Another "What did I Buy?" question

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Leslie Sapp

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Lakeland Loot! Sorry for the cell phone pic.

5 shot .38 S&W, five screw, Ser.# 522XX
Large logo on right side.
No model # behind yoke
I think half the reason I bought it was that I couldn't identify it.
Did they make a regulation police in a round butt? It is not marked as such.
 

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S&W Terrier in 38 S&W. Depending on the finish, features, and condition anywhere from 300-1000 on value.


The nickel looks a little worn, but the mother-of-pearl grips help, so I'd say 500 value without the box or papers.


Also what's the deal on the Remington 600, 660, or 600 mohawk in the background by your thumb. Please PM me the details
 
I thought it might be a Terrier, but wasn't sure. Finish is pretty good, except for a an unfortunate rust spot about the size of a nickle that almost completely obscures the trademark on the right hand frame of the gun.
I don't feel too bad about it, as I got it for less than half of your estimated value.:)
I didn't notice the Remington, but I have the guys business card and will give him a call if you wish. This was on the next to the last aisle I went down, after a long day perusing guns. We started walking the show about 10:15, and I finally got through all the tables about 4 o'clock.
 
LS you sly dog! You just picked a modest way to crow over finding that neat little jewel!! :cool: I'm assuming from the SN and the half moon front sight it's a true I-frame with leaf mainspring and strain screw on front grip strap, right? That's one that's been eluding me for quite a while and you got a great deal on it to boot. Well done!

Froggie
 
You have a nice little pre war Terrier because it has a 2" barrel and round butt.

Their production was suspended in 1940 at # 54474 and resumed again after the war in 1948. So your gun most likely shipped in the very late 1930s.

The pearls are not factory because they do not have S&W medallions but still very good looking.

Naval jelly used sparingly JUST on the rust spot will remove the rust.
 
Neither the dealer I bought it from nor I were 100% sure what it was. He stated he had just acquired the gun a few days before and had not had a chance to do more than rudimentary research on it. I had just enough knowledge to know it was a 1940's era Hand Ejector, probably an I frame, so I plunked down my money. :)
 
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Ha ha! Now you're addicted to I-frames!

It always starts just like this...
Great catch!

Rick
 
I have the gun in hand now, and it is the true I frame. I can't find my 358480 mold, so I loaded up some 358156's I had already lubed over a light load of 700x, and let fly! It shoots better than my aging eyes can direct it. :)

The trigger pull is different than my daughter's later Model 49. The 49 has a "two stage" type of pull, where the action kinda falls into a trough mid-pull, and you can align the sites and then apply the final ounce of pressure. The older action has a long even pull with no "trough" and then breaks.

The damage to the sideplate is unfortunate, but I won't own a gun I'm not gonna shoot, so had it been pristine, I probably wouldn't have bought it , anyway.:)

P.S. I don't care what George Patton said, I like those grips!:D
 

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That's a nice piece and clearly has the pre war cylinder hand actuated hammer block introduced with the .38 S&W Regulation & Police in 1917. Great photos.

This gun was owned by what I call a "sweaty-hand". It's sad to think that just wiping it down at the end of each day could have prevented the corrosion, but it was just a tool in the eyes of the owner like his hammer or lawn rake. But then you wouldn't have gotten at the price you did.

That rust will clean up nicely by removing it and the 'wrinkled' nickel area. Once polished the 'white' metal will blend in with the shiny nickel that's left on the gun. Have done several that way.
 
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Almost all of the damage is on the sideplate, with just a little faint wrinkling on the left frame just behind the trigger guard. It looks like the gun spent most of it's life in a holster that protected it from the hammer/ trigger line forward. I wondered if perhaps there may have been a snap or buckle on the holster over the sideplate that had a dissimilar metals reaction with the nickle.
 
I'm not aware of any dissimilar metal reaction with anything.

Another scenario is if the holster and gun were put away wet. The acids in the leather used to tan it (urine in Mexico) leaches out and eats up the finish. And it's more likely to just get wet on top and on the retaining strap if the user was caught in a rain shower.

But I lean toward the sweaty hand because of the localized corrosion under the trigger finger and thumb on left side.
 
I suspect it belonged to an LEO or someone else who carried it daily. Would a sideplate from a I frame from the same era fit, or was there too much hand fitting involved?
 
It would seem a miracle to me if another sideplate didn't need some fitting which would necessitate a refinish. I think sending your sideplate off to a restorer for re-nickel like Fords, Turnbull or Chicoine would be simpler. I believe they can re-roll stamp the logo if needed. But then you still have the left side of frame with some 'wrinkled' nickel plating.
 
It would seem a miracle to me if another sideplate didn't need some fitting which would necessitate a refinish
Click to expand...

That was my thinking also, but wanted a second opinion. I live within driving distance of Fords, and had considered that option. The wrinkling on the left side shows more in the photos than in real life and doesn't really bother me.
 
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