Hello Gents. My grandfather passed last week and left me this .38 5 screw 5" .38 CTG. I would like to place it on my insurance policy. Any ideas how much it is worth? I know the finish isn't all that great, it's been through Korea and a few decades of law enforcement duty. The hand grips is a diamond inlay of a sheriff star, besides that addition ball park figure would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Also, what year do you think it was manufactured.

Serial# B 120xxx
.38 S&W special CTG
5 screw

As a Family heirloom ....... priceless........ fair market value....... in that condition a couple hundred at best.


Are you sure that's a "B" ? The serial # is on the bottom of the grip frame........


Without the B...... it could be 1906-1909....it has the large ejector rod knob......Hammer and pin look pre WWII or real early post war... but grips look to be from much later........

Sorry not my era...... someone will be along...............

Welcome to the forum.

Often a B was stamped near the serial number on the barrel flat to signify a blued finish. I forget what other places the B for blued was sometimes stamped but there were no B prefix serial numbered 5 screw .38 Specials. During WWII an S prefix was added to signify the revolver got the newly introduced version of the hammer block safety that is still in use. Prior to that there was no letter prefix. In the spring of 1948 The S prefix serials hit one million then were followed by a million C prefix numbers. Please double check the serial number so we have a better idea of what you have.

My guess is he got the B from the barrel flat. It was put there during the time his revolver was made to indicate the gun had a blue finish when it left the factory. It does not appear in the other serial number locations, such as the butt and the rear face of the cylinder.

This would indicate, along with the serial number, that he has a prewar revolver. Quite a bit prewar, I might add. 120xxx would place manufacture back in about 1908. So it likely is a .38 Hand Ejector Model 1905. I have a hard time believing it was used during the Korean Conflict, although personal guns may well have seen service over there.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

It could have been shipped as early as 1908, but I list several with nearby SNs which shipped as late as 1910. So call it as shipping in 1908-10. S&W did not ship in serial number order. It would have to be in exceptional condition or have some documented historical connection to be worth much more than around $300. And possibly less than that if it is not in operating condition.

Thanks for the replies, here are some pictures of the S/N. My great grandfather gave him the gun when he left for Korea, after boot camp. My grandma has a couple of photos with him and the gun. Regardless, it's very special to me and would never think of selling it. Again thanks to everyone's expertise, I love learning about firearms. And it shoots great! On a side note, has anyone ever hear of people adorning the grip with diamonds or anything else for that matter?

Your pictures are not coming thru (at least for me). My guess is that you can see them because they are on your hard drive, but us folks out here in web-ville can't access your hard drive. You need to use one of the techniques below.

HOW TO POST PICTURES

Method One:
You can use Photo Bucket (or the like)
If you do not know how to do this, the explanation is a little involved.

Method Two (Probably easiest):
You can attach them directly as "thumbnails".

To attach directly

Start your new post
Scroll down till you see the "Attach Files" header
Click on the "Manage Attachments" Button
Browse to wherever you have your pictures (usually on your own hard drive)
Select the picture
Click Upload
Repeat till you upload all you want to.

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You're shy a few manners.

It's that little square at the bottom, for some reason it's not blowing them up. I'll try and just attach the web address here

S&W prewar - Album on Imgur

Pre model 10 S&W - Album on Imgur

That confirms the 1908ish date.

Since I can only see the bottom of them I cannot be sure. But I strongly suspect the stocks are not original. They are probably later than the gun. Post a side view and we can tell you for sure if they are period-correct.

Yes, people do sometimes "enhance" the stocks by inlaying something in the wood (walnut, in this case).

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I was able to see his pictures by double-clicking on the posted icon. It took me straight to Imgur.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

However, in the second link he posted on Post #8, I can now see the stocks. As I suspected, they are later than the gun. They are postwar diamond Magna stocks with the sharp shoulder. They date from the 1946-1952 period.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

S&W grips - Album on Imgur

Thanks. See Post #11 above.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Are period stocks hard to obtain? It would make sense because right after Korea is when he joined the Kern county sheriffs office. And had the diamonds inlayed from his mothers wedding ring. He later removed the large diamond in the middle to fashion my grandmothers wedding ring.

As I said..................priceless

Great family heirloom....... document it for the next generation!

I am, I also requested the photos my grandmother has. She said she's going to bequeath me her wedding ring so the diamond can rejoin the others hahaha. Although I can't see myself destroying her ring to replace a diamond in the grip stock. He sure loved this gun, said it saved him multiple times. Didn't like talking about Korea much, but had many stories about being a deputy.

Not terribly difficult. They show up on eBay occasionally. Here is what they look like:


This revolver belonged to my grandfather. I have a letter on it, and it shipped from the factory in April, 1908. The serial number is a few thousand lower than yours.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I'm sure if you look hard and pay enough you can find any stocks you want for it, but I would never change out the ones you have on it. In fact (assuming I could afford it) I would look for a replacement diamond!

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You're shy a few manners.

The ring and gun would be perfect shadowbox material along with a small note covering the origins of the diamonds and the transfer of the one to the ring.


Nice acquisition.

Keep it all together....... but don't change what they did.


Shadow box for gun and ring.......... and a letter about what "was" .......................for those coming in the next 100 years.............. having family history is priceless ....... preserve it and pass it on!

Welcome to the Forum.

Many servicemen carried personal arms back then. Regulations were a little looser and often overlooked.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

...here are some of the OPs photos for those that aren't seeing them...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

A true statement. I knew guys in 'Nam who had personal arms. Some were bought in country and it was difficult for the average Joe to bring them home, so lots of them got sold off when guys rotated out.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

When I got to Afghanistan in '04, the contractor I worked for was short of sidearms. I was issued a COPY of the MP5 & was told to go out & shoot it, as half of them jammed!

Having been a cop for 25 years, I wanted a handgun on my side. I bought a Russian 9x18 from one of our security folks, until I received a Beretta M9 and a M4. I knew I couldn't bring the Russkie back, legally, and sold it to another police advisor. Not sure what happened to it after I came back to the Land of the Big PX.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!