Help! I need help identifying the model & year of my S&W .38 -
When I open the wheel it says
2 3 and below that it says 49161

On the butt of the handle it says
S 953976

Probably sometime in 1946, but could have shipped at any time after this.

It is called the "38 Military & Police" most likely made in 1948. A pic of the other side might help confirm that.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Jack collects data on these and has the best handle on this, but my S961XXX shipped in Dec. 1947, so yours was likely produced not too long before that.

Welcome to the forum.
The numbers on the crane when you open the cylinder are assembly numbers and mean nothing.
The revolver is a Military and Police with a square butt.
The barrel appears to be 2". Measure from the front of the cylinder to the muzzle. A close up picture of the muzzle will help determine if the barrel has been shortened.


You did not state the caliber or number of chambers.
It should be a 6 shot, chambered for 38 S&W Special.
This is probably marked on the left side of the barrel on an original 2" gun.

The M&P evolved into the Model 10 around 1957.

It is a .38
It is a 6 shot

Your revolver is a M&P, square butt, with a nominal 2" barrel (actual length 1 7/8"). It has not been cut, but may have been changed from a longer length. You can tell if it is original by checking the number on the bottom of the barrel above the ejector rod to be sue it matches the number on the butt and on the rear of the cylinder. Your gun is what is known as a transitional as it is made with the same style parts as the pre war guns, except it has the new hammer block safety that was added near the end of WWII. In 1948, the action was changed to what is known as the short action with a different shaped hammer spur.

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Tom
1560

You have a post-WWII Military and Police (M&P) Model built on the S&W K frame. The closest SN I have listed is S9555xx which shipped in 11/1947. It has the older style long action. Later, in early 1948, the short action was adopted. It is simple to visually distinguish between long and short action revolvers by the hammer shape. 2" barrel K-frame revolvers are often called "snubbies," and have considerably greater collector interest than do similar revolvers having longer barrels. Your grips are of the correct style for that period and are probably original to the revolver. You might check if the SN stamped inside the right grip panel matches that of the gun. The pictures indicate yours is not in collector condition, but it is nonetheless desirable to many users. It probably would not be terribly difficult to sell it at a price around $400 in a private sale, should you need to do so. Those in much better condition would likely be valued more in the $500-$600 range.

Everyone who has answered - Can you guys give me a ball park value of my gun?

Hi
S953978 almost certainly shipped in November, 1947. I show another 2" with serial number S953940 in my database (only 38 numbers lower). These two were surely part of a run of 2" M&P revolvers. November, 1947, shipments ran from at least S949723 all the way to at least S959585. There may have been some in that range that shipped later or even earlier, since S&W did not ship guns in serial order.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

See my previous response.

Yours shows a bit of wear. I've bought these in slightly nicer condition for around $500. As prices have been rising, I'd say that $450 would be close to a decent price for yours. The round butt 2" M&P revolvers tend to be more popular than the square butt examples like yours, so some of them may command a slightly higher price - at least from some purchasers.

DWalt suggested $400, and he is probably about right.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318