Hi,
Just acquired this little gem. Don't have the serial number at the moment but would like to see if you guys could offer any other info on this revolver. Obviously has had front half moon sight cut and ramp sight added. The barrel appears shortened, any info on factory barrel lengths? Its chambered in .38 S&W. Patent date on bottom flat of grips -1917.

Any estimate of value assuming the age and general wear and tear? Will get the serial later this evening and post.

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S&W introduced the Regulation Police model in 1917 on their I-frame in two calibers: .32 Long and .38 S&W. The larger caliber, as you have seen in your gun, was a five-shooter. The .32 was numbered in the .32 Hand Ejector series, but the .38 RP got its own series of numbers. The company made about 50,000 of them before shutting down regular production for WW2 wartime contracts. They were reintroduced after WW2 and eventually developed into the J-frame .38 Specials we know today.

The .38 RP came in a variety of barrel lengths including 3.25", which is what yours looks like. On the other hand, if yours originally had a longer barrel that was shortened, that could explain the non-standard front sight. Are the barrel markings off center or significantly covered by the front sight? If so, that's evidence of barrel shortening.

The 1917 patent date on the left grip panel is for the system that permits mounting longer, square butt stocks on the small round-butt I frame. The bottom half of the back strap was cut away, creating a shoulder in the middle of the back strap. The wood of the stocks was shaped to fit into that area. This system was also used on SOME of the other I-frame revolvers, specifically the .22/32 Target models and the .22/32 Kit Guns (but not on all of them.)

Neat little guns. If you shoot it, I'd be interested in hearing how the replacement sight works with the rear fixed notch. To my eyes, it looks as though the gun might shoot a little low.

As a modified gun, it is a shooter rather than a collector's gun. In good mechanical shape it's probably a $175-225 item, depending on where you live. But others here might have different ideas on value, so remember that my comments are worth exactly what you paid for them.

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David Wilson

I assumed it would shoot low as well, looks like the front sight is a little tall. I will measure the barrel this evening and take better pics of the markings, etc. Thanks for the info.

The barrel length is 3.25 inches and the serial number is 4266. Any idea of age? There is no S&W logo on either side of the sideplate, does this indicate rebluing?

I have .38 Regulation Police serial number 4226 and it shipped in November 1917 . . . first year of production. I would suspect yours and mine were being assembled in the factory at the same time but shipping dates can vary since the factory did not ship in s/n sequence.



Mine doesn't have an S&W logo either and, to the best of my knowledge, it's totally original.






Russ

I see now where the barrel has been cut, the patent dates run right off the edge under the added front sight. This is definately a shooter not a collector. Bore has some slight pitting and is in excellent mechanical shape.

Great looking revolver Linde. I will take better pictures of mine as soon as I can find my camera.

Hello

The more I see photos of Regulation Police revolvers on this forum, the more I want one LOL.
Thanks
Mark

RPs are great guns in either .32 or .38. The one I have is a little out of the ordinary, because it is a target model with adjustable rear sights; the company did not make very many in this configuration.

This gun dates to 1923. It's a .32. I don't know whether .38 RP Target Revolvers even exist, though there is no reason why they couldn't. It seems to me the company would have had all the separate parts necessary to put one together. I have never thought of the .38 S&W cartridge as a target load, but I have long had the sense that S&W would manufacture any configuration if there was a reasonable market for it and the new gun did not cannibalize sales for another product.

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David Wilson

Few detailed pics.
Should be interesting to see how the bullet impacts the target. Visually it looks like it will hit low. Sighting down the topstrap using the conventional method of lining the top of the rear sight and the top of the front sight it feels wrong. By bringing the "bead" up to sit on top of the rear sight filling the notch it appears that this "is or was" the intended method? We shall see...

The grips have been altered at the bottom of the butt, don't know why? Maybe to fit a later model or different size frame? Same serial number as frame written in faint pencil on inside of one panel.

My first time inside one of these:
I pulled the sideplate off to clean and check. Lots of varnish, case colors bright, and the rebound slide was highly mirror polished. I do see some differences between the this model and the latter K frame Smiths. No transfer bar safety and the spring for the cylinder hand is on the sideplate instead of in the trigger assembly. I also see little bumps or wear points machined into the frame and the sideplate to keep everything off the sideplate, kind of like the bearing washers to add under the hammer when they get worn out.

WORST case scenario, find a good used original length barrel with half moon sight and replace...

It is like a fine watch

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I have this 32 HE,S.N. 465XXX,it's unfired since factory,31/4" barrel,round butt,it's got a set of s&w hard rubber grips on it,i thought it was a 32 HE 3rd model but the barrel has the s&w name on the left side & 32 long ctg on the right,all numbers match. anybody got any ideas what's going on,the RP is supposed to be a square butt,i need help!

Getwood, that's a beautiful revolver.

Any I-frame, if you look only at the shape of the steel, would be considered a round butt gun. The rebated frame with the shallow dogleg in the backstrap is just a variant of that basic round butt design. What makes a Regulation Police a square butt gun is the shape of the stocks that are designed to fit into that shouldered relief.

In a sense, and using current terminology, RP stocks could be considered RB to SB conversion stocks.

You characterized your gun correctly as a .32 HE. It would not be considered a RP.

In the .38 S&W chambering the company did away with this confusion by stamping "Regulation Police" on the barrel. I wish they had done that with the .32 as well. It would have kept things clearer for later collectors -- not to mention creating a new collector subcategory of misassembled guns, because I am sure that a few RPs and HEs would have ended up with the wrong barrel on them!

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David Wilson

Hello
It has been shown here before, but given the nature of this thread it falls into the Regulation police revolver category. This Regulation Police revolver shipped on November 1926 with serial number # 4599X shown in Original Nickel finish with the shortest barrel length 3-1/2" being offered in this model. It was found at a Local gun show where I live for a price of $210.00 due to lack of Buyer Interest. It Intrigued me due to it's engraved side plate indicating it was given as a gift to Harry Anderson who was the Police Chief for Evansville, Indiana.


Normally Police side arms do not Interest me, but given the price and the fact it is in my Favorite caliber being .32 S&W Long Cartridge, the purchase of it was a No brainer to me. Shortly after buying it I contacted the Evansville, Indiana Police Department through an E-mail and made an Inquiry about their Past Police Chief, Harry Anderson. The response was reluctant to share much information with me as I assume they were suspicious of my intent & scope of the information I was asking for.



This quickly passed as I sent them the pictures below of it, and explained I had purchased this revolver to add to my collection and wished to learn more about Chief Anderson. I was answered by Sergeant Rick Hubbard sent me in return all he knew about the past Police Chief also shown below. I later learned that they started Impeachment hearing on Harry due to his on Going activity of back door sales of Spirits during Prohibition times, so he resigned as their Police chief. I was told the 3-1/2" barrel made it easier for him to carry it in a flap Holster while riding his Motorcycle.



Apparently, Harry was the head of an experimental motorcycle Brigade of officers that answered city calls on Motorcycles. Prior to this all calls within the city were answered on Bicycles. I have fired this gun and it is very accurate but given the fact it has such a rich history, and that it is in nice shape for it's age, I elected to case it and preserve it's original condition. It was on display at the annual S&WCA meeting this past spring and was in our member's Journal as one of the featured presentation revolver's at that meeting.



Here is the historical information on Harry Anderson with the Evansville Police Department. He served as Chief from 1926 to 1928.

If I can be of any other assistance, please let me know.

Sgt.Richard Hubbard

In March 1926, Nolte was hospitalized with a nervous breakdown and voluntarily took a demotion to detective, stepping down as chief in favor of Harry Anderson on March 29, 1926. Nolte continued as a member of the department until his retirement in 1931. Nolte died in 1933. Nolte's 3-month term as chief was the shortest in the history of the police department.

Harry Anderson


Harry Anderson, the 23 rd chief of police, was born in Warrick County. He became active in the Republican Party. He joined the department on November 24, 1916. Prior to joining the department, Anderson worked as a bartender. He was promoted to motorcycle man on January 7, 1918. Anderson was a member of the Evansville Police Relief Association committee that published the book "A Souvenir History of the Evansville Police Department" in 1918.


In 1919, Anderson resigned and became a car salesman. In January 1921, County Clerk Frank Grange appointed Anderson a deputy in the county clerk's office. When the Republicans took control of city hall in January 1926 Mayor Herbert Males appointed William Nolte as his choice to replace Democrat-appointed Ira Wiltshire in the chief's position. After 3 months in the chief's office, Nolte suffered a nervous breakdown and took a voluntary demotion to detective. Anderson returned to the police department after an absence of 7 years as Mayor Males's choice to replace Nolte in the chief's position.


Anderson remained Chief of Police for 33 months. The City Council launched impeachment proceedings against Chief Anderson, License Inspector Benjamin Bartlett, and members of the Board of Public Safety in September 1928. In the 1928 county elections, he was elected county clerk. In late December 1928, Anderson submitted his resignation as chief. The text of Chief Anderson's letter of resignation read as follows:


"Honorable Herbert Males and Board of Safety. Having been elected Clerk of the Vanderburgh Circuit Court the past election and as this term of office begins January first, I hereby tender my resignation as superintendent of the police department to take effect January 1, 1929."


Chief of Detectives Edward Sutheimer was appointed to fill the chief's position for the remaining year of Mayor Males' administration

When Anderson resigned, he had served a total of 6 years as a member of the police department. The department's 8-year experiment with a mounted Motorcycle patrol began in 1927 during Chief Anderson's administration, as he was in charge of it. Anderson ran for county clerk again in the election of 1932. The Roosevelt-Democratic landslide of 1932 buried Anderson, like his fellow Republicans. After losing the election, he returned to the trade that he had practiced before joining the police department in 1916, working as a bartender. In 1935, Anderson became a milkman. Later in life, he bought a dairy farm in Warrick County. After failing to make that enterprise profitable, he sold it. Anderson then moved back to Evansville, living at 209 First Avenue. He was appointed a Vanderburgh County deputy sheriff. He served as a guard at the Evansville Waterworks during World War II. In 1945 he moved to 26 East Chandler. He died on December 12, 1946. His wife's name was Bertha and he had one brother who lived in California.


I learned from this Harry Had a brother in California and I assume the Son of his Brother is who got a hold of his Regulation Police revolver and later sold it off to the guy I bought it from, who was a retired Indiana State Highway Patrol Officer. I Dug a Little deeper by contacting The Evansville, Indiana Public Library, and a woman there sent me the Pictures of Harry below in the old files they had. He was also in charge of their Motorcycle brigade an experiment they were trying using Motorcycles to answer calls with, as before this, all calls were answered on Bicycles. We have to remember this was around 1926 so I assume the Motorcycles used were either Harley Davidson's or Indian's. I can't believe just how much Harry had done in such a short life span as at the age of 55 Poor Old Harry's Heart gave out and he Passed on

anybody have any regulation police grips for sale?

A shop close to me has RP 1527 for sale.
.38 S%W Regulation Police.Finish is bad,but
no rus*****chanics are good.Stocks are worn.
He wants $300. Comments, please.

Thanks

Mark

That seems a little high to me for the condition you describe, but I acknowledge that the early number makes it interesting. That's almost certainly 1917 production -- first year. Can you offer $200 and settle on $250?

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David Wilson

Thanks, Mr. Wilson.

I will take my Desantis 3" J frame holster along to
see if the I frame fits.Because, if I buy it, I'm going
to carry the RP some. I see .38 S&W around.

Thanks

Mark

getwood, VM has a set of RP Stocks for sale, anyone have a screw for the RP stocks?

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Hello: I have a beautiful nickel 38S&W Regulation Police in 4" barrel. I found the reloading dies and accessories. Where can I find a holster? Thanks for your help. Mousermag

Mousermag, welcome to the forum.

If you have photos of your RP, we'd love to see them. Don't be afraid to start your own thread to show off your own gun. And if you give us the serial number (xx out the last couple of digits, if you want to), we can give you a likely shipping date.

It may be tough to find the right holster. Modern small frame S&Ws are short-barrel guns, so you are probably looking or an old one in good shape. A holster for a four-inch Colt Police Positive might work, too. Sometimes old holsters show up on Ebay, and there is usually a selection of holsters on Gunbroker. You can also post a message on this forum in the Want To Buy section.

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David Wilson

I've been tasked with the inventory of my grandfather's guns, now that he's passed. The picture below is a .38S&W PR SN 13696. Any information you can help with is apprieciated.

Thanks,
Rob B.

Mine is S/N 27862, and was shipped Dec. 1925, it that's any help. It also has no Logo and has non-medallion stocks numbered to the gun.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244