I sort of took a flyer today in an on-line auction and bought this based on the pictures only. Can anyone tell me what I bought? I didn't pay a lot. A strange way of showing the serial number in the auction taking off the first 3 digits. The sights look different that pre-model 10s I have seen.

It was identified in the auction only as: "SMITH AND WESSON 38 SPECIAL REVOLVER MOD 1902 SER XXX1040" The pictures you see are the only ones I saw. So, what did I buy?!? Many thanks to all.

It's a .38 Military & Police Target. They posted one too many X's for the SN (it has a six-digit SN, visible on the rear cylinder face in photo 4 - possibly 141040?). In any case, it is from the 1910-'20 decade if the stocks are original. Looks nice.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

You picked a good one to take a flyer on!
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Thanks a lot Alan. It was the sights that were throwing me off. I hesitate to ask - I paid $175 for it - reasonable? I just liked the way it looked.
Jim

Nice catch, M&P target and the rear site looks like a "U" notch. You got it for cheap. A regular M&P would go for more. Larry

Its not a 1902 - its a model of 1905. 1902's are round-butt ; this one is a square butt.
I don't think those are the original grips -they don't fit quite right in the upper area.

The gun is worth more than $175 - should have been more like $400, at least. I can't
tell how much original finish there really is, but it looks like at least 80% .

Mike Priwer

Mike, maybe if we try hard enough, we get folks to use Model 1902 for prewar round butt M&Ps. I know you jump in whenever it comes up and I'll try to also.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Muley

I need all the political help I can get, on the issue of round butts are 1902's .

This case was a surprise - I've never heard anyone refer to a square butt as a
1902 . That is a first.

Regards, Mike

$175 is plenty cheap ! If the bore and chambers are clean & smooth, you did very well indeed ! Get some 148gr. midrange wadcutters, and I bet you'll be pleased. Congrats.

Larry

Wow - I just received the gun today and got a surprise. On the right side of the frame is engraved the following:

Presented by Dr. C.C. Park
Santa Barbara, Cal

A (covered by some rust) Long
1st Lt. 18th F.A.

US Pistol Team
Inter-Allied Matches
France, 1919

So, anyone know anything more about this? Many thanks!

I found a Dr. Charles Caldwell "CC" Park.
Born in PA 1860- Died Santa Barbara, CA. 1931.
No mention of the gun or any shooting interests.
Hope this helps getting some info.

Look Here: seeking info on inscribed M&P revolver used at 1919 Inter-Allied Games in Paris

Wow, two of these found in one year?! I'd say $175 was an OK deal .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I looked up Dr. Park on ancestry.com and found his son-in-law was a marine field artillery officer during WWI maybe some connection there.

Thanks all for your input. I did pull off the grips and they are numbered to the gun. There are 5 patent dates on the barrel: Oct 8 01; Dec 28 01; Feb 6 06; Sept 14 09; Dec 29 14

I got some oil on the gun and can read the inscriptions better : was presented to A W Long

Thanks for the link to the other post. I am in touch with Doug and we are comparing notes - this gun is 12 numbers off from the serial number he has. Identical except for the inscription.

A steal at that price - and with history too! You mention some surface rust. I would recommend you coat it with some Corrosion-X and let it sit for several days and let the oil work. Then go over it with a some bronze wool and you'll recover a lot of the old glory of that piece. The innards may need to be looked at as well. If you're not adept at taking revolvers apart - I would recommend a gunsmith for this work. Good Luck & Thanks for the Post.

Jerry

I have sent off for a factory letter yesterday.

What a nice gun. You got one great deal!!!

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Why, I aughta.....

Hope the letter has some good news in it. You may have a very desirable gun. Larry

Received the factory letter today. Confirmed what I had hoped.

Wow, sometimes dreams do come true.

Very cool certificate.... Gotta love the historical aspect which in turn makes it worth more than you paid right off the bat. Nice find...

Very nice catch! How does it look after cleaning?

Congratulations! Great piece of history.

jmace,

You clearly hit the jackpot with that piece! Congrats!

The letter says the current model is a Model 10 although they were never target sighted. But it appears to be the closest still existing model to what you have.

The truest model #'d equivalent model to yours would be a Model 14 which was a 6" target sighted .38 K frame when model #'s were assigned in 1957. Albeit no longer made.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks for sharing that. I enjoyed reading it. Best of luck with the gun.....and great find !

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'I know nothing'.. Sgt. Shultz

That's a wonderful story and a splendid catch. I'm happy for you! And envious, of course.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Sure would like to see some more pictures after you cleaned it up. A great catch with a history like that!

What a wonderful find.

Here are some better pictures. I will try and get a better one of the side plate. Other than on the side plate, there is a little rust spot on the trigger guard and some holster wear at the muzzle.


EDIT - replacing old picture since photobucket pulled their crummy action...

That was a great find. Very interesting thanks for posting.
Dave

Nice catch, this is why it's important to letter a gun before the war. Better chance of it going somewhere important other then a distributor of some sort. Thats cool that it went to a Govt. (Army?) shooting team. Larry

Great find. Well done indeed.

That is sweet. Whoever auctioned that off sure screwed up. Much to your advantage, too.
I'd say you made money on that factory letter.
Great find. I'm glad it went to one of the fold.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Very exciting ending to an adventure. Your instincts were very good. That reminds me of that Mastercard/Visa commercial some years back.
Factory letter $50. Gun from Auction $175. Satisfaction to a collector.."priceless"

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John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I wanted to mention that another of these has been found, inscribed identically. I will let the person involved post the information if they want to, but am amazed that now 3 of these have come to light in the past couple of years.

Very cool. Love the letter.

QUOTE=jmace57;137243718]Thanks a lot Alan. It was the sights that were throwing me off. I hesitate to ask - I paid $175 for it - reasonable? I just liked the way it looked.
Jim[/QUOTE]

Reasonable?? There's been a police APB (all points bulletin) out for you since 9/2013.

Nice catch!!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

OK - a follow up. I have spent innumerable hours trying to track down the person whose name is inscribed on the revolver. 1st Lieutenant A.W. Long of the 18th Field Artillery. Even gone so far as to track down the historian of the 18th F.A. with no luck.

Tonight I finally found the guy.

Albert W. Long born January 3,1892 in Parsons, WV. Lived in Akron Ohio
Served in the Ohio National Guard as a private in artillery. Honorably discharged 8-14-17 so he could accept a commission as 2nd Lt. and sent to 18th FA in August 15, 1917. Went to Europe as part of AEF in November 1917 and participated in 3 campaigns. After Armistice, artillery instructor in US until July 1919 at Fort Dix. Transferred to Paris July 1919 to AEF headquarters and stayed in France until December 1919. Discharged April, 1920. Recalled to active duty in WW2 and Korea. Died in Winter Park Florida in 1983.

PS: Sorry Photobucket has made all my pictures go away....

A "final" follow-up for this post. I have decided to donate this gun. I am thinking of one of 4 places. I would appreciate any other suggestions y'all might have.

NRA Museum - but only if it "worthy" to be displayed

CMP Museum - they have the winner's trophy from the shooting competition in the Inter-Allied Games. This would go along nicely with that. I have contacted them twice via email, and have never gotten a response.

World War I Museum in Kansas City - They have a great exhibit of the Inter-Allied Games that I think they rotate in periodically

Fort Sill Museum - Home of the 18th Field Artillery