NH Identify S&W 38 Sepecial Hand Ejector

[DFWguy]

My Father-in law fought in WW2 and left us his pistol. It is a S&W Hand Ejector 38 special. 4" Barrel. Five Screw. Butt Swivel. Strain Screw. Fixed sights. The Number inside the swivel is 13238. the number on the butt is 968222. It also has ORD and LOP stamped in the metal behind the release. Just confused on the SN, what the initials may mean and what I should insure it for. Thanks!

[DocB]

It looks like a very high SN Pre-Victory US Issue made in early 1941. I am sure not an expert on these, but I don't see a V on the butt. It looks pretty nice with original finish and Vet owned. Market value is probably around $500. . .maybe a bit more. The experts will be on soon and give you a lot better info than I can.

[Absalom]

Like Doc says, it is indeed a late pre-Victory, US version, although from spring 1942. It looks all original and complete. I don't know the meaning of the letters on the frame; they could relate to wartime or some secondary post-war use. Without a top strap property stamp, which you don't mention, it was likely a DSC contract gun shipped to a non-military destination stateside.

The $500 could be a realistic value for insurance purposes, although it's unlikely it would bring that much were you to sell it.

PS: To address your numbers question, the 968221 on the butt is the serial; the number in the yoke is a factory-internal assembly number, meaningless to us. You should also find the serial on the cylinder, under the barrel, back of the extractor star, and on the back of the right grip panel.

[DWalt]

Most people would insure items for somewhat more than their actual value, so $500 would be OK. Regarding SN 968222, on my list are 9678xx and 9712xx, both shipping in 4/42. As previously stated, if there is no United States Property (or U. S. Navy) stamp on the topstrap, it is likely to have been a civilian DSC revolver, and not used by the military. I don't know the meaning of ORD or LOP.