Hello all. I'm looking for some help identifying my old .38. I've searched a lot without much luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Hand ejector
-38 S&W Spl CTG
-2" barrel/fixed sights
-5 screw
-S/N 152248 there is a star next to the serial number, which I believe means it was sent back to the factory at some point.

Attached Images

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Welcome to the forum!

That's an interesting 38 M&P 2" snubbie.

At 1st blush from the serial # it's a "38 M&P Model of 1905 - 3rd Change" from the 1909-10 era, which it was.
But it has the snubbie barrel, not offered until July 1933. So the star by the serial # tells a story that it must have gone back to the factory after '33 for the short barrel, and for a re-blue. The date will be on the left side of grip frame near the front toe, under the grip. Another indication if the factory changed the barrel instead of a gunsmith is that under the barrel will likely be a diamond and matching serial # to the butt.

The grips are post WW II and may have also been replaced by the factory, if the rework date on the grip frame is after the war but before 1968.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Very cool! Thanks for the info! There is an 1155 under the grip, I'm assuming November 1955? Looked under the barrel and sure enough a matching serial number. There was also a 31 under the grip. Would that indicate another factory visit in 1931? Again, thanks!

On the face of it, that snubby could not have been originally shipped having that butt SN. S/N 152248 (assuming no letter prefix) would date it to around 1911. And there were no snubbies at that time. What are the SNs in all the other locations? It almost has to be a "made up" snubby on an old frame, possibly done at the S&W factory.

Yep, Nov 55, and those grips are the correct style for 55. Is there a matching serial # on the back of the right side grip?

The 31 is not a date, it would have to be at least 3 digits for year and month. Probably inspector or assembler stamps; where are they situated?

That's a very neat gun, modernized a bit, but still all factory.

Before 1920 the cyls were not heat treated so unless it was replaced also (look for a diamond on the rear cyl face), I would stick to factory standard loadings or equivalent powered handloads. Definitely no .38 Spl +P loads.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

It has 152248 on the butt, cylinder and the bottom of the barrel. The serial number on the barrel is followed by a diamond.

Apparently the cylinder is original to the early frame. No real problem in firing it using standard velocity ammunition. Everything points to it being a factory conversion.

I will definitely stick to standard pressure ammo. The right side grip has 216382 on the back. Thanks for all the great info. This was my grandpa's gun and I never knew much about it.

You'll also find the #:

Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight

Extractor star - backside

Right stock only - on back (if factory installed originally); stamped, scratched or penciled depending on vintage and stock material.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

216382 would likely indicate C216382, dating the grips to the early 1950s (probably 1952), certainly not to 1955. It's possible the grips were not installed at the factory, but added by the owner at some time.

It could just as easily be K216382 - which would point to about 1954.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318