Help Identify Top-Break(pics)

mcham20 · #1 06-20-2020, 05:49 PM

Trying to find model and year of a S&W .38, 3 1/4 inch barrel, hammer less top-break with fixed sights. Please see pics and thanks if you can help.

glowe · #2 06-20-2020, 06:33 PM

Welcome to the Forum. Can't read your serial number so please post it. I think I can make out the first two are "25". If so, it would be a 38 Safety, 5th Model made in the years preceeding WWII. The last 38 Safety was serial number 261,493 made in 1940, but from the late 1920s this model was a slow seller, so did not ship in serial number order. Only way to get an exact ship date would be to order a historical letter.

Dosgatos · #3 06-21-2020, 12:53 PM

I agree that the serial number appears to begin with 25. I have two of these beginning with 24 which shipped in 1916 and 1925, and one beginning with 25 which shipped in 1925. So as you can see, the numbers are all over the place. Pick a year from 1916 to 1940.