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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 09-22-2020, 03:45 PM
singraldi singraldi is offline
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Default 38 Special CTG

I have a Double Action, S&W 38Spl CTG. when I open the cylinder - SN 68709 on frame (there is an R above it, and an 8 below it, there's also a # on bottom of the barrel frame c 140216 (same # on bottom of frame under the grip). I think its a very Early model but the gun doesn't have an actual model # on it that I can tell. Can you tell me by the #'s what make and model and year it might be? It has a 6" barrel, a raised thumb rest (Grips were made in Italy) - so don't think it's original grips.

Below was the suggestion from S&W site:

Unfortunately that firearm is too old for our computer records. I would suggest contacting the S&W Historical Foundation.
According to your serial number your firearm was manufactured XX/XXXX. For further information on the history of your firearm visit the Smith and Wesson Historical Foundation here for more details.
Thanks for any help / Sal

Last edited by singraldi; 09-22-2020 at 05:22 PM.
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Old 09-22-2020, 05:36 PM
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Sal, can you post a photo of your gun? The serial number alone isn't enough to determine the model of the gun, since serial numbers were not unique to a particular model at that time.

And if it's a .38 Special, then it's probably not an antique. That round didn't come about until around the turn of the century.

Mike
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Old 09-22-2020, 05:52 PM
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Based on the evidence, the poster has confused the assembly number (68709) with the serial number (C140216) and this is a post WWII M&P that likely shipped in the early 1950s.
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Old 09-22-2020, 06:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hkcavalier View Post
Based on the evidence, the poster has confused the assembly number (68709) with the serial number (C140216) and this is a post WWII M&P that likely shipped in the early 1950s.
On reflection, I think this is correct. The C serial number prefix didn't register in my pea brain.

Mike
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Old 09-22-2020, 07:59 PM
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Serial Number should be on the Butt, along with any letter prefix.

Serial Number will also be on the face of the Cylinder, and on the flat of the Barrel's underside, near the Frame * and other less easy to see places).

Assembly Number will be inside the Yoke Knuckle.


Can you post some images of the old S & W?
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Old 09-22-2020, 08:03 PM
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And welcome to the forum.
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Old 09-22-2020, 08:18 PM
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Your revolver’s model name is the .38 Military and Police. S&W didn’t use model numbers until 1957 and your gun was made about 1951. It became the Model 10 in 1957; earlier post-war guns are sometimes referred to as pre-Model 10. Production of this model started in 1899 and continues to this day.
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Old 09-22-2020, 10:58 PM
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Welcome to The Forum from the Wiregrass! I think these guys have identified your gun accurately.

Guy
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Old 09-22-2020, 11:11 PM
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C140216 probably left the factory sometime in early 1951. It is called simply the Military and Police (M&P) Model. There is nothing special or unusual about it as these are extremely common revolvers.
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Old 09-23-2020, 03:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HKSmith View Post
It became the Model 10 in 1957; earlier post-war guns are sometimes referred to as pre-Model 10.
More specifically:

Only if the "earlier post war guns" have the post war sliding bar hammer block safety and identical engineering design changes as the later model # stamped version, is what makes any model a Pre Model.
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Old 09-23-2020, 08:40 AM
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All C-series M&Ps up to somewhere around SN C43xxxx can be referred to as pre-Model 10s. That is where model stamping on the frame began. Of course S&W did not do that.
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Old 09-23-2020, 08:42 AM
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singraldi

Welcome to the Forum.

Others have correctly identified your handgun. It is a .38 Military & Police revolver from 1950 or 1951.

The 6" barrel is kind of fun. According to my research, the 6" barrel was the least common length in the 1946-1955 period. They are not rare, by any means, but the 4" was the most common, followed by 5" and then 2". The 2" units had either a square or round butt.

I hope you will stick around. This is a fun place to be and there is no other site on the Internet where you can get more and better information about S&W revolvers.

Added: from your description, the stocks are probably from Sile.
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Old 09-23-2020, 10:42 AM
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So before I looked at the thread, I got all the info possibly needed for yous guys/gals to help me out. So yes the SN is c 140216 matching on frame and cylinder. 6" barrel, extractor, adjustable rear sight. So I count 6 screws (4 on side plate, 1 on frame under the grip, and one in front of the trigger guard).

That said, what's it worth today??

Thanks so much for all your help. Very much appreciated. Vr Sal
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Old 09-23-2020, 10:51 AM
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It has been modified, Sal. It's not collectible except by those folks that like oddball modified guns. I'd say around $300 as a shooter.
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Old 09-23-2020, 11:08 AM
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Great thanks so much, it 's in great shape, and shoots marvelous, and it's very accurate; well in my hands anyway. :O) Thanks again for the help.
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Old 09-23-2020, 11:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by singraldi View Post
So before I looked at the thread, I got all the info possibly needed for yous guys/gals to help me out. So yes the SN is c 140216 matching on frame and cylinder. 6" barrel, extractor, adjustable rear sight. So I count 6 screws (4 on side plate, 1 on frame under the grip, and one in front of the trigger guard).

That said, what's it worth today??

Thanks so much for all your help. Very much appreciated. Vr Sal
It's actually known as a 5 screw: the "1 on frame under the grip," more specifically at the bottom of the front grip strap, the spring tension screw is not counted.
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Old 09-23-2020, 01:30 PM
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The really tall front sight and adjustable rear sight were added at some point.
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Old 09-23-2020, 01:46 PM
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While the sight modifications may significantly enhance its capability for target shooting, they add little to nothing to its value, nor do the grips. It would be considered as a customized shooter-grade revolver, maybe in the $300-$400 range for a private transaction. For example, the S&W K-38 Masterpiece is the factory-manufactured version of a .38 Special target revolver having a 6" barrel and adjustable sights, somewhat similar to what you have. They can be found in average used condition for around $500.

Last edited by DWalt; 09-23-2020 at 01:55 PM.
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Old 09-23-2020, 03:53 PM
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Yep. You dress up your girl for the dance. Or, if you're so inclined, you get a new girl that already has the clothes.

Here's my early 1950s K-38 for contrast. Note the rear sight sits more flush to the frame, and with the barrel rib the front sight isn't as prominent.

Yours looks like a fun shooter but yes, not really collectible. People who buy 70 year old revolvers want them original, and 'casual' revolver buyers usually want newer guns, particularly the magnums and rimfire calibers in stainless steel.

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Old 09-23-2020, 10:38 PM
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Welcome to this forum.

The rear sight looks like a Mexican Model sight since it fits flush in the top strap. Does it have Patent Pending stamped on the tang?

The gun itself is too new to be a Mex Mod however.
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:17 AM
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Those look like Micro sights to me, both front and rear. The name may be impressed on one or both of the components. The company was active in the '50s and '60s. It was started by guys who originally worked for the King Gun Sight Co., but left and founded Micro when the King operation got sketchy. Litigation ensued, and bad feelings all around.

Both King and Micro aftermarket sights are of excellent quality.
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