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11-20-2011, 06:17 PM
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.38 Special CTG Question?
Hi all,
My grandfather inherited this .38 special CTG about 55 years ago and he has handed it on to me.
We are trying to find out the manufacture date and a possible value on it.
Are you able to find any of this information based off of the model number found on the butt of the gun?
the model number is a 21xxxx number. There are no letters, so I know it is a pre-war era gun, but can't find any years from my research.
Any help you could give me would be great!
Edit:
It is a blue finish, 6 shot, to load it swings out, the last patent stamped on the barrel is in December of 09 (If I remember correctly, I don't have the gun on me right now)
Last edited by Schmidty102; 11-20-2011 at 06:19 PM.
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11-20-2011, 06:26 PM
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You are probably correct about it being pre-WWII. One or several good pictures would elicit a better response. I suspect it is an M&P model. Condition would be the main determinant of value. Many of these were rode hard and put away wet, and if so have minimal value. Keep in mind value is a relative term - typically the values seen are for guns on the retail market, i.e., what a gun shop would attempt to sell it for. However, many gun shops would offer maybe half the retail value if you sold it to them.
Last edited by DWalt; 11-20-2011 at 06:28 PM.
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11-20-2011, 06:29 PM
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It isn't in pristine condition, but it is in pretty good shape from what I can tell. It was my great great uncles when he was a railroad conductor. I am going to try to get a picture sent over to me.
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11-20-2011, 07:08 PM
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With that patent date and that serial number, it is pretty certainly a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, Third Change, and it would have shipped around 1911-1912.
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David Wilson
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11-20-2011, 07:12 PM
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Here are some images of the gun.
(She needs to be cleaned up, we just had her out at the cabin this weekend.)
Would also like to point out that she is a double action.
Last edited by Schmidty102; 11-20-2011 at 07:30 PM.
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11-20-2011, 07:35 PM
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Yup, .38 M&P 1905/Third change. The four inch barrel was the shortest length available on these guns at the time.
Most 1905s had square butts; yours is a round butt variety, and less commonly encountered. But that doesn't make it rare -- just less commonly seen.
Did your grandfather ever have that gun reblued? There is evidence off a secondary polish in the slightly rounded edges and corners that would have been just a little sharper when shipped from the factory.
You should see the serial number on the butt of the gun, the rear face of the cylinder, and on the flat underside of the barrel. It's also in a couple of harder-to-see places -- the underside of the ejector star and the rear-oriented face of the yoke arm. Sometimes you can see that last one through a charge hole, but it takes a strong side light to bring it out. It's easier to see if you take the yoke and cylinder off the gun (not that I am encouraging you to do that).
Just because of its age you should never shoot +P ammo in that revolver. Straight .38 Special ammo is probably OK. I mostly shoot 148 gr wadcutter match ammo in my .38s of this vintage.
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David Wilson
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11-20-2011, 07:46 PM
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We took it out a few weeks ago to the range so I could get a feel for it. We shot 158 grain .38 special bullets. (Can't think of the brand of bullets right now that we used) Bulls eye from 25 yards
As to re-bluing, I don't believe it has ever been done. This gun was carried for YEARS every day by my great great uncle. It definitely had its share of use.
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11-20-2011, 11:21 PM
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Absent Comrade US Veteran SWCA Founding Member
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The gun has definitely been refinished at some time in it's past, however it is what it is, a nice heirloom with family history. Enjoy! Ed.
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11-21-2011, 03:56 PM
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It does appear from your pictures to have been refinished at one time. However, in its current condition, that would not affect value greatly. Just a good shooter and something to hang onto as an heirloom. About any standard .38 Special ammo is OK in it, but as previously stated, +P loads should be avoided.
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