Hand Ejector 6 shot 38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

on bottom of grip 132xxx
behind the crane B 132xxx (spaces between the B and the Number)

5" barrel

Blue

Round narrow butt, wooden grips checkered.

fixed sights

I don't know the # of screws (I count 6)

4 on the side, 1 on the grip strap facing the trigger guard, 1 on the wooden grip directly through the wooden grip from side to side.

Nowhere does it have a 10 dash (I opened the cylinder and looked all around there).

Thank you.
(I was told by seller he thinks it might be from the 1950's, but he is not the original owner and does not know for sure).

Welcome! This is a .38 Military & Police from about 1908. The screw count is pictured here:

To IDENTIFY your Gun >

Collector types would call it a model 1905 second change. it was made roughly 50 years before it would have been stamped with a model number.

Hard rubber stocks would have been typical for this gun so the wood ones may be replacements. Photos would help for the minor details. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Welcome, Fielder. Much, much earlier than the 50's.

Regards,
Bruce

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Regards,
Bruce

Third picture just there to show screw front of trigger guard
Fourth picture serial num on butt doesn't have the preceeding B
Second picture serial num behind ejector rod does have the B
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So does forum STICKY picture below show a B there as well.

In addition to any help dating the revolver, it is very interesting to me that the bottom picture which is part of the forum STICKY FAQ shows a B before the serial number beneath the cylinder eject pin. And so does my gun. I wonder what the B means?

B mean blued. Gun left the factory with a blued finish.

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George Jamison

Yes. And it was only placed on the barrel flat, as shown. It was not included on the butt nor the rear of the cylinder nor any of the other serial number locations. It isn't part of the serial number, unlike the actual prefixes used during WWII and afterwards.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

The B was not used on later K-frames. There was a recent posting here discussing a little about the use history of the B prefix. The closest SN I have listed to SN 132xxx is 1238xx which shipped in 2/09. But yours could easily have shipped anytime within a year of that. I'd say 1908-09 is most likely. As noted, the Model 1902s (yours is a Model of 1902, not a 1905 - those had square butts) often had black hard rubber grips. But the wood grips on it are period correct. Are they serial numbered to the gun?

There is no numbers on the wood grips at all, or any markings, not even inside the grips.

I purchased this 3 days or so ago, paid $400 even. The bore is exc as is the lockup all 6 chambers. Bluing looks original and exc, although there are several very light scratches on the bluing. Clearly has been used but well taken care of. Wood and checkering are Exc+ although it seems from what I read here likely not original.