Hi, what do I have here…

[Wambli Ska]

I’m a huge S&W revolver fan and have quite a few of them but I will admit I’m a generalist and while I have a good collection of firearms and though I believe I know a quite a bit about a lot of guns, maybe not so much about the older models S&W revolvers.

Just got this 5 Screw .38 spl with a 5” barrel nickel plated and the plating is in great shape. Gun is in EXCELLENT condition overall with a great bore and TIGHT action. Serial number is 3040XX which leads me to believe maybe shipped 1918 or 19? No logos or addresses on frame. Grips are originals with no damage and have the serial number written in pencil inside. I believe I’m the first one that has ever removed them off the gun, they are tight and beautifully fitted.

Could someone confirm date? Any other information I should be aware of? Approximate value in todays market? I bought it for $400 cash. Assuming I did Ok?

Thank you in advance for your knowledge!

 

[Muley Gil]

Looks like a round butt Military & Police from about 1919.

 

[rct269]

I can't confirm the date, but I can say you're close---perhaps even very close---aside from the fact S&W didn't ship in serial order---and sometime not even close to serial order. But given our inclination to play these guessing games, here are a couple of dates for the same model---but these are for target versions, and they didn't move nearly as quickly as their fixed sight kinfolk.

#264678 shipped March 1, 1917-----#404219 went out September 9, 1922.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[bamabiker]

Since this is your first post I was going to welcome you to the forum, but then I saw you joined nearly 4 years ago.
$400...I think you did OK. It's been a while since the last time I saw a decent S&W for less.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Those round butt walnut grips with gold medallions are pretty scarce. You might want to safeguard those.

 

[DWalt]

The grips with the ”deep dish” gold medallions are a good indicator of production in the 1911-20 period. Yours is likely from 1919. Also, it probably does not have the S&W logo stamp on the frame.

 

[Wambli Ska]

Those round butt walnut grips with gold medallions are pretty scarce. You might want to safeguard those.

I’ve heard the from other folks. Thanks for confirming this.

 

[Wambli Ska]

Since this is your first post I was going to welcome you to the forum, but then I saw you joined nearly 4 years ago.
$400...I think you did OK. It's been a while since the last time I saw a decent S&W for less.

I’ve mostly lurked getting knowledge. Ready to become a little more active.

 

[Wambli Ska]

The grips with the ”deep dish” gold medallions are a good indicator of production in the 1911-20 period. Yours is likely from 1919. Also, it probably does not have the S&W logo stamp on the frame.

So digging a little deeper about grips, folks keep telling me the grips are desirable. I’d never separate them from the original gun but what are these grips worth in their own? I’ve heard some outrageous numbers but can’t find any for sale. Again just looking to become more informed.

 

[jcelect]

So digging a little deeper about grips, folks keep telling me the grips are desirable. I’d never separate them from the original gun but what are these grips worth in their own? I’ve heard some outrageous numbers but can’t find any for sale. Again just looking to become more informed.

Quite possibly your statement of, "can’t find any for sale" explains your evaluation of the price, "outrageous numbers"! Welcome to the world of older guns!
jcelect

 

[Model19man]

Looks like the revolver has been refinished so shooter value there. Whatever the grips are worth plus maybe $300 would be my guess if it is excellent mechanical shape.

 

[handejector]

I see NO signs of a refinish. How do you come up with that?

 

[Wambli Ska]

Looks like the revolver has been refinished so shooter value there. Whatever the grips are worth plus maybe $300 would be my guess if it is excellent mechanical shape.

I’ve been buying used guns for a loooong time and I’m pretty good at spotting a refinished gun.

This gun shows ZERO signs of refinish so if your seeing something I don’t please elaborate. All stamps are sharp and deep with patina in them. The side plate is tight and sharp and there are no rounded edges anywhere. The grips felt like I was taking a champagnes cork out of the bottle when I popped them out with zero sign of having ever being taken off since factory fitted.

 

[Model19man]

This gun shows ZERO signs of refinish so if your seeing something

The picture you posted shows - on my screen - blued hammer and trigger. So far as I know those would be case hardened on an unrefinished unit.

 

[Mbrgr1]

I’ve been buying used guns for a loooong time and I’m pretty good at spotting a refinished gun.

This gun shows ZERO signs of refinish so if your seeing something I don’t please elaborate. All stamps are sharp and deep with patina in them. The side plate is tight and sharp and there are no rounded edges anywhere. The grips felt like I was taking a champagnes cork out of the bottle when I popped them out with zero sign of having ever being taken off since factory fitted.

How about some more pics? Hard to tell anything with one.

 

[mikeruns]

Hammer and trigger look cch to me on my screen, I think this is a nice condition survivor/shooter and the price was fair as such.

 

[Wambli Ska]

Hammer and trigger look cch to me on my screen, I think this is a nice condition survivor/shooter and the price was fair as such.

That’s my assessment too. Thank you.

 

[Wambli Ska]

Hammer and trigger are not blued. They are case hardened but obviously little of it is left after 100+ years. Still visible in the protected areas of the hammer and trigger.

So I’m clear, I’m not looking for opinions on whether this gun is refinished. I have plenty of experience determining that myself and this gun shows no signs of having been refinished or altered in any way from a standard nickel factory gun. I was really only interested in nailing down as best as I could manufacturing or shipping date and approximate value in todays market. Thank you all for your input.

 

[LostintheOzone]

$400? You can't buy anything for $400 except form your neighbor who isn't on the internet and has no clue about the current prices of anything.

You know what you have now. I'm guessing 5-600 in the market.

 

[Wambli Ska]

$400? You can't buy anything for $400 except form your neighbor who isn't on the internet and has no clue about the current prices of anything.

You know what you have now. I'm guessing 5-600 in the market.

This was a find in a pawn shop out in “the country” and the owner is a good buddy and I buy a fair amount of stuff off him. When he said “for you I’ll do $400 cash out the door” I figured even though I don’t know enough about pre-war S&W, where on earth am I going to find a solid .38 spl revolver in this shape for $400?!?!?! So I just handed the cash over.

Then I went on Gunbroker and Armslist and saw prices all over the place from the $400s to asking prices over $1,000, so I figured I’d ask some actual experts. I also marked a bunch of auctions to “watch” so I can see what they actually sell for. In time that will give me a better sense of the market. Thanks for the insight.