I am looking for information on a 38 S&W Special, Hand Ejector, it is Nickel with fixed sights, 6 in. barrel and serial number 233127. I would like to year of manufacture and what year/model/change it is. Mechanically perfect, but rough finish. I don't have photos to upload yet, but I picked up for $160 and nickel is rough and mother of pearl grip broken. I want to know out of curiosity and to make it easier to know what I should get for replacement grips. Also to know if I would like to restore, what value I would be giving up on it.

Thanks

It is a .38 Military & Police 4th change (a collector's term, they were just M & Ps to the factory) from the early 1920 decade. It probably had walnut service stocks, round top, checkered with no medallions.

As a general rule, refinishing a more common old gun is not worthwhile from a financial standpoint. You would probably sink twice your purchase price into it, and it would look nicer but have 0% original finish and not be worth any more from a collector standpoint. To me, here is certainly no harm in carefully rehabbing what nickel is remaining and enjoying it as a shooter. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

A minor correction, I beiieve the gun places a bit earlier and 233127 would be a 3rd change, as the demarcation to 4th is generally put at 241000 in 1915.

You're looking for checkered walnut grips with recessed medallions.

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The closest SN I have listed is 2326xx which shipped in 5/1914. I second the advice that trying to restore it is not a good idea, and will probably be more expensive than you expect. It is likely to have a square butt. Any square butt K-frame grips should fit. At that time, the original grips would be checkered wood round tops with recessed (deep dish) gold S&W medallions. They occasionally show up on eBay, but a very good condition pair may be somewhat costly.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I would recommend that you look locally for someone who will do an inexpensive refinish. If your gun is as rough as you say, it probably isn't worth much anyway as a shooter. Around here they go for $200-300. I see no problem making it pretty to shoot. In my area, there are many Cerakoters. Heck you could even do it yourself...or Duracoat...even Parkerize it.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Yes, it would probably make a good DIY project gun to refinish yourself. Several ways that could be done - parkerizing, Duracoat, rust bluing. The latter would probably look the best but would require more sweat and elbow grease on your part.

My change 3 has its original stocks. s/n is 216902. It shipped in Oct 1914.

gifs upload

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I have a pair of recessed-medallion stocks that might be appropriate. They're a mite ragged - heavily worn checkering with what looks like a try at recutting, one small chip at upper front left corner, and a name carved into the inside faces. I was thinking of salvaging the medallions and escutcheons, but it sounds like your gun is a more fitting home. You can contact me via email: [email protected] if interested.

Larry