I'm looking at an early model revolver being offered for sale privately. Having some trouble IDing it.

Serial is 29775, has a five shot cylinder, what I believe is a yoke lock, a 4" barrel.

Can anyone help me with a positive ID? I have the Standard Catalog, but as usual I'mnot the best at using it. I believe this is an M&P Model of 1902?

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Hi snuffy. You have a .38 Regulation Police, like it says on the barrel, made on the I frame. It was likely made in the 1920's. If you remove the grips, the serial should be penciled on the back of the right panel. Also, you'll notice the back grip frame is stepped (rebated) to align with the grips.


Here are some known ship dates:
.38 Regulation Police serial 30379 shipped October 1927.
.38 R.P. serial 31170 shipped February 1928.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Never heard of that one. But thanks, it gives me a starting point.

Note: Calibre is .38 Smith and Wesson, NOT .38 Special.
Ammunition availability and price discourages some people.

Some call it .38 S&W Short which is incorrect but that does not keep
Fiocchi from printing it on their box.

Finding .38 S&W ammunition today can be an expensive challenge. But it can be found. .38 S&W was one of the early centerfire revolver cartridges from the black powder days of the 19th Century.

Check it out in the Standard Catalog, 4th Edition page 173.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Right side of frame, in front of trigger; "Made in USA" started in 1921/1922. Mine is plane. SN 213XX

Once you find ammo, these are very fun to shoot.

Ivan

It was introduced in 1917.

The 5 shot cyl is the tip off that it's a smaller smaller frame than the M&P Model of 1902 which is a K frame.

Have fun!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

What are they asking?? It looks a little rough, but as others have said, fun to shoot. I have a ton of 38 S&W if you need a few rounds to try.


Make sure it's functional of course!

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When words fail, music speaks.

Well thank you everybody! Looks like I have some reading to do, and I know a lot more than this morning!

The seller hasn't put a value on it, he knows I have the SCSW (not that I'm very good with it -yet) and says he will go by what I think. Mbrgr1, wht do you think? I haven't actually seen it yet, he sold me a Model 36 which is how we met.

I'm aware of the ammunition difference, have found some listings but haven't checked prices. Can I reload this round? I have 38 Special dies.

Yes you can reload it but not with 38 Spl. Dies. And the bullets are a larger diameter. Well you could reload them with 38 Spl does but they’d be undersized for the chambers and the correct size bullets wouldn’t fit in the case mouths. .38 Spl bullets would rattle down the bore with mediocre accuracy. I don’t even think your shell holder would work depending on the brand.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Yes, you can easily reload this round. No, you can't use .38spl dies.
Many folks use .38 special (.358) lead bullets successfully, but the .38 S&W actually uses a .360 bullet. Soft lead and giving up a little accuracy, .358 will work.
Lee dies, if available, are affordable and work great.
I have a multitude of Smiths in this caliber (single and double action top breaks and i and K frame HE's), and thankfully I have a lot of reloading components for it.

If you aren't aware, the .38 S&W round was the British WW2 revolver round. They called it .38-200.
It's a fun cartridge with less recoil than a .38 Special.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292