I acquired this 38 Military & Police revolver several years ago at a gun show. I bought it primarily because of it condition (98%+) and didn't pay much attention to it's special features such as a Lanyard loop on a civilian example, a checkered backstrap and the numbers that are stamped at the top of the backstrap.
After I had it awhile I decided to get a factory letter and this is what I received from Roy Jinks.

He confirmed that it was still in as shipped configuration and informed me it was shipped to the J.M.Warren Co. in Troy N Y on Sept. 21,1926. The invoice lists 6 units with butt swivels and checkered backstrap to be numbered 200 -205 for the "Conservation Commission". My example is number 201.
Please excuse the washed out photos as the light wasn't the best this morning but the bluing on this revolver is just about perfect.
Jim

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Neat gun.
I like the factory checkered backstrap; sure don't see that every day.

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John

Yep, that's a gun to be among the favorites.

Fixed sight K Frame .38 Specials can be a heck of a lot of fun to collect. I keep ending up with different "special" versions of what people call a "Model 10" and all of them are unique in some way. This gun certainly falls into that class.

Great gun, I would love to have one like that!

The dating appears to be correct. Perhaps "Conservation Commission" was another name for state "Game Warden" at that time, but I do not know. There are internet references to New York Conservation Commission, Division of Fish and Game. What is the SN?

The serial # is 5512XX. If there is anyone on the forum from the Troy N.Y. area who has contact information for the local historical society I'd like to hear from them.
BTW: The factory letter is in error on one point. The No 201 is stamped on the back strap as shown and indicated in the letter but "Conservation Commission is NOT engraved on the butt. as Roy further indicates. The swivel is installed there and it hasn't been disturbed since the gun was built. I suspect he mis-read this in the ledgers and the documentation indicates these pistols were put up for the conservation commission.
Jim

I'm resurrecting this thread because I just received today a bit earlier example of one of these. Mine has what appears to be a factory lanyard ring was well, as the serial number is offset to one side to accommodate it.

On the top of the backstrap, it is stamped "No 19" and down the backstrap is stamped "Conservation Commission - State of New York"

It is serial number 251498 - which I think places it about 1915. It was sold in an on-line auction as being in "poor condition", but it is far from poor. It has some finish issues, but the action is tight and the stocks are really nice. I got it for about $200 after commissions.

Whewwww Doggy....those are beeeutifull!

Jim
That is a neat find! Well done.

While I find both of these revolvers fascinating and both are uncommon and interesting variations on the .38 M&P, I have to say that the back strap checking on italiansport's example is cooler than cool.

I would not, of course, kick either of these revolvers out of my gun safe if they were residing there. Congrats to both of you.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Jim:

Not to drift the thread, but here is a Colt Army Special from I believe 1925. Until I saw this thread, I had never seen a checkered backstrap on a revolver.



The hammer also has been modified on mine. I have not lettered it, but it has the colt factory stamp indicating that it has been back to the factory for work.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

les, I had, at one time in my long ago life, a beautiful Army Special in 38 special, that was as nice as yours. Gorgeous blue in almost new condition..... Just had the service hammer and trigger. Regular grips of hard rubber, checkered and in great shape. Maybe not quite as nice as yours but very nice. Sold it to a neighbor in a fit of complete ignorance...... Regret it so much. Seeing yours, though, has made me smile!

I just bought these from Jmace57. 38SPL M&P 4" and 5". The 4" has the short action and the 5" has the long action. The 5" long action is lighter than the short action is. I do shoot the 5" much more accurately. I removed the grips on both guns and inside the wood has the gun serial numbers on both. Both guns inside the grips are like new. Both guns shoot very well. I think by the high serial numbers these guns are from about the end of the M&P series before going to the Model 10 series.
I applied some Renaissance wax to both and wow the bluing is now awesome. The second pic is after ren waxed.

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I believe you will find the back straps (and triggers) of all (pre-war) Colt Officers Model revolvers are checkered. While the checkering on this gun is clearly cut, the others appear more like stamped embellishments-----but I'm told they are also cut.

Ralph Tremaine