Just arrived: .38 safety hammerless

[oberon]

I picked it up just by chance. Low $ outlay for what appears to be a decent old revolver. I believe it to be a 2nd model. The serial # is 41xxx. Is there anyone who might estimate the approximate year of manufacture?
The gun: Other than stuck grip screw w/ turned/spun grip boss(?escutcheon), it seems better than fair. Good, even. The bore is shiny and has distinct sharp rifleing. It locks up good, and stays solid after dropping the hammer. The finish has little small speckles over the mostly present blueing. The extractor looks like a replacement part, i.e., in the white. I may be wrong, but it acts like somebody fixed this gun and made it mechanically sound. I will know more afte I de-gunk it. There is some smooth stiffness in it. I believe it will be a good shooter.
Any advice on the date and what to do about the little speckles will be greatly apreciated.
Someday I will learn how to make digital pics and post them.
Meanwhile, I will post the 'thousand words'.
I'll check this thread tonite after class.
Thanks, men.

[cflier]

Hello Oberon,
Your listed serial number would indeed be a 2nd model. I have a 41XXX serial number that shipped in April of 1890. Yours probably shipped within a year one way or the other. The only way to know for sure and find the exact date is to send $50 to Roy Jinks the S&W Historian and he would send you a letter of authenticity which would tell you when it was shipped, who it was shipped to, and the configuration when shipped. Just as a matter of interest how long is the barrel length on your gun?
Mark

[oberon]

Thanks cflier. I don't need a precise date, just the ballpark is fine.
I have the thing all apart and in the oilcan now. I got some tech advice from the 'smith and made a little tool to get the stripped escutcheon out. No sweat. The guts appear to be in good condition, and smoothed up nicely with a little kerosene. The extractor/ ratchet and hand/paul have, in fact been fitted to work like new. I'm gonna leave it in the oil for the next 3 or 4 days, till I get home from work. Is there such a thing as phosphor-bronze wool?
Anyway, thanks for the info. I have 3 of these old beaters now. I may have lost my mind.....

[dogngun]

Brownells sells bronze wool for cleaning gun surfaces...

Watch it-they can become addictive...ask anybody here!

enjoy.

mark