I was looking for some info on a Smith & Wesson 38. Was a Detroit Police Officer's Revolver, and when he retired, it was chromed and a small Detroit Police badge was embedded on the bottom of the grips.
S/N 626xx. On the Barrel marked 38 S&W CTG. 4" barrel.
Any info regarding value, approximate year would be appreciated.
I am a first time poster but have learned a lot from reading these threads.
Thanks!!

Welcome to the Forum.
If there are no letters in front of that number it dates to about 1905.
If there is a K in front of it it dates to 1948.
If there is a D there it is from 1968.
Look at the bottom of the butt and see if there are letters there.
Jim

Thanks for the quick reply, there are no letters on the butt, there is a small Detroit Police Badge, The serial number was on the frame & on the cylinder

Can you try posting pictures?

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Why, I aughta.....

I will post a few pictures as soon as I figure out how , Thank You

Here are a few pictures, not to clear, but hopefully it will help

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Here's one more

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Welcome to the FORUM from another OHIOAN! Your gun looks to be a Model 10. That is a K frame. It has what is called a pencil barrel. In order to see the serial # you would need to remove the grips. Those are target grips. The gun probably had magna grips on it originally. There are numbers on the gun that mean nothing (assembly #'s) Once you post the number under the grip somebody can get you pretty close on a date. Bob

The caliber of .38 S&W CTG suggests you have a 38/200 British Service Revolver . . . and I believe the barrel length (from tip of muzzle to front face of cylinder) will measure 5".

Although basically a S&W Military & Police model, the BSRs were made for the British Commonwealth countries during WWII and chambered for their 38/200 ammunition (we know it as .38 S&W). The original 38 S&W chambering is not interchangeable with 38 Special . . . although many of these were modified after the war to use 38 Special.

If those target grips don't remove easily with that badge on the bottom, look on the rear face of the cylinder on the outside edge for the serial number. Also check the bottom flat of the barrel (visible with the cylinder open) for that same number. They will likely begin with the letter "V" and be the same as the official serial number which appears on the butt of the steel frame under those grips.

Russ

"It has what is called a pencil barrel."

No, it has a standard or tapered barrel. "Pencil barrel" is incorrect terminology and we really don't need to promote its usage.

But other than knowing the correct terminology to describe the barrel I am confused on this gun. You say 4" barrel but it looks like 5" to me. Also, you state the caliber is "38 S&W" (word Special not present?) and that would not be correct for a Military & Police Model intended for the U.S. market. It is the pre-war "long action" design but I wonder if it's not actually a WW II Victory Model made for Great Britain and subsequently nickel plated? The serial you provided doesn't fit anything the gun appears to be.

The target stocks are post 1968 and not original. Is there a hole in the bottom of the butt? That would confirm it's a military contract model.

BTW- Just to add to the confusion, the Detroit PD is known for using nickel plated 5" revolvers. On top of the other possibilities it might be an issue DPD gun. But I think they were stamped on the back of the grip frame.

I keep coming back to the caliber. Screams Victory Model for England during WW II.

This is what a British Victory Model would look like in standard configuration. Note the lanyard ring on the butt. That's why I asked if there's a hole where the ring used to be.

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Welcome to the Forum.

The "official" serial number is stamped on the butt. Your revolver should also have the SN stamped under the barrel and on the rear of the cylinder.

Could you show us a sharp picture of the right side of the barrel, with the caliber markings?

Lots of us use the term "pencil barrel", mainly because it irritates some of the other members.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Oh, you're bad

Smith and Wesson Detroit Police revolvers has Detroit Police and a number on the back strap.

I gotta agree with pre-WW II gun for export. It's not a Detroit Police issue gun.

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Why, I aughta.....

Silly me, it was early & missed 38 S&W. Batting ZERO on the barrel thing Too.

Sorry for the delayed reply and thanks for all the info.
I got the grips of after a little struggle, but the number is V507664 P, and the barrel is 5" not 4 sorry for the error.
Thanks

And yes there is a hole in the bottom of the grip. So most likely someone just put these target grips on to confuse the hell out of me ??

M&P made for Great Britain 1942-45. Somebody plated it and fancied it up some. Caliber is 38 S&W not 38 Special unless modified and I would not shoot 38 Specials in such a gun. The problem is 38 S&W is rare and pricey. I posted a photo of what the gun looked like when new. It's worth maybe 2 bills.

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Thank you for your info & time, appreciated!!