Hi, a new guy here!

I just fell heir to this S&W 39 Special Revolver Dad got from a police friend of the family back in 1959. All paper work says 38 Special, but it is not!?? The pics will show the gun barrel and the 39, not 38, and that is the very confusing part! NO model number, 4 inch barrel, and all the screws! Serial number is shown in the pics as well. Fixed sights. So what do I do for shells! 38 S&W are too long! Any help would be appreciated with this strange weapon!

Thanks!

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Is this dated April 1st?

It's a .38 Special from the very early 1920s.

38 S&W cartridges would not fit, but the 38 Special should.

Looks like a light strike or a worn stamp.. Sure looks like a .38 Special to me.

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Eccentric old coot

Clearly the barrel should read .38 S&W Special . . . likely a worn roll stamp as Iggy suggests.

If you tried .38 S&W ammunition (not the same as .38 Special) it shouldn't chamber . . . not because the cartridge is too long but because the diameter is too large.

Need a little more information here to help further . . . for example - does the cylinder have a matching serial number on the rear face that matches the butt?

Russ

Welcome! You have a .38 Military & Police revolver from early in the 1920 decade - not a strange gun or example, as several million similar ones have been made since 1899.

As Russ stated, if you see a matching number on the rear cylinder face to the one on the bottom of the grip frame, presuming the cylinder has not been altered it should chamber and fire .38 Special loads just fine. Many recommend standard pressure rounds like 158 gr round nose lead or 148 gr wadcutters.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

As others have said, this is a .38 Military & Police square butt revolver.
However, I will file a dissenting view on the date. The stocks clearly date from the 1920s, but the gun does not. Serial number 287163 would date the gun to the teens (mid- to late-) since serial number 316648 was assembled in September 1919 (it was the first to get a heat treated cylinder). So your gun probably was made just after civilian production resumed at the end of the Great War.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Alan, Russ, Iggy and jmace, it is not April 1st! LOL!
I can't see a number on the cylinder at all. You could be right on the roll stamp, and here is the problem. I bought Blazer Brass 38 special ammo, 125 Gr. and the shells stick out of the cylinder backside about a half inch. The stop in the cylinder looks to be about an inch from the rar of the cylinder. The barrel says, 39 S&W Special CTG.. I am afraid of shooting until I get the right info and shell figured out. If any of you are on Vancouver Island, there is a box of ammo here half price!
Thanks to all of you so far!

Sorry about the age/date confusion...

If you have a way to measure this, can you give us the distance from the rear chamber face to the internal ridge within the cylinder bore? It will likely be either about 0.77" (.38 S & W length) or 1.15" (.38 Special); if the former, someone probably swapped cylinders on you!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Is the barrel numbered to the gun, like the one in this photo?


Does it have a date stamped into the corner of the fame, which would indicate a return trip to the factory.

Speer ammo in 38 and .357 is on the wide side for specs. Try another brand of .38 Special ammo and see if it works.

If your gun was bored with especially tight chambers, the fat Speer/CCI cases may be a marginal fit.

I was posting a really good account about this, but the site signed me OUT in the middle ,and I haven't time to re-post that long response.

Your 're on Vancouver Island? If this gun is legal as being grandfathered in due to the less than 4.2 inch bbl., see a gunsmith if the other ammo brands don't fit. Maybe see one, anyway.

Canada used .38-200 (.38 S&W) ammo in the same basic revolver from WWII until the Browning 9mm replaced it, and someone may have changed the cylinder to take cheap surplus ammo in that caliber.

If the gunsmith confirms that it is indeed a proper .38 Special, he should be able to polish/ream the chambers just enough to allow using all brands of ammo.

Good morning fellas, Colby and Texas!
I took the stock apart and there is only one number, F2 on the bottom of the frame. YES, the number on the barrel is the same as the serial number.
Colby, the depth is about .775 according to my work with the bullet and an electronic caliper I use for loading. OOPS!! It was Alan that asked for the depth measurement! Sorry.

There are NO numbers on the cylinder.

Texas, there is quite a ridge in the cylinder, so does not that the shell or bullet are oversized.

From the description, it appears someone swapped a .38 S & W caliber cylinder into your .38 Special revolver. That said, if you can find .38 S & W ammo it should work fine, and if you find a .38 Special cylinder of the same type it will likely drop in and work fine also.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thank you Alan, I will try to find some 38 S&W ammo. Any ideas where I might find some? I have heard that is is difficult to find??

ALSO guys, I am sorry, but I was eyeballing the barrel for length and thought it was 4 inch and it is actually 3 1/8 precisely! Dumb old guy aye!!

I have on my list SN 2847xx which shipped in 6/18. The lack of a SN on the rear face of the cylinder is a puzzle, as I'd think SOMETHING should be stamped there. It seems you may have a replacement cylinder. The very first thing to do is to be absolutely certain which cartridge fits - .38 S&W or .38 Special. You are correct, .38 S&W ammo is somewhat difficult to find in the USA. I don't know about the situation in Canada. Also, a barrel that short would not have come from the factory that way. Are you measuring from the front face of the cylinder to the muzzle?

Nugie - If you should want to switch BACK to 38 Special, search for S&W Cylinder in eBay and you will likely see LOTS for sale for relatively reasonable prices.

"I will try to find some 38 S&W ammo. Any ideas where I might find some?"

I don't know if it is legal to ship ammunition from the U.S. to Canada, so I would try your local sporting goods stores first and ask if it can be special ordered if they don't have any in stock. It is available here intermittently at about $17-20 per 50 rounds; it tends to be produced in batches about once or twice a year.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Nugie,

Welcome to the forum.

Smiths only have model names up to June 1957 when model numbers were created.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

DWALT I guess I was confused AGAIN! It is 4 inches from end of barrel to the cylinder as I did the first time!! Sorry for looking like an ameture!
Alan, I can't get ammo from the States shipped here. It has to come in with one of our sports outlets like Cabelas or wholesale Sports! Thank you for thinking of it though.
Jmace 57, I will look on E bay and try to find a 38 Special cylinder, that way I can always get the 38 Special Ammo here.
Thanks to all of you for your valued help!
Russ

Jmace 57 or any of you helpful guys, what would you pay for a 38 Special cylinder on E Bay or anywhere else for that matter.
Thanks again in advance for your valued help,

Russ

There is a reputable online seller here in the US that lists one at $45 plus shipping.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

If you do get a .38 Special cylinder, be aware that it might require a little fitting to work properly. Or it may not.

Got your messages Guys! thanks!

There are some legalities you need to be aware of before purchasing gun parts from the US...Most cannot be shipped to canada.. Check it out before you bid...
Best,
JIM...........

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SWCA # L-1911

Thanks for the heads up Jim!!

Russ