I have a 5 screw, 5 in, S# 326752 S&W Hand Ejector (38 sp) that I use on Cotton mouth snakes & alligators when they try to join me in the boat. I do a lot of fishing in the marsh and swamp.

I don't have a way to photograph the gun, but I would like to know its date of birth.

Thanks much.

TOM

Most likely shipped Mar/Apr time frame 1920.

Welcome to the FORUM! You will need to address that picture thing! We love to see them. Bob

I would not have thought a 38 Special would be a good choice for alligators. How well does it work?

You easily kill a gator with a .22LR if you shoot him at the "knot" behind the eye............

__________________
S&W Accumulator

A 22lr will do it if you hit the spot behind the head -- A 45 acp will NOT if you miss that soft spot. Same goes for the wild pigs.

Everybody needs a car or boat gun. This one from 1948 works for me in the car. We do have a lot of rattlesnakes around here in the Summer.

Attached Images

Car Gun 1948 Pre-M10 38.jpg (119.7 KB, 146 views)

__________________
Dr. B

The brain in a javelina is farther back in the skull than you may think. I know someone who discovered that when he had to finish off one recently.

The brain is more back between the ears than he thought. But 9mm JHP bullets will kill it, if well placed.
I think he used Federal's 124 grain HST load.

I don't know if this shot placement holds for bigger wild pigs.

Alligators have a large dorsal scale behind the eyes. It'll look different than adjoining scales. I've read that this big scale is where to hit them if you're above.

A couple of South African anglers couldn't pierce the hide on a big croc attacking a companion, so one stabbed it in the eye. This was successful; the croc left, probably in agony. I suspect that an alligator or caiman attack could be similarly dealt with, if you have only a knife.

The OP's .38 was made just about when S&W started heat treating cylinders. I'd carry a later gun, preferably in stainless, and with Plus P ammo, or go to a .357.

S&W started heat treating cylinders at serial 316648 in September 1919. I have serial #315083 made just before heat treatment. I just shoot standard pressure / 158 gr. LRN bullets in mine, mostly AE38B. Shoots very well. Don't have original stocks. Yours' #326752 should be heat treated.

Attached Images

full.jpg (54.4 KB, 41 views)

__________________
Just a shooter

I've put about 360 rounds thru it of WIN 130 gr. and some HP.
I only paid $110 for it and it looks like it has been sand blasted; therefore my first shots were at a distance and the gun was inside a cinder block. It works very well and that's all I ask.

There are no S&W logos on it. See Smith & Wesson Model 10 - Wikipedia
The top photo is what mine looks like.

CHOOT'EM......CHOOT'EM.......CHOOT'EM!!
Welcome to the forum!

__________________
PTLAPTA!

Funny thing about gators when you shoot em... You would think they would float, but the sink like a boat anchor!