Trying to determine the age of this

RandallRike · #1 01-18-2012, 10:33 PM

Hello,

This is the only gun I own. I'm not a collector or user really, but ...

I inherited a .38 Special from my father, who passed away in 1996. It was given to him by his father circa WWII. I thought it would be interesting to figure out how old it is. My grandfather owned a pawn shop in Pueblo, CO, and he probably acquired it there.

On the right side of the barrel it says, "38 S & W SPECIAL CTG". It has three screws on that same side. The serial number, on the bottom of the grip, is "S 889xxx". It's nickel with Franzite plastic stag grips.

Thanks in advance

MP1983 · #2 01-18-2012, 10:38 PM

1945-1948 ... right after the war...

it probably still shoots fine...get a gunsmith to give it a once over and then take it out and put some lead down range!!

DCWilson · #3 01-18-2012, 10:41 PM

Very likely to have shipped in 1947. The nickel finish looks original to me.

There is actually a fourth sideplate screw that you can't see because it is under the portion of the right grip panel that rises over the sideplate.

Nice looking postwar transitional M&P. The action of these guns was revised about April 1948 to permit a faster hammer throw. Your gun is one of the last "long-action" revolvers that S&W had made for decades.

RandallRike · #4 01-18-2012, 10:58 PM

Thanks for the quick responses. Just after posting, I did a little Googling, and found this:

Post-War S Series K Frames serial numbers:

S811,120 – S999,999 1946 – 48

mtb1bkr · #5 01-18-2012, 11:10 PM

Welcome to the forum and very nice looking gun!!