Hi Folks, after some hours on Google and the forum, I think I have a 1905 1st Update, circa 1907 and am looking to confirm and get a sense of value.

This 5 screw model has serial number 108xxx on the butt without any letter prefixes.

Based on blued trigger and hammer, its refinished. Appears it was a good job done some time ago and its new skin is in nice shape with only holster wear on the front of the barrel. Under that blue there is a good amount of wear on the fine thumb crosshatch of the hammer with smoothing at the high spot. Sights have lost their sharp corners.

There is no patent date on the barrel, just the side markings. I see no other external serial numbers. Just a sequence or part number in the yolk which I understand is not helpful. I have not pulled the side plate.

Mechanically it seems to function fine and I have not fired it.

Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

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Using the Neal & Jinks system, you do have a 1905- 1st Change. It has a much later barrel that could not be older than the late 1940s, and an ejector rod that cannot be older than the early 1960s.
Someone will be along shortly to tell you that you have to call it a Model 1902 because it has a round butt.

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Looking at the different coloration, I would suspect the barrel, cylinder, and rod all got swapped out together. You can check that as the original cylinder would have the butt serial stamped on its face.

Using the part of Neal & Jinks naming convention I like, the gun would be best called a 38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police, 1st Change that likely shipped from the factory in 1907 or 1908. That way, no issues with 1902/1905 differences.

For me, the gun was heavily buffed and poorly re-blued, but I bet if functions and shoots just fine. Also, looks like some pitting on the hammer sides? Original finish guns are most commonly identified by very crisp and sharp edges, no dishing or rounding of the edges of the revolver. Second, all parts would be the same color. It appears that part of the gun is plum and part is dark blue. That will happen with dissimilar metals that were not left in the bluing solution long enough. My understanding is that the harder the steel, the longer it should remain in the bluing tank.

__________________
Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks gents for that input. I did assume the barrel and cylinder were not original vs it being due to the blue treatment. At best not done concurrently, but the feedback on dating the barrel seems to cinch it. A mix master.

I did put 3 rounds thru it after my first post, so it does that OK.

Can anyone hazard a guess as to value? Between $200 to $300 ?

Good guess. That is pretty much the ballpark for any shootable, mechanically sound K-frame revolver with no collector interest left.