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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 03-20-2009, 07:13 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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I have been given my grandfather's old pistol and was hoping that someone could help me identify it's age, etc. It is a .38 S&W Special, U.S. Service CTG's, nickel finish is in excellent condition, pearl handle, serial number 47619, 4" barrel, hammer and trigger has different finish than the rest of the pistol. On top of the barrel there is an inscription...

Smith Wesson Springfield Mass USA
Patd April 9 89. March 27 94. May 21.95. July 16.95 Aug 4.96 Dec 22. 96. Oct 6.01 Dec 17.01

If anyone can give me some information/history...I would greatly appreciate it.
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Old 03-20-2009, 07:13 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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I have been given my grandfather's old pistol and was hoping that someone could help me identify it's age, etc. It is a .38 S&W Special, U.S. Service CTG's, nickel finish is in excellent condition, pearl handle, serial number 47619, 4" barrel, hammer and trigger has different finish than the rest of the pistol. On top of the barrel there is an inscription...

Smith Wesson Springfield Mass USA
Patd April 9 89. March 27 94. May 21.95. July 16.95 Aug 4.96 Dec 22. 96. Oct 6.01 Dec 17.01

If anyone can give me some information/history...I would greatly appreciate it.
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Old 03-20-2009, 07:40 PM
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Welcome to the forum. This is a pretty nice way to start. (Pictures)....You have a (pictures) 38 Military Model (pictures) of 1902 1st change (if my memory is working). Should be a round butt (pictures) and the grips, if they are factory, (pictures) would have a logo medallion.

Did I mention we'd love to see some pictures?
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Old 03-21-2009, 07:24 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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Would gladly post pics but I do not have permission to do this. Who do I contact to get permission to upload pics?
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Old 03-21-2009, 07:30 PM
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Welcome to the forum.

How to post pics:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...0103904/m/3011047303
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Old 03-22-2009, 12:07 PM
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Mike

Bet'cha it's not a 1st change, but just a 1902.

Reason is that, for a 4 " barrel, the patent date roll markings are still on the
top of the barrel. If it were a 1st change, they would be on the side of the
barrel.

If we get some pictures, I bet there is no shoulder on the barrel, where it meets
the frame. If there is a shoulder, and with top roll markings, then we have an
example of the very earliest of the 1st change models. In that case, it would be
very interesting to see a picture of the roll markings. I've never seen, nor heard,
of one where the roll markings might have gone up the shoulder.

Regards, Mike Priwer
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Old 03-22-2009, 02:03 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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I have posted some pics of the pistol.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lu...#5316120153305481042

Please let me know if you are unable to view the pics or need additional pics. Thanks!

CD
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Old 03-22-2009, 04:17 PM
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Couple of notes...

1) Grips are aftermarket pearls
2) I still believe its a 1st change
3) I also believe its a 5 inch barrel. Measure the barrel from the front of the cylinder face to the end of the barrel.

Pics are a little to fuzzy to be sure of overall condition. Cool gun though.
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Old 03-22-2009, 06:12 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
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Mike

All bets are off ! As you note, its not a 4", and there is clearly a shoulder on
the barrel. So - 1902 1st change.

Regards, Mike Priwer
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Old 03-22-2009, 06:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by mikepriwer:
Mike

All bets are off ! As you note, its not a 4", and there is clearly a shoulder on
the barrel. So - 1902 1st change.

Regards, Mike Priwer
Sure...just when I can finally win one, you cancel the bet.
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Old 03-22-2009, 07:08 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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I have taken some additional pics that seem to be less blurry.

1) How can you tell if the grips are an aftermarket grip vs. factory?
2)What is the difference!bewtween the 1st and 2nd change? Did S&W modify the handgun?
3) I measured the barrel as instructed and it appears to measure 5"

What would something like this be worth? How much would the aftermarket grips devalue the handgun? Thanks for all your help!

http://picasaweb.google.com/luvsurf2/38SpecialPics#
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Old 03-22-2009, 07:36 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
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This is a model of 1902, because it has the lug under the barrel , to retain the extractor
rod. Its a 1st change because it has the beefed-up barrel and receiver, which is
indicated by the shoulder on the barrel, right where it meets the frame face. This was
a factory engineering change, and not a modification to the gun.

Round-butt pearls almost always, in this period of time, have gold medallions in their
upper part. From the pictures, the area where the medallions would be, is too large.
And, they don't fit the gun quite right . You can see misfit where the ears on the grips
meet the frame. The ears hang over a bit.

Effectively, the gun has non-factory grips. Had those grips been gold-medallion pearls,
the gun would be worth several hundred dollars more, than it is now. These grips do have
some value. As it is, the gun is probably $300 to $350 , maybe as much as $400 to
some buyer.

Later, Mike Priwer
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Old 03-22-2009, 07:37 PM
mikepriwer mikepriwer is offline
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Quote:
Sure...just when I can finally win one, you cancel the bet.
Oh, brother !
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Old 03-22-2009, 08:40 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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Thanks for the info Mike! You have been a huge help...
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Old 03-23-2009, 07:13 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by luv2surf:
I have posted some pics of the pistol.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lu...#5316120153305481042

Please let me know if you are unable to view the pics or need additional pics. Thanks!

CD
Did you move the pictures? I've been Gun Showing all weekend but would have like to see the pictures anyway.
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Old 03-23-2009, 06:03 PM
luv2surf luv2surf is offline
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Sorry...I took additional pics to try and make them a little clearer...try this link.

http://picasaweb.google.com/luvsurf2/38SpecialPics#
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Old 03-30-2009, 08:25 PM
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Sorry to intrude, but I have some questions about a 38 spl also. You all sound knowledgeable and I would like your in put.

Here is a link to the post in this forum.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/e...&r=59510294#59510294
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Old 04-20-2014, 06:04 PM
jim300_99 jim300_99 is offline
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serial number says its a 1st Change,..
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Old 04-20-2014, 09:18 PM
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luv2surf,

Here is what Mike was talking about. Gold Medallion factory Mother-of-Pearl stocks. The medallions are cropped from the larger picture.
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Old 06-17-2015, 02:40 AM
ThebossGlenn ThebossGlenn is offline
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I have a 38 special US service ctg's serial- 464** can some one please tell me some info
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