I would appreciate any info on this gun. I haven't had much luck in identifying model and year or if nickel was factory. Thanks

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I am guessing that it is 38 special? If so then it is a .38 Military and Police 1st model with a 6 1/2 inch barrel? That is a fairly early serial number which I imagine dates it to 1899 or early 1900. The star on the butt siginifies some sort of factory rework, possibly a refinish of the nickel. There might some more markings under the grips on the frame showing a date or other details. It's a nice old smith you have there.

You might also check under the grips to see if they have a number scratched in them. If so and it matches the serial number then they are original to the gun. Also, many smiths that we're original nickel had an "N" stamped on the frame in various places. I am not sure if that holds true for this older model, but it's worth checking.

By the way, welcome to the forum. You'll get more info from the experts to follow.

It is a .38 and I will investigate the grips.

One thing I failed to mention, although I know its a .38 from measuring the cylinder it is not marked anywhere on the gun.

Welcome to the forum. Daniel identified it correctly, and it's a nice one! The Military & Police model in all its varieties was S&W's most popular revolver. By the late 1950s they had made about three million of them, with over a million coming out during WWII. At the time yours was made they were not even to 4000 yet, so yours is indeed an early example of the line.

A primary distinguishing feature of the first model is the lack of an underbarrel lug to lock down the front end of the ejector rod. By 1902 the company was doing that with the second model M&P.

Family heirloom? Lucky find at the neighborhood pawnbroker? A gun that interesting deserves to have its story told.

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David Wilson

You have an M & P model 1899, with no forward locking point for the ejector rod. It has the appearance of a factory nickel gun, as most refinished ones will have the hammer and trigger in nickel as well, but the only way to be sure is to request a factory historical letter. It is a scarce gun, about 20000 made between 1899 and 1902, and especially as a nickel gun if it is original. The star stamping indicates a factory rework, either mechanical or finish.

One of the 1899 experts will be along with more information. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thank you for the information it has been a mystery. I obtained it through a neighbor whose husband passed about 12 yrs ago and it has been in my safe since. I just was cleaning the safe and found it again and was curious about it.

Some photos of the other side and cylinder which is marked with 3959 as well. I also located a number 566 inside the frame under the ejector rod.

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The 3959 is the serial number, which ought to be on the butt, the
rear face of the cylinder, and the flat area on the underside of the
barrel. The 566 is an assembly number, that should also appear on
the yoke, or crane, almost up against the place where it appears on the
frame. The caliber is typically found on the left side of the barrel.
Some of the very early 1899's did not have the caliber roll-marking.

If you can, carefully remove the grips, and see what markings, if
any, on on the grip frame. If you see something like 6.20, for
example, that would indicate a factory repair date of June, 1920. If
you see something like R-N, with a box, or diamond-shape around it,
that would indicate a renickle. Look on the flat under the barrel, and
see if it has any markings other than the serial number.

This looks to be a nice gun, although I can't tell, from the pictures,
much about the refinish work, if that is what was done. Typically,
some of the sharp edges get buffed or rounded over, which are tell-
tale signs of a refinish. I don't see those signs in these photos; we'd
need better quality pictures to address this issue.

If you have the opportunity, you might ask the neighbor about the
role that the gun might have played, in the early years. Ie, was it
someone's duty weapon, or handed down through a family, etc.

Mike Priwer

There is a P with a circle around it in front of the serial number under the barrel. Thank you for all the help this is really getting interesting

Its also known as a pre 5 screw, 4 screw, which means it has the four sideplate screws, but not the 5th screw in the front of the trigger guard which was present on later Smiths. I have a 4" which looks very much like yours that has been factory re-nickeled. Trying to scrape the factory letter money together to find out more details about mine, mainly to see when it was shipped and what its original finish was.

How does one go about getting a factory letter and what is the cost? Thanks for the info. Any ideas about its worth?

Can any of you gentlemen help me out with an approximate value for insurance purposes? Thank you all for the help.

I was able to get the grips off and they are number the same as the serial # there is also a number 8.46 and a p with a circle around it. So I am assuming it was reworked in August 1946 at the factory.