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04-18-2017, 08:46 AM
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Please help with age and value of this 38 special ctg
I might be in the wrong spot. If I am I apologize. I am looking for help in identifying the age and value of this 38. Any other information about this gun would also be appreciated. I attached photos hope they actually open for you.
Numbers on bottom of grip
S 2339
885679
Numbers when you open cylinder
Y59923
5885679
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04-18-2017, 09:29 AM
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1951-1952. Someone evidently converted it to a sort of Target model. As a shooter it might bring $350 to $400, provided it all functions as expected.
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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244
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04-18-2017, 09:54 AM
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Member JP@AK is the local expert on these, but it is a .38 Military & Police revolver from early 1947 or so, with the S prefix. In 1948 until the late '60s it would have had a C prefix. The four digits near the letter S are an inventory or rack number that was added after it left the factory.
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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
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04-18-2017, 10:09 AM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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It's a former NYPD service revolver. The second set of numbers on the butt is the shield number. And I'm going out on a limb here a bit, but I believe there is a bit of a pun here with the serial prefix. The shield number is quite low for 1947, but when a patrolman was promoted to sergeant, an S was added in front of a number. It almost looks like they utilized the S-prefix to make a sergeant's number. (To give proper credit, my "expertise" on this comes entirely from Robert Vivas' NYPD gun website )
Last edited by Absalom; 04-18-2017 at 10:15 AM.
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04-18-2017, 10:29 AM
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You've a nice one there. Take care of that guy.
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Mike
S&WCA #3065
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04-18-2017, 12:34 PM
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Hi and welcome to the Forum.
S885679 would indicate probable shipment in April, 1947. A lot of them in the S88xxxx range shipped that month.
As noted, this one has been converted to a target revolver, rather inexpertly I would add. That hurts the value but makes it a sort of interesting gun.
The stocks on it are later, being the style used from c. 1953 until c. 1967.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
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04-18-2017, 12:42 PM
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I am curious to know what you guys see that makes it a gun that has been converted?
I am not very knowledgeable about these guns but would like to hear the reasons for you saying it's been converted so I can gain more knowledge
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04-18-2017, 01:36 PM
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The "conversion" is the target sights , front and rear, that have been added to the gun at some time in the past, after the gun left S&W. The rear appears to be a non-adjustable blade and the front a raised blade. Ed.
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04-18-2017, 01:53 PM
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I have seen on this board a number of guns with high profile fixed sights like this. It is a gunsmith alteration that turns away collectors but I think it is a great improvement to the shootability of the revolver.
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04-18-2017, 02:01 PM
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I have something like that rear sight on my 1917. Sure wish I knew who did it. Mine is quite well done and windage adjustable.
Stu
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04-18-2017, 02:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattmedbery
I am curious to know what you guys see that makes it a gun that has been converted?
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First, the target sights (front and rear) don't resemble any sights that were put on the very scarce postwar M&P target models (for example, the "Mexican Model").
Second, look at the top of the barrel (as illustrated in your third picture). You can see where the front sight blade has been soldered to the top of the gun, resulting in damage to the bluing as well as to the front part of the barrel address. This clearly reveals a non-S&W gunsmith (backyard or otherwise) doing the work. A factory-installed target front sight would not look anything like this.
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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318
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04-18-2017, 03:36 PM
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The standard service M&P came with fixed sights. At the time yours sold, probably ca. mid-1947, there were no target model (adjustable sight) M&Ps being made, as there were in the pre-WWII period. Excepting the very few and very desirable Mexican Model target revolvers made in 1946 in the SN range between S812000 and S817000. The K-38 replaced the .38 Special target model M&Ps around early 1947. They all had K-prefix SNs.
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