Greetings, I am seeking to gain more information about this gun. I have taken the tips from the website and tried to get all the info I could before asking. I will try to upload the photos as well. I want to know first of all if this gun is supposed to be a real firearm. It does fire, as I have shot it, but something about it tells me it intended to be a replica or perhaps a stage gun, vs a real legitimate firearm. I would also like to know the manufacture date / ship date.

SN: B 408269
Model: None found
Assembly#: 36583 (put here to indicate I know the assembly number from the SN or model #, I know its useless)
Right side of barrel: 38 S.& W. SPECIAL CTG
Left side of barrel: SMITH & WESSON
Top barrel Line 1: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA
Top barrel Line 2: Patented Feb 08,06, Sept 14, 09, Dec 29, 14
Barrel Length: 4"
Type: Hand Ejector
Caliber: 38 Special
Sights: Fixed
Screws: 5

A few things that bother me. On the top it appears to have a patent date reading Dec 29, 2014. This would indicate the gun would have been made after 2014, making the gun less than 4 years old. But the number of screws seems to indicate it was made in the 1950s. Also the SW imprint seems to be on the left side of the gun, and not the right. Also it looks very old, but seems in fantastic condition. This makes me believe it was made to look old, but really isn't. The serial number on the butt of the gun is different than the one I found under the barrel. The one under the barrel has a B to the left of it, but its pretty far away. The SN on the butt matches the number on the cylinder. The front sight was painted red with fingernail polish so my father could see it better (it was his).

Attached Images

	Barrel Top.jpg (38.8 KB, 306 views)
	Assembly.jpg (57.7 KB, 281 views)
	Butt SN.jpg (47.8 KB, 276 views)
	Calibur.jpg (77.3 KB, 281 views)
	Cylinder.jpg (56.4 KB, 232 views)

Nykion, that last patent date is Dec 29, 1914. Someone will be along to accurately date it for you but I'm guessing early to mid 1920's. It is a Smith & Wesson.

Stu

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! A .38 Military & Police revolver, AKA the Model 1905, Change 4, from around 1923-24. The 'B' on the barrel flat indicates the barrel was to be blued in finishing. If the numbers match the cylinder and butt, it is in original configuration. Seems to be in pretty good condition.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

5 Screws were standard from early days until the 1950's. Model numbers weren't added until the late 1950's. I'll let the guys who really know this stuff do the details, but it looks like a really nice example of an early 20th century Military & Police revolver. Your grandad's gun maybe?

Everything seems legit. Most likely shipped around Oct/Nov time frame 1922.

Welcome to the Forum.

The S&W marking moved from side to side over the years. It wasn't even stamped on some revolvers during and just after WW I.


This a real, true blue Smith & Wesson.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The only un-authentic thing about it is that red paint on the front sight

The S&W logo was indeed stamped on the left under the cylinder latch starting around 1920, and is correct for your gun’s serial.

As the others have already indicated, all else also seems correct. The artificial light makes definite pronouncements iffy, but the finish also appears to be the original blue, maybe changed to a bit of a patina tone; a photo taken in natural daylight could help confirm that.

Nobody copies a Smith to that detail & quality.
Denis

is that "number under the barrel" on the underside of the barrel?

Thank you all for the helpful info!
The number on the butt, on the cylinder and on the underside of the barrel are all the same. Only difference is the one on the underside of the barrel has a B to the far left. But this seems to indicate its blued, not part of the SN itself.

Yep, what you show of that revolver looks right as rain (except the red painted front sight, but you knew that!) The only other thing to look at would be the stocks/grips. IIRC, they should be checkered walnut with no inset monogram as most of the later ones had, or perhaps they are made of black hard rubber with checkering and the monogram moulded in. In its nearly 100 years of service, they may have been changed, but regardless it is a fine example of the breed and a nice family heirloom as well.

Regards,
Froggie

Yep you got a real deal there! Take care of it and shoot it to your hearts content. They do not make them like that anymore. It will take hundreds of thousands of rounds to wear it out. Revolvers do not excite most of the general public nowadays so its real value as a piece of fine craftmenship lies with us enthusiasts. Enjoy

Welcome and nice old S&W.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

The closest SN to yours I have listed with a shipping date is 4042xx which shipped in 9/22. However, I also list 4037xx as shipping in 6/22. I would think yours should have the "MADE IN U.S.A." stamp on the right side of the frame. That began sometime around mid-1922, but I do not know the exact date. It is not terribly difficult to find period-correct grips without the S&W medallion. They were used throughout the 1920s. You might check to see if yours has a square rear sight notch or a rounded bottom notch. The square sight notch also began sometime in 1922, but again I do not know exactly when.