Hello,

I'm starting to sell most of my 30 year collection and I've run into a gun that a gentleman is interested in buying, so I'm trying to research it.

This is a S&W 5 screw 38 revolver 5" that is stamped on the left side of the frame with "R.I.A......PD" and it has a 6 digit number stamped on the thin part of the frame below the cylinder. The stampings are very large and intentionally struck deep.

I purchased a collection of extraordinary guns from a gentleman who was a guard for the Inland factory, Rock Island Armory and Remington, during WW2. He told me that this S&W revolver was his sidearm during his time at Rock Island and he liked the gun so much, that he purchased it after the war.

I'm trying to figure out what the value, rarity and collectiblity is for this gun. Does anyone here know anything about the Police Dept guns from WW2 ?

I'm happy to send pics or if someone can walk me through posting photos, I'll show it to everyone.

Thanks for your help,

Ray

This site supports attachments. Further down the screen, below the message box,
is a Additional Options section. Click on the Manage Attachments, or something
like that, and you can upload your pictures from your PC to the message.

The gun is probably worth something more than a non-LEO gun. Maybe $50 to $100 -
I don't know for sure. Not everyone cares about RIA police guns, but those that do
are willing to pay for them.

Later, Mike Priwer

Welcome to the Forum.

The serial number is one that is stamped on the butt. It includes any letter prefixes, even those that are spaced apart form the digits.

This number will also be stamped under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder.

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Hi Ray....welcome to the forum!

A photo or three would be helpful, along with the serial number located on the butt. You can replace the last 2 or 3 digits with an X. Value is almost impossible to establish without evaluating condition. I believe that RIA marked police guns are fairly scarce and of cross interest to both military and police collectors. But value will depend on it's condition and perhaps a small premium added for it's RIA marking. I don't think much over what Mike Priwer estimated. Most police guns that are marked (many aren't) achieve a small premium.

Hi there Ray, welcome to the forum. We definitly need some pic's! Sounds like an interesting revolver you have. I really like a revolver with a WW II home front connection and Im sure there are others out there like me who would pay a resonable premium for one.

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Stay safe people!