Greetings, I am trying to get an approximate date of manufacture and any other relative info available on this revolver. I believe it to be a Model 10, .38 S & W Special; it is a five screw with a strain screw on the grip strap, 4" barrel, Serial# 98294 with another character or two above the serial (see pic). Near the top of the back grip strap it has a "35" (struck off-centered), Was this possibly an inventory number applied by an issuing agency? There is still another number on the butt of the gun, I believe is "665184" behind the lanyard ring.

(This revolver belonged to my grandfather and [a nimrod relative / former temporary "caretaker"] stored it in a wet live bait well on a fishing boat. That's where I recovered it.) It may have looked pretty good before that! I've gotten a considerable amount of rust off of it and out of it. Surprisingly after cleaning and lubricating, the action's impeccable! Regardless of the condition, still real glad to have it! Thank you all in advance! Stay Safe! -Dee

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Welcome to the Forum.

You have a Military & Police revolver, probably from the early 1940s. The number that you have, that is stamped on the frame behind the cylinder yoke when closed, is an assembly number, not the serial number. The SN is the corroded one stamped on the butt. The good news is that the SN is repeated on the underside of the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder.

Please provide that number.

If there is a "V" stamped there, it would be a Victory model, produced during WW II.

The "35" stamp is probably an agency stamping.

S&W did not start using model numbers until 1957. Collectors sometimes refer to "pre" models, but these are the ones that had the modern, post WW II short action. Your revolver is an ancestor of the Model 10.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

MG has good information above. I would put its production date closer to the late 1930s, and with the factory-appearing butt swivel (lanyard ring) it was probably made in the run-up to WW II. With this and the (likely) inventory or rack stamp on the grip frame, a factory letter may tell you it went to a LE agency or defense-related organization:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

It actually looks remarkably good for being submerged in water for a long time. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thank you very much gentlemen!! Man talk about small numbers! With the help of magnifying glasses it is (from the back of the cylinder) Serial# 965184. Sure appreciate the help with it!!

Stay Safe! -Dee

Closest SN on my list to yours (965184) is 9678xx which shipped in 4/42. This would be called a pre-Victory model by collectors, and would probably have been used for some essential stateside purpose (police, defense plant guards, etc.) as it was very difficult for an ordinary civilian to get his hands on a new revolver at that time period. In this condition, it would have no collector interest and only modest market value. Nonetheless, it is an interesting piece, and is probably a good shooter.

Welcome to the Forum. To me, the story is worth more than the gun. It is always great to have a family heirloom with a story. I have my great grandfather's, grandfather's, and father's guns and they will never be sold, rather handed down. I have recorded all stories I have heard about their use and their shooting abilities when used, so future generations can keep the history alive.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I had intended to ask before - are there any stampings on the topstrap? I have on my list some with U.S. NAVY and UNITED STATES PROPERTY stampings which are not far removed from your SN. BTW - this is not a Model 10.

Thanks gentlemen, It does not have any stamping on the top strap, so I guess it's the "Pre-Victory Military & Police" from the early 40's. I didn't figure it would be of much interest to a collector, it does look pretty rough. Like you guys, I wouldn't think of parting with it, and will proudly pass it down to my kids. I was just more interested in it's history and age.

THAT SAID, WOULD Y'ALL STILL KEEP IT ORIGINAL? I know a gunsmith that does really nice bluing...


Stay Safe, -Dee

It won't affect the value, but will cost you about what the gun is worth if you want a good professional job. However, it would make a good project gun for a DIY rust blue. A nice pair of 1930s period grips might cost you $100 or more. If you know someone with a bluing tank and a bead blast cabinet, you could try that, shouldn't cost that much if there's no polishing involved.

I've finished a number of long guns and handguns by bead blasting with very fine ceramic bead media followed by a hot blue, and they all looked pretty good. Bead blasting a revolver takes very little time to do.

Judging by the pic of the butt, the pitting is pretty severe. Doubtful that those can be polished out while retaining the serial#. My vote would be to leave it alone and enjoy the story and connection to your family.

Like it's already been said, I see no benefit in a refinish. The butt corrosion especially is significant, and nothing looks crappier than a re-finish over visible pitting. And the stocks look fine beyond honest use wear. Much better to have a historical piece with a family connection.

DWalt thanks for the ideas. the bead blasting would certainly help it if I did go ahead and re-blue. The guy I was thinking about does this on the side, but does really fine work and is reasonable. I guess it comes down to a wash - whether the appearance matters that much and I guess it really doesn't. Its just the perfectionist in me and the fact that no other firearm I own looks that rough! LOL

824tsv and Absalom - Thanks, I am leaning towards leaving it as is. It is indeed pitted bad in places. I suppose it might look worse depending on how much came out. The butt serial is indeed already indiscernible.

Thank you much & Stay Safe!! -Dee

I would leave it as is, but that is a personal decision. I think it has character.
BTW - The butt serial number is THE serial number, so whatever course of action you choose you'll want to leave that as discernable as possible.

For me, if I were going to keep that revolver as a family heirloom, the last thing I would do is change the character and patina that your grandfather put on the gun. The story that makes it interesting would be erased forever with a refinish. Just my 2 cents.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

If it were in a little nicer condition, I'd leave it alone. As-is, even considering some sentimental attachment, I'd be tempted to do a re-blue if it could be done at modest expense.

Wet live well!? Oh, the humanity.

Or Parkerize it, if it's to be a shooter.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Lauer makes a spray-on coating which is said to resemble bluing. I have not tried it.

Eddiewhiteshoes - You could have knocked me over with a feather! My mom's second husband had gotten ahold of the pistol after his death and this where it turned up! Thought I was gonna be sick!

Thanks, the guy I had in mind is a friends' buddy, so I hope for a decent price. I'm going to get a price on it and go from there. If it's not reasonable I'll check out the product you spoke of in the later post.

Stay safe! -Dee