Given we get this right/left business resolved, and it's a sure enough Perfected model, it was likely produced fairly early on---1910-11; and its monetary value (in the 100's) probably doesn't warrant the expenditure of insurance premium dollars---but each to their own.
Ralph Tremaine
Oh, and the 2720 on the butt is likely an identifier used by the police department during its use as a police weapon.
I really like this model, but one has to be careful when opening the gun to always open both latches at once or you can bend the quill (that is the pin which supports the cylinder). This can happen since every top break but this one just uses only the top latch, and damage can occur if you forget the thumb latch when opening.
I have proposed that there are two distinct models out there. The original was what is commonly called 38 DA Perfected Model, and there were about 57,500 made. A hammer block safety was added in 1914 to the Perfected and all other S&W revolvers in production. All other models received a change designation, so I am calling the last 1900 made, the 38 DA Perfected Model, 1st Change, as noted in Nahas/Supica's book the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition. There were almost 60,000 made, plus it is considered a modern firearm by the BATF, so value is not very high. A blued example in 85% condition is selling for around $300 today at auction.
I had done a commentary on this model that might be of interest to you, but do not know when the Expert Commentaries will be back, so you can read the attached pdf about the Perfected Model. I bought one with an extended walnut target stocks which were available to order. They show up with extended rubber and walnut target stocks from time to time and Roy Jinks once stated that this model used the same stocks as found on the Single Shot pistols of the era and could be ordered with the Perfected for around $1.50 extra.
My latest Perfected acquisition was a 4" with serial number just above 5000 serial number and shipped from the factory in June 1911. It arrived in a non-working condition because someone forgot to open the second thumb latch and bent the quill, but after some help from members here, it now functions as new.
(After trying to open the pdf I found that you have to double click on the file and it will automatically save it directly to your computer so you can open it there)
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Gary
SWCA 2515
Last edited by glowe; 09-13-2018 at 09:29 AM.
Reason: can't get the pdf to work??
Looking at a Top Break
Linear Mode
