I have a .38 special, 6" barrel, 5 screw, serial number 248xxx. any more info or dating would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome to the Forum.
Your Military and Police revolver was made in about 1915 according to the Catalog.
Jim

By referencing the catalogs of the early 1900s, a round butt would have been a Model 1902 and a square butt would have been a 1905. By the 1920s, the company went to the Military & Police name without the year designation. Your revolver is a .38 M&P, 4th Change and either a Model 1902 or 1905 depending on the butt configuration.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

wow, wasnt expecting that! didnt think it was quite that old! ill post some pictures to better help you guys, but i would say it has a square butt. seems like this thing might be something a little more special than i originally thought...

just noticed the lastpatent date on top of the barrel is 1914... so it cant be earlier than that i suppose

If that last patent date is Dec 29, 1914, it indicates that it has the first type of hammer block safety. I don't know what year it actually came in to use.

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Tom
1560

We look forward to pictures as they can be be most helpful in providing you more information.

The answers above are from knowledgeable folks but are based on 248xxx being the complete serial number. Look for a possible letter prefix possibly spaced 1/2" or more from the rest of the serial number on the butt. Because of the space, the letter is often overlooked but is an integral part of the serial number.

A "C 248xxx" serial number would still be a 5-screw but date the gun to late 1953 possibly early 1954.

Russ

S&W used a variety of letter prefixes to their M&P serial numbers. None up to 1942, followed by V, SV, S, C, and D (1942-1977). So any prefix present is part of the SN. With no prefix, yours would indeed be from 1915, therefore a model of 1905, 4th Change.

1915, the year after the patent date. This is what is referred to as the "fourth change."

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

if there is any other close up shots anyone would like, i will get them.

and there is no prefix on the serial number, just the 6 digits. thanks for the help guys! this has become much more interesting than i thought it would! i have had two seperate gun shops tell me it wasnt that old and not that interesting... hmmf!

Your grips also appear to be of the correct original type. You may want to check if there is a serial number stamped or penciled on the rear of the right panel which matches that on the revolver butt.

At this time, S&W did not heat-treat steel parts, so if you plan to shoot it, use only lead bullet standard velocity .38 Special ammunition.

no markings on the grips, but they definitely appear original!

i have put maybe 30 rounds through it, but i dont think ill be shooting it much anymore!

any idea of what this might be worth???

Just from what I see and not having it in my hands to examine, I'd say that in a private sale, it would be fairly easy to sell it for $350-$400. It does not seem to be in a good enough condition to warrant a higher price. But strange things happen to prices on the internet auction sites.

I cannot tell - is it nickel plated or is it just the lighting?

There is no reason not to shoot it; just take care of it - clean it properly after each use and store it in a safe, warm, dry environment (not in leather!). And use the ammo recommended by DWalt.
It is a nice, shooter grade .38 M&P from a bygone era, but these guns were intended for use, not to just sit on a shelf somewhere. Use it and enjoy it. Then pass it along to your heirs so they can do the same thing with it. It will still be providing good service to your grandchildren when they are middle-age adults.
Jack

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

yes, its is nickel. im sure ill take it to the range every now and then, but no reason not to preserve something thats already 100 years old as much as possible. ill probably use something else for the plinking! haha

Just because something is old doesn't necessarily make it "Special." Take me , for instance...........

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Term limits!

Welcome to the forum! You have a nice M&P 4th change. You can help its appearance if you use a product called Flitz. It is a metal polish. Just use an old T shirt or soft rag and not too much pressure and polish it. Make sure to remove the grips first. After the Flitz you can use a wax. Most of us use Renasance Wax. But any good wax will work. Use it the same way as the polish. This will help to protect the finish.

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Tom
NRA Pistol Inst