Help Identifying a Revolver

Hawkeye20 · #1 10-19-2013, 08:08 PM

Hi all,

I recently traded my Ruger SR9 pistol for, what the seller called it, a "Smith and Wesson Pre-Model 10". I'd like to know more about this old girl.

Here's everything stamped in the metal:

Serial Number: 603165 I'd like to know the manufacture date if possible.

Under the yoke, where Model Numbers are usually found is 13139, which doesn't tell us anything.

38 S&W Special CTG (I assume CTG means Cartridge?)

Smith and Wesson Springfield Mass. USA

And the patents are: Feb 6, 1906; Sept 14, 1909; Dec 29, 1914

It's (I'm pretty sure) a K-frame. Three screw.

Here's a picture (I know, horrible quality):

The bluing is a little rough on the barrel and cylinder, but in my opinion it just adds character! And it would be some sort of blasphemy to refinish it.

Also, those grips are pretty much brand new. The guy that the previous owner got it from had put some horribly ugly STONE grips. Yes, STONE grips! So he pitched them and bought some replacements. Good stuff, right?

Anyways, I'd like to know the history of this old girl, and perhaps an estimate on the born date? Is it actually called a "Pre-Model 10"? Google is coming up with nothing.

Thanks!

--Dave

murphydog · #2 10-19-2013, 08:21 PM

Welcome! This is a .38 Military & Police revolver, likely from the late 1920s. I suspect it has five screws (four on the side plate with the stock panel removed, and one at the base of the trigger guard). In 1957 it was given the model 10 designation; technically every similar gun before this year could be called a "pre-model 10", but due to certain differences some reserve this name for guns from about 10 years before this. Hope this is helpful.

Hawkeye20 · #3 10-19-2013, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

Welcome! This is a .38 Military & Police revolver, likely from the late 1920s. I suspect it has five screws (four on the side plate with the stock panel removed, and one at the base of the trigger guard). In 1957 it was given the model 10 designation; technically every similar gun before this year could be called a "pre-model 10", but due to certain differences some reserve this name for guns from about 10 years before this. Hope this is helpful.

Awesome, thanks! Tomorrow when I have access to my DSLR I'll take a better picture.

DWalt · #4 10-19-2013, 10:13 PM

Yours was probably made in the 1929-31 period. S&Ws from the Depression era are notoriously difficult to date accurately without a factory letter to establish a shipping date, as complete guns and finished frames could remain in factory inventory for years prior to shipment, as sales were so slow back then. S&W does not provide accurate manufacturing dates, only shipping dates.

The full name would be the S&W .38 Hand Ejector, Model of 1905, 4th Change Military and Police (M&P) Revolver. It is a 5-screw. 4 screws hold on the sideplate, plus a spring retaining screw ahead of the trigger guard. The grips (by the way, definitely not original) cover up one sideplate screw. By convention, the term "pre-Model 10" best applies to those M&P revolvers with SNs from approximately C1 (or actually about S990000) to the low C410000 range. Those had a different type of action from all earlier M&Ps.