Dating my 38 S&W Perfected top break

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Warpspasm

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I have a .38 Perfected in about 80-85% condition (according to Blue Book photos). It has a 3 1/4 barrel and a serial number of 5752 on the butt and also on the cylinder and the between the ears of the rear sight. There is also a larger number stamped on the butt, that I'm assuming is an indicator of police use, but I don't know if that's correct. I would appreciate it if someone could ID the date it was produced and any other information you can give me. I don't plan on selling it, but would also like an idea of the value if possible. If you need additional information, let me know.

Thanks in advance.
 
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I had a 38 Perfected 3 1/4" serial number 5029 that shipped June 1911. These guns are somewhat unusual with the double latch, so be careful that you do not forget to use them both before opening. The quill is easily bent if only the top latch is used when trying to open the gun. They are lots of fun at the range. Here is 5029.

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merl67 said:
I would think with that serial number 1909, or 1910
With the usual caution that S&W did not ship in any sort of order. Many of these were ordered for police agencies so that is a possibility. A letter might be of help....
Click to expand...

Do you mean a letter from S&W?
 
glowe said:
I had a 38 Perfected 3 1/4" serial number 5029 that shipped June 1911. These guns are somewhat unusual with the double latch, so be careful that you do not forget to use them both before opening. The quill is easily bent if only the top latch is used when trying to open the gun. They are lots of fun at the range. Here is 5029.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Nice looking piece! I've always like the way top breaks look and work.
 
I’ve got a Perfected, serial number 6136, which shipped on September 01, 1909 to E.K. Tyron & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
I suspect it was a cop gun based on the holster that it came with. It’s very much like the old NYPD Jay Pee style safety holster https://smith-wessonforum.com/threads/nypd-revolver-leather.218090/

Interestingly, somewhere during the last 100+ years or so, the pistol’s actual serial number (6136) became 5474 in licensing records. As pointed out to me by @glowe the 5474 stamping is not anywhere close to the font used by the Factory when this model was produced. With his help, I confirmed the “real” serial number which is stamped in several locations on the gun.
Kinda cool. IMG_7176.jpegIMG_7181.jpegIMG_7174.jpegIMG_7180.jpegIMG_7173.jpegIMG_4455.jpegIMG_4448.jpegIMG_4452.jpegIMG_4453.jpegIMG_4446.jpeg
 
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