So here's the deal, my grandfather just died a few months back, so I inherited a few very old shotguns and revolvers.

This revolver is an old Smith & Wesson that my great-grandfather carried while he worked for the sheriff's office back in the early 1900's. Any identification would be greatly appreciated.

First of all, here are a few pictures that I snapped real quick.



Serial number looks like 219xxx.
4" barrel.
Gold medallion logos on the grips.
Four screws, plus a screw in front of the trigger guard and a screw in front of the grip.
Fixed rear sight.
No model number inside of the yoke. Only the assembly number (and according to the sticky thread, you DON'T want that. :P)

Any other revolver that I have seen like this one, the Smith & Wesson stamp on the barrel has been spelled out "Smith and Wesson," but on mine it says "38 S. & W. Special CTG"
And on the other side of the barrel it says
"Smith and Wesson Springfield Mass. U.S.A.
Pat'd March 27, 94, May 21, 95, Aug 4, 96, Dec 22, 96, Oct 8, 01, Dec 17, 01, Feb 6, 06, Sep 14, 08." With a cross on either side.


Any other information you need from me, please feel free to ask, and thank you for your help.

Sorry about your Grandfather.

Nice example of a working gun, no obvious rust or pitting, it was well cared for. I'm unsure if the stocks are correct, I think they're later.

The catalog describes it as a .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 -3rd Change.
Manufactured 1909-1915.


Someone will be by to give you a closer date and more info.

__________________
SWCA #2817

I appreciate that.

What do you mean if the stocks are correct?

Those dates sound accurate. I believe he was a sheriff's deputy around the 1920's maybe?

That SN would date it at 1913-14. S&W had different stocks at different times. The type of stocks yours has would be correct for the period 1911-19. In the 1920s, a different stock (grip) design was used.

Oh, I see now. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. Nice to know the history behind these revolvers.

One thought- heat treating may have been a bit more dodgy back in the day- if this were my gun I would stick to standard ammunition and avoid +p and hot loads like Buffalo Bore, Critical Defense, etc...

I am sure it would probably survive some of that stuff, but why risk it with an old family heirloom.

My father left my brother a similar revolver (an M&P) and the cylinders before 1950 were not heat treated. They will go forever with standard velocity .38 Specials but NO +P loads, EVER!

These have the old long action and double action on my father's revolver was extremely smooth. Many a PPC revolver was built using one of these as a foundation and the smooth double action was highly desired, "back in the day"...

FWIW
Dale53

"...the cylinders before 1950 were not heat treated."

The 1917 revolvers were heat treated and S&W started heat treating K frames in the 1920s.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Actually heat treatment of the K-frames started in September 1919, at SN 316648 (.38 Special) & 81287 (.32-20).