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S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos


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Old 10-02-2017, 04:12 PM
enorms enorms is offline
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Default need help id 38 ctg HE

I have a S & W SPECIAL CTG Stainless revolver 4 screw 4 inch barrel SERIAL NUMBER 954023 Any info would be appreciated

Last edited by enorms; 10-02-2017 at 04:49 PM. Reason: add pics
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Old 10-02-2017, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by enorms View Post
I have a S & W SPECIAL CTG Stainless revolver 4 screw 4 inch barrel SERIAL NUMBER 954023 Any info would be appreciated
We'll need a bit more info.

That serial by itself cannot be a stainless (or original nickeled) gun. Are you reading it from the butt of the grip? Is there a letter prefix you left off?

Look at this thread for additional helpful hints :

To IDENTIFY your Gun >
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Old 10-02-2017, 04:47 PM
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You might have a BSR from the early 40's that has been refinished. Just guessing as not much info to go on.

This one is s/n 975939 and it shipped from the factory in Dec of 1941 as a blue revolver. It has been chromed.

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Old 10-05-2017, 06:20 PM
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Ok it is a four screw revolver it has a 4 inch barrell on one side it says s & W 38 special ctg the other side says smith & wesson. It has no markings on the cylinder. Here are some pics20171002_154435_001.jpg

20171002_154631.jpg
It has a marking by the cylinder release that all I can make out is "polize"
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Old 10-05-2017, 06:33 PM
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I am sorry its a five screw and it has a strain screw.
Serial number may be 354023
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20171002_155130.jpg (33.3 KB, 35 views)
File Type: jpg 20171002_155119.jpg (42.2 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg 20171002_140322.jpg (61.7 KB, 33 views)
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Old 10-05-2017, 06:48 PM
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Welcome to the forum.

I read the # as 854023. The first digit looks nothing like that last digit which is a 3.

That's a pre or during WW II Military and Police revolver that has been retrofitted with a post war barrel and cyl. Most likely because it began life chambered for the British 38-200 (38 S&W) cartridge as a wartime contract gun built for the British. Sometimes referred to as a Pre Victory Model with no V preceeding the # on the butt.

Many of these saw service in Germany following WW II as their piece time Police Force service weapon. That's when it may have recieved the special stamp if it reads in German.

It's not stainless because the grip straps are blued, and too early to be made of stainless steel by about 25 years. It may be nickel plating over a sandblasted finish.

When it was converted to 38 Special is speculative, but likely after imported back to this country (if you're in the USA) to shoot the more powerful and more available cartrdige.

Is there a serial # under barrel or on rear face of the cyl that match the #854023, and was that taken from the gun butt?
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Last edited by Hondo44; 10-05-2017 at 07:21 PM.
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Old 10-05-2017, 06:50 PM
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354023 would date it to around late 1920. However, the extractor rod is incorrect for that date. Also, the that time, the S&W logo should be on the frame, not the sideplate, and it would not have the MADE IN USA stamp on the frame. It looks to me that all of the original blued finish has been worn off or otherwise removed. Someone has taken a file to the front sight.


Are you sure the SN on the butt is not 854023? I cannot be sure of the first digit. If it is an 8, then the date would be around late 1941. Even so, the extractor rod would still be incorrect. It is indeed probably one of the British 38/200s provided to the Austrian civil police after WWII, and the cylinder and barrel replaced at some later time.

If you expect to find it's worth a lot, you will be disappointed.

Last edited by DWalt; 10-05-2017 at 07:03 PM.
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Old 10-05-2017, 06:57 PM
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The stamp reads “Österreich Polizei“ around a Habsburg eagle and denotes a gun issued to local police in post-war occupied Austria. All those I‘ve ever encountered were ex-BSR‘s originally. The serial looks like 854023 to me.

Last edited by Absalom; 10-05-2017 at 06:59 PM.
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Old 10-05-2017, 07:20 PM
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i originally thought the serial was a nine. As for the price it is worth every penny I paid for it. Already run 500 rounds through it and it is a blast to shoot and I can hammer nails with it too. Thanks for the help
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Old 10-05-2017, 11:39 PM
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Lord, don't hammer nails with it, or Wanted posters, like in some old Western movies. That'll damage the finish even more, let along muck up the bottom of the stocks/grips.

BTW, your spelling in German needs attention. I used a magnifying glass to see that stamp better, at which point I saw that it had been issued to Austrian police. When I saw your spelling, I thought maybe some hick had tried to pass it off as a US cop gun.

I'm glad that you're pleased with it. It does seem to have had an interesting life as a Frankengun. (Made of many non-original parts)
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Old 10-06-2017, 12:49 AM
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I think my first instincts were correct. Looks like it started life as a .38/200 BSR and ended up with the post war Germans. I guessing if the s/n is 854xxx it would have shipped in Oct/Nov 1941.

I bet it is a hoot to shoot.
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