What do I have?

[Bamp]

I believe I have a Smith & Wesson .38/32 Terrier. Serial Number (SN) is 47739. SN is on cylinder, barrel flat and grip. However. The SN on grip in not on the bottom of the frame, it is on the right side.

The bottom of the grip is smooth with two (2) screws, for what purpose I have no idea. These screws are in addition to the strain screw.

The cylinder is a different color, plum?

There is a stamped marking (Inspectors Mark?) just below “Made in USA” as well as what appears to be a dept/unit number stamped on the front strap.

Has anyone seen or heard about a similar piece?

[AlHunt]

I don't have your answers but I want to say a very belated welcome aboard. Over 18 years to make your first post? I can't believe you kept track of your password all this time!

Hopefully we find that the serial is supposed to be on the side with this model. Otherwise were going to have a thread full of people saying the gun is illegal to own.

Those screws in the butt don't seem to serve any purpose at all, do they?

Is there actually a S&W logo on it? I'm wondering if it's a knock off ...

[raljr1]

A couple more pictures would be helpful. A full side view of both sides and close ups of both sides of the barrel.


Yes, some will say that this may be illegal since the serial.number appears to have been relocated. I will reserve judgement on that since the gun Does have the serial number on the frame, albeit under the grips...these are very popular with some collectors.

Robert

[gmborkovic]

I hope the OP does not go away. Lots of mystery here.

[Bamp]

I've added additional pictures.

As you can see, there is a S&W logo.

The left side of barrel has:

Smith & Wesson
.38 S.&W. CTG

Nothing on right side

The two screws on bottom of grip are just there, purpose unknown until someone on forum knows.

[raljr1]

I like it

Robert

[steelslaver]

Neat and interesting gun. The screw holes are a definitely a curiosity. I can't think of anything unless at one time it had a grip extension or the like. I can also kind of imaging someone mounting the gun to something for some odd reason. I have a hard time thinking someone fit a gun that small with some kind of butt stock Looks like the bottom of frame, at least, was polished and blued after addition of screws as I see a little dishing by one on flat the head of second appears contoured to frame and has a shallow slot. Then there is the plum cylinder.

As far as the serial number goes the one stamped on the side of the frame should be perfectly legal as long as it was relocated prior to that being prohibited.

[mikerjf]

Maybe the screws were for some kind of skull crusher?

[Truckman]

The OP may want to consider membership in the SWCA giving him access to Dr. Roy Jinks with his questions......Ben

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Your .38/32 Terrier has a pre-WWII serial number. The picture of the odd stamp near the Made in USA is not clear. Would you post a closeup shot that is well lighted and sharply focused? I don't have an answer for the screws. As others have speculated, it was likely done to attach the gun to something. But, why the screws were left in is a mystery.

[Waveski]

I wonder how the muzzle/crown got mashed.

What is the flat screw forward of the side plate ?

[Wiregrassguy]

What is the flat screw forward of the side plate ?

That is not a screw. That's the stamp I asked for a better picture of.

[merl67]

The front sideplate screw head looks unusually large to me. I would have also expected a flat latch perhaps I am mistaken on this though.

[rincar]

Is there any numbers on the front of the grip frame or any other markings.

[Waveski]

Guy -

Zooming in, I stand corrected.

[hkcavalier]

What a weird gun! Everything seems to check out for a prewar gun. But it also appears as if the gun had its bluing stripped when new or almost new, the butt polished, those screws and stamp added, then rather poorly re-blued.

The purpose of those screws...I can't think of a single reason. They're well done though.

[Retired W4]

As a casual fan of unusual firearms I have to say...I like it. I'm hoping someone comes on with information to clear up this mystery. It appears that whoever installed the screw in the butt knew what they were doing, but for what purpose. The tip of the ejector rod looks to have been blued, which suggests, I think, more than the butt was touched up. For me that does not distract my interest.

[s&wchad]

I've never seen anything like that. A lot has happened to that gun is the last 80+ years. I'd sure like to see a better photo of this stamp. I enlarged it the best I could, but still can't make it out.



Others have already touched on a number of issues...

- Refinished.
- Butt modified and serial number relocated.
The two screws in the butt are probably just plugging holes. I have to think either something was attached to the gun, or the gun was attached to something.
Test fixture
Arm slide/trap gun/briefcase gun
Shoulder stock (on a 2" Terrier?)

- The front sideplate screw head appears much larger than normal. I'd be interested in seeing a photo of that screw. I suspect the hole was re-tapped for a larger size.
- It looks like the gun was dropped/banged on the muzzle.

Identifying the circular stamp is probably your best bet to unravel the mystery.

[steelslaver]

Originally Posted by s&wchad

I've never seen anything like that. A lot has happened to that gun is the last 80+ years. I'd sure like to see a better photo of this stamp. I enlarged it the best I could, but still can't make it out.



The two screws in the butt are probably just plugging holes. I have to think either something was attached to the gun, or the gun was attached to something.

Arm slide/trap gun/briefcase gun

Identifying the circular stamp is probably your best bet to unravel the mystery.

I think your probably close with the "Arm slide/trap gun/briefcase gun" guesses. Plus, the idea that an ID of the mark is the most likely method to figure out anything about this gun.

[RKmesa]

I'm guessing that at one point it had some type of a butt swivel/lanyard attached and the SN was stamped on the side like this K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory like this...







... at some point, someone decided that they did not want the lanyard and tapped and filled the hole with a screw...

My thoughts on this mystery...

[s&wchad]

Originally Posted by RKmesa

I'm guessing that at one point it had some type of a butt swivel/lanyard attached and the SN was stamped on the side like this K-22 Outdoorsman that left the factory like this...

... at some point, someone decided that they did not want the lanyard and tapped and filled the hole with a screw...

My thoughts on this mystery...

Could be, but there are two holes on the butt of the OP’s gun. Did S&W ever make a lanyard swivel that attached at two points?

[Bamp]

Pictures of unidentified proof/acceptance/inspector's mark and unit number.

[Truckman]

In studying the image, I come up with the acronym "MVW," the only remotely relevant listing for which being "Massen-Vernichtungs-Waffen," the German equivalent of "Weapons of Mass Destruction"...Combining it with S&W, Mr. Google takes me here and the curious Model 29 QSPR "tunnel gun" discussed by Supica and Nahas in SCSW...

There's probably no correlation here, but it was an interesting side trip for me......Ben

[Pizza Bob]

I make it to be the letters JMW with the M taking precedence in the center and the J to the left and M to the right. Looked at Google Images and found nothing.

The mystery continues.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

[38crackerjack]

If the stamp forward of the side plate is a monogram, I see JWM in the circle. Common monogram engraving has the last name initial superimposed over, or between first and middle initials.

[John020]

I'm a little bit confused !

[Wiregrassguy]

I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't read the frontstrap stamp. The number is meaningless to me. However, the work is highly professional except for the refinish. I'm wondering if this was mounted as a display...perhaps a trophy, salesman's display or a museum? The "logo stamp" is vaguely familiar but I can't place it.

[Wiregrassguy]

BAMP, would you post a well-lighted picture of the left side of the grip frame?

[Bamp]

The only markings on left side

[Wiregrassguy]

Well I was hoping for something more there but I still believe the work was done outside of the factory. I also agree with Crackerjack and others that the stamp is a monogram.

[s&wchad]

Originally Posted by Pizza Bob

I make it to be the letters JMW with the M taking precedence in the center and the J to the left and M to the right.

According to Proofhouse, there was a US Inspector in the 1920-30's named James W. McCoy. It says he was responsible for Colt .38 Revolvers. I have no idea what his inspection stamp looked like, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

The gun seems to date to the mid-30's.

[Bamp]

My question would be why would a firearm with a Unit/Department/inventory number stamped on the frontstrap be monogramed?

The picture is of an acceptance stamp on a Colt 1911 manufactured in the 1920s

[Wiregrassguy]

You are presuming this gun was used by military or law enforcement. I suppose it is possible but a Terrier is not a typical M&P handgun. What we need is for handejector to come along and tell us what is obvious that we are missing.

[rincar]

I am of the opinion that you have a modified and Re barreled or shortened barrel Regulation Police. the workman ship appears to be excellent. Except for the muzzle of the barrel. It appears that the grip frame has been modified. As far as the screws in the but of the Revolver I have no idea of what they are far.

[rincar]

The Regulation Police revolvers were serial numbered on the Front of the grip strap. Because the Grips covered the bottom of the frame.

[gmborkovic]

That pic of the left side of the frame shows the main spring.
Does it look like it is sitting correctly in the frame?

[Muley Gil]

Originally Posted by gmborkovic

That pic of the left side of the frame shows the main spring.
Does it look like it is sitting correctly in the frame?

No, it doesn't look like the foot of the mainspring is seated in the notch.

[Waveski]

Good eye - not seared properly.
Looks too short… Wrong spring, or another modification?