the job. From what I've been told he purchased the gun used. I've shot a few over the years like when I was a kid I started a with cap gun, then moved on to BB guns then graduated to my dads 22 long rifle with a scope, then into the big stuff like .45, M-1,M14, M-15, M-79, and a LAW, all this was in the ARMY. So I have a little knowledge about firearms and safety. Anyway I've been doing a lot of reading trying to find about how old this gun is, type of ammo etc. I figured my best bet would be to join this forum because there's probably no better place to learn and share info from more knowledgable people with the same interest than this place.

P&R Fan · #2 01-10-2012, 12:19 PM

Welcome from Iowa.
Look on the bottom of the butt and tell us the serial number, including any letters. It's likely to start with an S or C. Maybe even a V.
Also, what is the barrel length?
We'd love to see pictures too.
Jim

roadhog96 · #3 01-10-2012, 01:22 PM

Trying to find out more about this old revolver.
The serial numbers all match. There is a second number stamped in the frame but it does not say model#. I read that the early K models did not have model numbers. It has to be older than 1949 because like I mentioned that's when he bought it used. Ive looked it over close under a 5X Lighted magnifying lens and it could use a better cleaning, I can see a few deposits visible in the barrel opening just forward of the chamber. The rest of it looks pretty clean, no rust and the bluing is good with a little wear on the sides of the barrel at the tip probably from the old leather holster. There are 3 tiny diamonds missing fom the wooden grips only visible up close. There appears to be what looks like a notch filed into the left grip about in the area next to we're the S&W metal seal is located. It looks like it may have been put there deliberately with a small file because the cuts are 90 degrees, smooth, straight, and parallel to each other. I remember hearing how the old wild west gunslingers used this method to indicate how many kills they had. Hope that's not what this is all about. My father inlaw said he never shot anyone while he was on the force only in the war, so it's from a previous time period.

It's a 6" barrel, 6 shot which from what I've read was primarily used as a target pistol. I would think in the heat of battle it might be a little more differcult to pull it out of a holster fast when worn on the waist due to the longer barrel. My father in-law is 6'5" tall and the gun looks small in his large hands.

Thanks!