Please help with more information on this Smith and Wesson. This date is the last date on top of a 5" barrel. Serial number on bottom of grip 363069 star. Number on cylinder is 53049.
Hand gun was given to me by my mother who is 69 years of age and it was her fathers..


Thanks
jmhvac

Welcome to the Forum, We need more info. What's the caliber? Is it a revolver or single shot? Is the finish nickel or blue? Grips wood or plastic? Is it a top break action or a side swing cylinder hand ejector? Can you post some pictures? The number on the butt should match the number on the cylinder, and on the barrel. If the cylinder number is different, as you say, then the cylinder is a replaced part. The star on the butt means the gunhas been returned to the factory, at least once, for repairs. There should be a date code stamped under the left grip panel, on the grip frame, indication the month & year the repair was made, such as " 5.23" meaning July 1923. Ed Cornett

It's a 38cal revolver the finish is blue. With plastic grips top break action. The number on the butt does not match the cylinder. Date is 10.15.

Attached Images

sw 38 break action.jpg (7.8 KB, 133 views)

Your S&W is a .38 Double Action, 4th Model, made approx. 1896. apparently the cylinder is a replacement, as it is not numbered to the gun. You can check the serial number on the barrel to see if it has the same number as the butt. Look between the "ears" of the barrel latch for some very small numbers stamped there. The latch itself may also be numbered. If not, it was probably replaced when the gun visited the factory. The date code indicates an Oct. 1915 visit to the factory for repairs and refinishing. It's not a high value collector gun but it's priceless as a family heirloom. Good Luck, Ed. #15

Ed
Thanks for the information you have supplied. This seems to be a great forum with people like you so willing to help.

One last question does pop into mind, when the trigger is pulled should it return. If it does not return is there a spring broken inside..


Thanks again
JMHVAC

By the way.. The latch does match the butt..

A failure of the trigger to retun itself to ready position, could be a broker trigger return spring, or most likely in my experience, there a build of of old oil, grease, crud and other impediments inside the action. Try some WD40 or other good lube, dry fire the gun to work the oil in and see if there is any improvement. If so, take off the side plate, and give everything a good cleaning. If there's no improvement, time to find the broken part and replace it. Ed .