i recently bought this at an auction and i dont know much about it. i think its a pre-10 but not sure. the serial number under the barrel is C 720XXX.
on the butt of the barrel the number is 720XXX then there is a lanyard ring then a "P" on the far side of the butt.
there are also numbers underneath the hammer on the back of the gun with a design above them.
on the barrel is written ".38 S&W CTG"
any information on this gun would be appreciated!

Something is not right. That serial would be from a Model 10 made around 1965 but the gun pictured is clearly a Military & Police Model made before 1946. The lanyard ring and caliber suggest a Lend Lease or Victory Model but most of these had 5" barrels. Are you sure that serial is on that gun? If there is no C prefix it could be an early Lend Lease gun from 1939 or 1940 with an unusual 4" barrel.

SP

That C prefix is under the barrel, but apparently not on the butt.
I also think this is pre-WW2 gun, and C is not part of the serial
number. He should look on the rear face of the cylinder, and
see what serial number is stamped there.

Mike Priwer

I was thinking the same thing that is why i posted both of them. the serial on the rear face of the cylinder is the same as the number on the butt. with no "c". i am not sure why there is a "c" on the barrel. it is not right next to the actual serial number but it is about .75 inches in front of it if not farther.

The prefix is routinely separated from the numbers.

There is no way this gun has a C prefix serial. It's a pre-war model. Maybe some previous owner stamped the C for some reason.

It may have just needed a barrel replacemnt which was done with a used barrel.

Gil

Cylinder is also numbered, not just the barrel.

The C does not belong and must have been added.

Quite a few four and six-inch barrels were supplied in the .38/200 model prior to April, 1942, when the finish went gray and smooth wooden stocks were made standard, along with five-inch barrels.

so when i go to purchase grips should i look for K frame square butt grips or something different?

Square Butt K frame.

so is this an alright gun to shoot and be used for a possible self defense if needed?