I recently acquired a round butt Regulation Police chambered in .38 S&W with a 4" barrel. The serial number is 429XX. I was wondering what the approximate ship date was and a source for some correct grips for the old girl? Thanks in advance!
REGULATION POLICE QUESTIONS
- Thread starter Martyk
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Nice one!
Right here on this forum in the classifieds section. Post a want ad.
If Pre War which it could be, since it has the barrel style extractor rod knob, and low number, grips should have flat silver medallions and sharp cornered checkering borders.
If post war they should have round cornered checkering borders and curved nickel plated medallions; both features like those on your target grips.
I presume the grip frame back strap is rebated on the lower half.
Right here on this forum in the classifieds section. Post a want ad.
If Pre War which it could be, since it has the barrel style extractor rod knob, and low number, grips should have flat silver medallions and sharp cornered checkering borders.
If post war they should have round cornered checkering borders and curved nickel plated medallions; both features like those on your target grips.
I presume the grip frame back strap is rebated on the lower half.
Last edited:
I have a 4 inch (SN 26905) which shipped in April of 1924 so yours may well be from the 1930s. One of the benefits of being a SWCA member is that the good Dr. Jinks will give you a month and year ship date for free. If yours did ship in the 1930s, which is likely, I think the correct grips would have a silver medallion and look like these. If not, someone will be along to correct the error. The ones without medallions were used in the 1920s but stopped around 1930.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pWsG4n https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pWsG4n https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Last edited:
.38 RP serial 38242 shipped in September 1929.
.38 RP serial 45013 shipped in May 1935.
.38 RP serial 45013 shipped in May 1935.
Green Frog
Member
With those grips, I’ve got to ask of the OP, where is the serial number located? Is it on the front or the bottom of the grip frame? This will give some background info. Also, is the same serial number stamped under the barrel, somewhat obscured by the ejecto rod? I wonder whether the gun was rebuilt and upgraded at some time in its past.
Froggie
Froggie
This should be an interesting thread. My Regulation Police are both from a few years earlier than yours. The serial number, front of the frame by the grip, the back of the cylinder, the barrel just above the ejector rod all match. There are some inspection numbers as well.
More than likely, your RP came with the style of grips that have a medallion and a square bottom as shown below. The medallions were added about 1929. So you're looking for the medallion style, diamond in the center. These can be hard to identify because they look similar to other frame sizes. Mine measure almost exactly 3" from the very back bottom of the grip up to the shoulder point. That might help you locate them. I saw some on ebay that are probably correct but the sellers didn't know what the frame size was or what models they fit.
This scan is from my Gun Relics website 1937 Catalog (I can't post a link here).
Attachments
Last edited:
That is a very interesting brochure, especially the picture of the Regulation Police Target with the service stocks. I would have expected it to have the extended length two screw target stocks. I have one from 1927 with the wrong stocks (the same as shown in the brochure picture) but wrong because in 1927 they wouldn't have had medallions. I've assumed also wrong because they aren't the extended length two screw version but based on this picture it appears S&W shipped target versions with standard service stocks, at least in the 1930s.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
So I have a .38 version from 1929 and a .32 from 1925. Both have the original "Pat. June 5, 1917" stamp on the bottom and the same stocks. I assume that yours should have that as well. I think what happened is when they changed the grip to medallions in 1929 or so, they got rid of the patent stamp. (The patent was to allow the round or square grip on the same frame).
Here's a thread on the .32 - 1925 Regulation Police .32 long, unfired in the box
Here are scans from my website of the 1925 Catalog showing a couple of different designs.
Attachments
Last edited:
The only target revolver to come standard with two screw target stocks appears to be the .22/32 Heavy Frame Target. And even those had a short period in the early 1920s when the the RP sq butt grips with the grip frame rebated back strap.
The other I frame target models to come with target stocks seem to be based on orders for them by dealers or customers.
The other I frame target models to come with target stocks seem to be based on orders for them by dealers or customers.
Interesting. The stocks on my 32L RP Target (as shown in post #4 above) do have the patent date (Pat. June 5. 1917) but they also have medallions. The letter says it shipped with extension stocks with silver medallions but since it shipped in 1927 that would seem to be impossible so I've assumed the letter to be in error. I've been looking for a set of non-medallion extended length stocks but perhaps I should simply be looking for service stocks without the medallion?
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pWBFFS https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
Last edited:
OP
This RP was marketed as a "Gunsmith/Parts" special. When I received it, the action was locked up. After examining it, I concluded the the hammer was held in place by the bolt, which wasn't being retracted by the center pin due to the center pin's misalignment with the bolt hole in the recoil shield. Additionally, I noticed that the extractor rod was not parallel with the barrel. Diagnosis: bent yoke. I straightened the yoke, put her back together, function tested it, and it was off to the range. Timing & lockup are good, no lead shaving/spitting, and, it has decent accuracy. Somebody took a file to the underside & top of the barrel, for what I don't know. She's not pretty, but she's a shooter!
OP
Forgot the pics:
Last edited:
Just found the table - this serial number is from 1932.
I love mysteries! I just checked your serial number and the ship date is likely correct, so that's not it.
Is it possible that your RP simply shipped with the older version stocks that had a medallion?
Last edited:
Interesting. The stocks on my 32L RP Target (as show in post #4 above) do have the patent date (Pat. June 5. 1917) but they also have medallions. The letter says it shipped with extension stocks with silver medallions but since it shipped in 1927 that would seem to be impossible so I've assumed the letter to be in error. I've been looking for a set of non-medallion extended length stocks but perhaps I should simply be looking for service stocks without the medallion?
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff,
You grips are correct!
Although Neal and Jinks S&W 1857-1945 book states the change order in April 1929 finally changed all medallions in wood grips to be flush mounted, flat chrome plated over brass thru WW II. This was after a brief period when gold plated medallions were reinstated following about 10 years with no medallions, we do see anomalies.
For example; #438824 an RP Target, RP grips with flat silvers, lettered as being shipped May 31, 1927 (Same date as yours).
Other 32 RPs from member Dave Wilson's list. Although the grip medallions are not listed Dave might be able to confirm which medallions they came with:
439785 shipped 1927 (Apr)
4417xx shipped 9/26
449510 shipped 1927 (Feb)
449574 shipped 1926 (Sep)
456625 shipped 1927 (Apr)
So I also believe your shipping date is correct!
Just for my edification and data base, is the serial number of the gun written in pencil on the backside of the right grip as it should be? The book states that the stamped # didn't start until 1929.
Last edited:
Good job!
The filing under the barrel was apparently to remove the serial number. On top of the barrel it also seems to be an effort to remove the patent date address.
Is the serial # still on the rear face of the cylinder?
I wonder if 438824 and 439824 aren't the same gun. Would be pretty strange to have guns a thousand numbers apart ship on the same day wouldn't it?
Anyway, I'm afraid the number on the right panel isn't going to help us much. It is stamped and it is 42294. Where do you suppose these come from with that SN and on what might they have been shipped?
Jeff
SWCA #1457
https://flic.kr/p/2pWyzsH https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
https://flic.kr/p/2pWDnFL https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/
I have that at 1932 on likely a .38 RP - I am so confused!
Last edited:
OP
The serial number on the front of the grip strap and the number on the face of the cylinder are the same. I thought the barrel might have been swapped out but the pin and surrounding areas are undisturbed. This conversation & education has been worth the $200 I spent on this revolver!!
