Hello All,

I am new to group and frankly new to revolvers and I just inherited quite a few old pistols and shotguns etc from my grandfather and I am just trying to figure out what I have. I am hoping someone in the group can help me figure out what I have for the 3 S&W revolvers. I am prior service but all my depth is in semi auto and AR rifles so any assistance would be greatly appreciated. What I do know is that these are all original and all .38 special. The long barreled nickel plate has ctg in naming convention and is 5 screw. The standard blue snubnose is 4 screw and the concealed hammer snubnose is blue and 3 screw. Otherwise I can't seem to match these up with anything I can find online. Any assistance greatly appreciated pic links below.
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2746.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2745.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2754.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2753.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2750.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2749.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2751.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2752.jpg

Welcome to the Forum. If you could post serial numbers it would help. The nickel gun is a K frame, pre-1968, probably a K 38 Target Model and has pre-war stocks. If the stocks are original they will be numbered to the gun on the back side of the right grip panel, and that would make the gun pre-war. The blued 2 in. could be a Chief's Special. pre 1968, J frame, if it has a steel frame. Is it marked with a Model number on the frame under the yoke? Maybe Model 36 ? The hammerless gun is a J frame Body Guard model, post 1968, if the grips are original Is it steel or alloy frame? Tell us more details of all the markings and where all the serial numbers are stamped, and we can pin them down better. Ed #15

My guess would be model 14, model 36 and model 49. As Ed said, open the cylinder and look on the side under the barrel for model marks. Most post 1957 S&W's will have their model number marked there. Other 3, 4 or 5 digit numbers on the yoke or frame are usually assembly numbers or fitters marks and mean nothing today.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Thanks very much here is the additional info:
Long barrel nickel - K Frame steel not alloy number off bottom of grip 205518 number from under barrel B 205518 number inside cylinder 5245

Standard blue snubnose -J frame steel not alloy number under barrel R 12042 number inside cylinder 46258 and below that is 5 and number off bottom of grip is 12042

Hammerless snubnose - J frame Body Guard frame steel heavy doesn't feel like a airweight or alloy frame. No numbers under barrel Mod 49 inside cylinder and number off bottom of grip is 12J317

Please let me know if there is anything else i can provide.

The long barrel K frame is a pre WW II .38 Military & Police Model of 1905, 3rd Change, Target Model, built between 1909 and 1915. The "B" before the serial number, under the barrel, indicates that it was originally shipped from the factory in blue finish.

Are there any marks on the butt like a star? What about on the grip frame, under the grips? Guns that went back to the factory for work would have a date stamped there, like 4.50, for April 1950. Other markings, like single letters, are assembly numbers. The gold medallion grips were used from about 1910 to 1920. The serial numbers were usually written in pencil and may or may not be readable.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The model 36 looks to have a very small trigger guard. Is it a baby chief? It would have 5 screws

The trigger guard on the Model 49 looks bent or reformed. Might just be the picture.

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S&WCA #2018

A big welcome to you, to the fourm from the Great Lakes State of Michigan. 3 nice guns there. Love that bodyguard.

The K frame appears to be a 1905 3rd change M&P (1909-1915) by the serial number.I'd venture to say the target sights are seldom seen that early.A factory letter would be the best way to find out if it was shipped as a nickel target.I'd really need better pics of the sights to say whether or not they look original.
The R prefix J frame was mfg. in 1969.
The 49 throws me a bit as the sn range doesn't go that high in my book and it appears to have a pinned barrel which was deleted in 1982, yet 1JXXXX starts in 1983.

Incorrect. This SN is 12042 and it looks to be a *baby* chiefs special. Notice the flat latch and upper side plate screw which were both discontinued before 1969. The M&P sights are original, I have the same sights on one of my M&Ps. Too bad its not original nickel.

Hi Gil,

thanks for the help I don't see any star or symbolic stamps other than the series of numbers, as far as pulling the grips I don't want to do that given they are old wood and with my luck I would end cracking them or stripping screw etc. Old wood always makes me nervous but I appreciate the insight. Just trying to get to specific model identification.

I see that now.What threw me was the reference to an R before the sn on the barrel flat, but then again I should know better than that as sn's weren't stamped on the barrel that late.

As I am going through boxes I found this old S&W box does this one go with the bodyguard model? pics of box
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2755.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2756.jpg
http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_2757.jpg

Looks to be the one for it.Nice, the whole package there.

As stated, you have a 38 M&P Target. The B signifies a blue gun normally, but we do know an occasional blue gun was pulled from the vault and nickeled to fill an order. If shipped during WW I, that may well be the case, so check it out thoroughly.
Better/more pics would help us, particularly of the grip frame without the grips.

The middle gun is a Baby Chief.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Thank you all very much for the help I had no idea it would be figured out this fast but I did figure this was the right place to pose the questions. A very nice forum much appreciated.

This one was made in 1971-'72, when the factory did a 1-3 digit/J/1-3 digit SN format for who knows what reason. Hope this is helpful.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks Alan,

If I can borrow the collective intelligence once more, I am trying to determine value for sale. From what I can find I think the MOD 49 with original box,papers and cleaning rod would be most valuable and probably worth around $500+, the MOD 36 baby Chief maybe $250-$300 and the M&P maybe around $400. I am just trying to make an educated guess so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated especially if I am way out in left field on any of these. It is tough to sell something you really don't know anything about or where to start. Once I arrive at fair value I will be listing these on gunbroker if interested in any of them as I have a few other long and short guns I am liquidating trying to fund a house purchase and a couple projects. I will post auctions links here once they are setup. Thx again to all for the help and any suggestions on value.

FIRST thing you need to do is letter the 38 Target. If original nickel, it is by far the most valuable.

The Baby Chief is worth $500-600 if as good as the pics make me think.

Sorry, but we do NOT allow links to live auctions.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I realize that you are trying to fund a house purchase, but since your grandfather willed these to you, he probably did so hoping that you would enjoy them and remember him through them. I doubt that the $$ you would get from their sale would make or break your purchase, but the memory of your grandfather could be passed down throughout your family. I hope you keep them and enjoy them, but that is just my 2 cents and worth exactly what you paid.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

Lee sorry about that should have read the usage agreement in more detail will not post auction links appreciate the feedback on the baby chief and M&P. I will get it lettered to see what I can find out.

boykinlp, I also appreciate the thought and I do plan on hanging on to the things that I know were important to him and there was a sense of connection these were just things he picked up along the way. I don't ever rememer him even shooting these or talking about them or anything for that matter. His M1 Garand, 1911 gov model now those are a different story and will be saved along with his burial flag for many generations along with my father's and my own. I am 3rd generation Army.

You're very welcome, and thank you for your service. Post any S & W question here, and you will get an answer from someone who "thinks" they have an answer

Regarding the values, definitely have Roy Jinks give you the history on your M & P Target. It may take 2-3 months to arrive:

Firearm History Request - Smith & Wesson

I agree with Lee (who is an expert in such matters) that it will be very valuable, and on his estimate on the Chiefs Special. The model 49 would probably bring a price somewhere around $500.

He was probably too modest to mention that you could post them for sale here on the Forum and save auction selling fees. Just be sure to do your research about shipping and transferring, which coincidentally you can find on the auction websites...

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220