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Can't give you a value, but from the pic can tell you someone has shortened the barrel. It didn't leave the factory that way. The barrel also appears to be longer than 2". Are you measuring from the face of the cylinder to the end of the barrel?

Yes, the barrel is clearly cut, thus lessening the value of the revolver significantly. It appears to be just over 3" in length now.

The fair value of your revolver, as it would appeal to someone wanting a good reliable 38 for carry/defense, would be around $300. This is assuming it is mechanically sound with a clean bore and smooth action.

Looks like a 4" shortened to a 3". The value of that revolver would be rather low, considerably less than 500.00.

Sorry ..... this pretty much sums it up! The fact that it's cut to 3", a popular barrel length these days...... means someone might buy it...... depending on condition and how well it was recrowned.

But sadly I'd value it at no more than $250 -300

Incidently, the location of the barrel markings is the final clue that confirms what we already highly suspect when determining if a bbl has been shortened.

Factory originality is key. A mere half inch of barrel can increase the fair market value of a revolver significantly if it can be authenticated and is less common and/or more desirable among collectors. Likewise, the same 1/2" can ruin the value if later cut by a gunsmith.

There are basically two groups buying guns: shooters and collectors. The guns that appeal to both groups are the easiest to sell for the most money.

I am not sure how you got the 2", but that barrel should be measured from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle. I agree that is looks to be around 3". I also believe the gun has also been refinished, which is always likely when an exterior part is replaced. If the gunsmith had cut the barrel to 2", it would have been worth more as a snub-nosed, but as is the price is minimal. If you ever sell it, be as accurate as you can on the description, so buyers know exactly what they will be getting.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Welcome to the forum. Let me add a little more information about that particular model.

The patent date you report is not for the gun, but for the design of the stocks. The Regulation Police stocks will fit only on RP frames without modification. They were designed to provide a slightly larger grip for people who found the standard round butt grip on S&W's small-frame revolvers too small; if you take the stocks off your gun you will see how compact the steel frame actually is. The Regulation Police model came in both .38 S&W and .32 Long; both models first appeared in early 1917. The .38 RP always had a four-inch barrel, as you heard above; a little over 50,000 were made before the factory ceased commercial production to take care of wartime contracts in 1940. The .32 had different barrel lengths and the "Regulation Police" stamp did not appear on them because the barrels were also used on the standard round butt models.

From observed features we can tell that your gun was produced between 1922 and 1927; the MADE IN U.S.A. stamp first appeared in the former year, and the large ejector rod knob on your gun was last used in the latter.

As others have said there is no collector value here, but the gun could still function as a fine shooter.

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David Wilson

Just read DCWilson's post....... just hit me...... the gun is .38S&W not .38 special.....

The .38S&W is .....shall we call it a bit underpowered....... not as commonly stocked as .38 special.

If it's a family heirloom grab a couple boxes of ammo and hang on to it.....

My earlier estimate of value I was thinking .38 special ....... now I'd say closer to $200.

Agree...I was thinking 38 Specail as well. Sole-Heavy-Duty, sorry we do not have better news for you. We've all been there when we thought we had something more valuable. Of course, we have all stumbled upon something that turned out to be more valuable than we thought as well.

A small bit of trivia, though the 32 revolvers were not marked as Regulation police, their boxes were...



Rick

The original poster was at one time the buyer. It would seem to me that now is not the time to be asking these questions. To assume a gun is worth $1000 because it can not be found on the internet is a failure of ones due diligence. I'm curious as to how much you (OP) paid. I hope you got a good deal.

I've always wanted a nice RP, as I am a fan of anything chambered in .38 S&W. And if I saw that one sitting on a gun show table for $250-$300, I'd probably buy it, even with the chopped barrel.

According to the activity timestamp in his profile, the OP hasn't been back since posting the message that started this thread. Unless he visited as a guest without logging in, he hasn't even seen the responses.

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David Wilson

DC..Think he (OP) was trying to "gin up" some interest before trying to sell it?????

Or just embarrassed.....................

I just haven't checked this in a while I'm not that mad I'll still sell it for $500 regardless what you guys think. I traded it for a sigsauer P250 wish I would've kept it now but it's alright

And the $1000 plus was a guess. I hate ppeople who want to point out **** like that to try and make someone feel stupid.

So what about the 2 inch model I know they made for U.S. postal services? i understand I didn't measure correctly.

Souleheavyduty
these people are some of the most knowledgeable people I know on Smith & Wessons I know of I have learned a great deal from them. Because of this forum I have been able to spot things on these guns i would have not noticed before. I just passed on a model 15-3 because it had been refinished to the average buyer it looks ok but using what i have learned here kept me from making a bad purchase. Do what I have done before you buy or trade next time ask these guys their opinions about the potential gun.

Better picture if the barrels cut then why is the aim sight on it still???

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I'm telling you guys I'm pretty sure this is the US postal service version. I'm praying it is I'll go to a gunsmith and I'll let you know what happens

I measured it with the tape measure just now 2 1/2 inches exactly

No one was trying to make you feel stupid. You came here looking for the truth, and you got it. It's not our fault you don't want to believe it....

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

They soldered it back on been done many times and when done right you cant tell it

Did you measure it from the front of the cylinder?

If you notice the wording is off centered S&W would never done this and no one is trying to make you feel stupid just trying to show you the proper way to measure the barrel lots of people measure it from the front of the frame this is incorrect.

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Another picture of the barrel.

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What ya think now gentlemen??! Thanks for your harsh input hahaha

No doubt about it, that's been modified. Pretty effectively kills the collector value of the gun completely.

Probably still a fun shooter though. I know I'd have a lot of fun with that gun.

My opinion hasn't changed since I saw the first pic you posted. Everyone here seems to agree that the barrel has been cut, and we've seen enough cut barrels to know what we're talking about.

I'm just sorry the answers you got here aren't what you were hoping for. Life happens that way sometimes. You might find a gunsmith somewhere who'll tell you what you want to hear about that gun, but that doesn't change what we know is the truth about it.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

Pic of my holster

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Better picture

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Ok keep thinking you know everything