Identify please ? Model 33-1, serial # 11XXX4, .38 S&W CTG, 4" Barrel, fixed sights, hand ejector, no strain screw, I assume it's a 3 screw 2 visible one covered by MOP grips no screw on front trigger guard. The problem I have is with the serial# on the gun butt. It appears that the first 1 is not from the same die stamp, it's smaller in size and not as boldly stamped as the rest of the numbers. I was wondering if S&W denoted "improved I frames" in some manner like this. Any and all info would help, thank you. If needed I could post pictures later. Feel free to email info to [email protected]

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Hi and welcome to the S&W Forum.

First, your 38 Regulation Police is not an I frame. The -1 in the model number indicates it is a J frame. This model switched to the J frame in 1961.

Assuming the serial number is correct, yours is from the mid-to late 1960s, I would think. I don't have a good list of serial numbers for this model. It and the Terrier shared a serial sequence of their own.

If you can post a photo of the butt serial number and one of the left side of the gun, someone here can help determine what you have.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I added photos to my original post hope this helps and thank you for your help !

I think the first 1 is just a light strike. If you look at the rest of the numbers they are not all struck as deep as their neighbor. This isn't uncommon. Just my opinion. You know everyone has one.
SWCA 892

The serial numbers on the model 33-1 reached 122678 in 1969 before changing to an H prefix that year. They were not tremendously fast sellers so yours may be from the early-mid 1960s.

And I suspect the grips on yours are "MOP-like", perhaps made by Jay Scott. Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Based on the thumbpiece, it is no earlier than 1966 and, as Alan stated, before 1969.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Nothing wrong with your serial number

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S&W factory revolver armorer

For some reason I had it in my head that when they went from the I frame and Improved I frame to the J frame that they eliminated the .38CTG for the purpose of going to the .38 special

In terms of new US revolver sales, the .38 S & W was a dead duck after the introduction of the .38 Special. They held on with top breaks and smaller Hand Ejectors because there were no compact S & W .38 Specials in any quantities until after WW II.

The British and Commonwealth bought hundreds of thousands of Victory Models in that chambering during WW II and even a few afterward, but over here they were slow sellers and only in the I/J frames until being discontinued in the mid-1970s.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

My 33-1 has an R prefix…

The R prefix is usually seen on stainless J frames. Anything is possible, can you post photos?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

In addition to two stainless models (60 and 651), the R prefix was used on the Model 32 Terrier and the Model 33 .38 Regulation Police. So an R prefix Model 33-1 (J frame variation) would be correct, beginning in 1969.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

S&W started the R prefix in 1969 for the Models 32-1, 33-1, and 60. In 1983 S&W added the Model 651, and the first 902 of those had an R prefix, according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Ed.

S&W discontinued the 32-1 and 33-1 in 1974 (same reference).

In 1983 Model 60, 651, and other J-frames that used different serial number prefixes were melded into the 3-letter, 4-number serial number system that S&W had initiated in 1980 with the release of its new L-frame revolvers.

* Jack types quicker than I do. *

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Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob