Hi to you all,
I recently came through that neat 38 2nd model perfected. Serial 388x 98%+ nickel and a perfect shiny bore (we call "mirror" in France) It's a good shooter with that 4" barrel and cartridges I re-built from shortened .38 Special: 11 gn of Swiss 1 BP (FFFFG) and .358" 125gn pure lead bullets.
Any idea about its age would be welcome.
Have a nice day... RB

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It is not a No. 2. It is a 38 Double Action Perfected Model, made from 1909 to 1920. 59,400 were produced in total. This revolver is made up of the frame from a Model 1903 Hand Ejector, with hinge modification, and a 38 Double Action barrel assembly. As you know, it has a dual locking feature with the center pin in the cylinder locking into the recoil shield and a top latch. It was made well into the smokeless era and plenty strong enough to handle any standard 38 S&W ammo. I see no reason why to shoot it with BP, since it is much harder to do a complete cleaning than with smokeless, unless there are some laws in France limiting your ability to order 38 S&W. Your serial number indicated it is likely that the revolver shipped from the factory in either 1909 or 1910.

I did an Expert Commentary a few years ago and am attaching it in case you would be interested in this model.

Attached Files

Let me introduce the 38 Perfected, 1st Change.pdf (864.3 KB, 356 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thank you very much Gary. In fact I just copied the sticker that was stuck on it "38 S&W N°2 DA perfected". About the BP firing, I'm always very careful about using smokeless powders in Antiques... Mainly because current powders are surely very different than those used a century ago. Cleaning after BP Firing is just a matter of training. I do it just after the shooting session using a vapor cleaner, as it's very hot it dries instantly and the oiling, lubricating process is a good way to check the gun from every angles. Really, it's part of the pleasure of making them alive again...
Thank you very much for the Commentary you attached to the previous post. It's really very interesting and I already have it saved in my collector's library...
Ah, another question, any idea of the reason why the cylinder is turning counterclockwise?

Thanks, RB

Well, it seems that S&W thought if they left the hand on the same side as the cylinder opening on hand ejectors, it would affect the opening? The factory started making revolvers in 1857 and the cylinder turned clockwise, using a hand placed on the left side of the recoil shield. This continued until the introduction of the Model 1896 Hand Ejector. The design included a sideplate on the right side of the frame and the hand placed on the right side of the trigger perhaps for easier cleaning and maintenance? Maybe that is the reason why the cylinder turned counter-clockwise in S&W hand ejectors.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Thanks for posting that. I'd love to find one of those.

Well I has done been edumacated---and I didn't even know I needed it--but I did---sure enough!!

And Raide, if you ever have a box that needs fixing, that fellow who just got both of us smarter than we were before is an expert! Actually, he's the next step beyond expert----a WIZARD!!

Ralph Tremaine

Thanks again Gary for the answer.. I only own top-break S&W guns and never even had a Hand Ejector in my hand...
I have another thing to ask, I noticed some sort of service number just near the serial number. It has been carefully "over-stamped" to make it unreadable, probly before selling that revolver as a second hand object. It starts with an "S" maybe some Police or Security Department?? Any Idea? Check the pic below... Thanks.. RB

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Perhaps it was used in a corporation, law enforcement, government, or security company? It is not a factory stamping.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

It’s very possible your Perfection revolver with S stamped on the butt was part of the Stembridge collection of Movie props. It is said he had over 1500 Single Action Army revolvers for Westerns alone.
Might have been used in a gangster movie.

Murph

Thank you Murph, very interesting and plausible idea... The Stembridge "S" I found on the net is quite close to the one there is under that butt but all those I found weren't followed by a number...
I should ask that to the seller, he's a well known European antique guns reseller and should have an idea about that.

Here is my favorite example. The Wells Fargo 1st contract Schofield carried by Steve McQueen in the movie Nevada Kid.
Definitely authentic. The Stembridge movie props were marked differently over a long period of time beginning in 1919.

Murph

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If it was mine I’d letter it! It actually may have shipped to Hollywood, Ca. I think it’s worth it to get a letter. I know it’s a risk but sure looks promising to me. Most of the guns he purchased were local and some from the factory so even if it shipped to another city in So-Cal I’d say that’s proof as well.

Murph

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Glowe

Although I have a some top breaks of various eras and have fired many of them, I had never stopped to realize that they turned opposite of hand ejectors until I read your remark.

Hi There,


To some extent, the direction the cylinder rotates is dependent
upon which side the side plate is on. And that determines which
side the hand is installed.


Cheers!
Webb

Got the answer from my seller, it definitely comes from Stembridge Collection!!
I think I'm gonna ask for a letter... !!

I think you are fortunate to have gotten a prop gun in nice condition; they were not all well cared for.

John Taffin wrote of buying a Colt Single Action Army from a prop company sale that turned out to have barrel and cylinder of different calibres. They didn't care, as long as it would fire the 5 in 1 blanks.

Well it's a matter of trust with that seller who would never sell a gun unable to fire in good safety conditions...
I know we all like Pics on forums so I add a few more to give an idea of the quality of that piece.
'nother thing to add, it's a good shooter with it's 4" barrel. A little left but at 25m I fired 15 cartridges, aiming 6 at 3 o'clock and brushing inside the barrel every 5 shot, they're all in the black of a C50 with several (4) 10... !!

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