Just won a .38 Regulation Police. No idea about these. Anything special?

I only have one .38 RP. I have three .32's for some inexplicable reason. What I like about the .38 RP is that it's stamped "Regulation Police" on the barrel. The .32's don't have that.

Here's mine, 33,386 shipped February 18, 1929, 4". All original and all matching (except white marker used to highlight grip stamp). I really lucked out and found the correct box this morning at Joe Salter with the 1920 patent printed inside, maroon with green label I should have it in a week or so.

By the way, they use the .38 S & W cartridge,(.38 short). They are basically an obsolete cartridge. If you plan on shooting, I would pick up a box, which will probably have to be ordered. Right now, Fiocchi makes them in their Heritage line still and can be ordered online or by your local FFL.



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Gun Relics said:
What I like about the .38 RP is that it's stamped "Regulation Police" on the barrel. The .32's don't have that.
Click to expand...
Yes, here's a barrel closeup of one of my .32's...:)...Ben

249-3281.JPG
 
Well, it seems the plot thickens. Like I stated, I know nothing about the Regulation Police models (I'm more of a K-frame guy). I don't have the gun in my possession, yet. However, here is a better photo of the right grip panel. It doesn't look quite like other factory grips, but I'll state again that I know very little about this model. But, if you look at the photo of the bottom of the grip, you can see the reg. mark along with the S/N. So, I don't know what to think about this.
 

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jcelect said:
May I suggest the grips are NOT original to this gun! I have never seen a serial number stamped on the bottom of any grips. The numbered grips were always stamped or written in pencil on the inside of the grip panel!
Click to expand...
See my photos above.
 
Wiregrassguy said:
Agreed that S&W didn't stamp the gun serial on the bottom of the grips. However, early Bekearts had sequential serials stamped on the bottom up to 3000, IIRC. However, these grips are different from those in the Bekeart era. The checkering covers more of the panel area than S&W grips I'm used to seeing.
Click to expand...
Maybe that is what I have. I have no idea, but see my photos above.
 
Gun Relics said:
I only have one .38 RP. I have three .32's for some inexplicable reason. What I like about the .38 RP is that it's stamped "Regulation Police" on the barrel. The .32's don't have that.

Here's mine, 33,386 shipped February 18, 1929, 4". All original and all matching (except white marker used to highlight grip stamp). I really lucked out and found the correct box this morning at Joe Salter with the 1920 patent printed inside, maroon with green label I should have it in a week or so.

By the way, they use the .38 S & W cartridge,(.38 short). They are basically an obsolete cartridge. If you plan on shooting, I would pick up a box, which will probably have to be ordered. Right now, Fiocchi makes them in their Heritage line still and can be ordered online or by your local FFL.



View attachment 782310

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Very nice! I won't be shooting mine much. I reload for my .38 Specials, and my plan is to cut-down some of those cases and reload them with the proper charges.
 
Here's #108. No patent date on the numbered to the gun, stocks. Gun was made before the patent dates were applied. Must have been in a sock drawer as it remains unfired. Big Larry
 

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daveboy said:
Very nice! I won't be shooting mine much. I reload for my .38 Specials, and my plan is to cut-down some of those cases and reload them with the proper charges.
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They will likely go bang and the cases may split. 38 S&W is not a 38 Special "short". The case of the 38 S&W is larger at the head and mouth than the 38 Special.

38sw38special.jpg


38swsm.gif


38spcl.gif
 
Gun Relics said:
I only have one .38 RP. I have three .32's for some inexplicable reason. What I like about the .38 RP is that it's stamped "Regulation Police" on the barrel. The .32's don't have that.

Here's mine, 33,386 shipped February 18, 1929, 4". All original and all matching (except white marker used to highlight grip stamp). I really lucked out and found the correct box this morning at Joe Salter with the 1920 patent printed inside, maroon with green label I should have it in a week or so.

By the way, they use the .38 S & W cartridge,(.38 short). They are basically an obsolete cartridge. If you plan on shooting, I would pick up a box, which will probably have to be ordered. Right now, Fiocchi makes them in their Heritage line still and can be ordered online or by your local FFL.



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Click to expand...

April of 1929 chrome medallions ,, of 3/8" on I Frames.
1926 Patent Dates on hammer and trigger beginning in June. K&N frames
Bright blue returns as standard finish February 11 1929.
32-30 38 & 44s got the serrated trigger March 18 1929
The N Frame 44 is The Dog. Improvements trickle DOWN to the (tail) K & I frames.

@ what serial numbers do the hammer and trigger patent dates appear on the Regulation Police ?
 
nedlate said:
It appears the checking has been recut and possibly the screw escutcheon reinstalled on the wrong side?
Ed
Click to expand...
daveboy said:
Well, it seems the plot thickens. Like I stated, I know nothing about the Regulation Police models (I'm more of a K-frame guy). I don't have the gun in my possession, yet. However, here is a better photo of the right grip panel. It doesn't look quite like other factory grips, but I'll state again that I know very little about this model. But, if you look at the photo of the bottom of the grip, you can see the reg. mark along with the S/N. So, I don't know what to think about this
Click to expand...

Dave, can you unscrew the grips and show us the other side?
 
old tanker said:
They will likely go bang and the cases may split. 38 S&W is not a 38 Special "short". The case of the 38 S&W is larger at the head and mouth than the 38 Special.

38sw38special.jpg


38swsm.gif


38spcl.gif
Click to expand...
I plan to cut the .38 Special cases, but use .38 S&W dies. I believe the sizing die will get them close to the right specs. I know it won't be exact, but for such a lower-powered cartridge, I'm thinking it will work for my needs.
 
Hondo44 said:
Strange things I notice:
The stock screw enters from the wrong side.
The serial number on the front grip strap is the wrong font style and size.

The extractor rod bluing doesn't match the rest of the gun.
Click to expand...
Yes, something is weird about the stocks. How would the serial number be wrong font style and size? Again, I know nothing about them. But, why would someone go to the trouble of doing that? The number matches the number on the cylinder. Not sure about the extractor rod, but it may just have all the bluing worn off? I'll definitely know more when I get it.
 
Truckman said:
The .38 S&W die is a larger diameter than the .38 Spl case...It won't make the case expand...:unsure:...Ben
Click to expand...
No. But, if I fire form them in the RP first, using just enough powder to expand the cases, I think I can make it work.
 
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