please help me identify this .38

[THD]

Just received from my dad a S&W .38 special police model revolver; it had been his father's, and I doubt he bought it new -- probably accepted it in lieu of a cash bond (he was a justice of the peace). I doubt the gun has been fired in fifty years, possibly longer, and it looks it.

Here are the facts:
1) no model number; hand ejector
2) serial # is 5324XX (no letters), stamped on butt
3) gun is stamped on barrel with "38 S&W Special Ctg"
4) 4" barrel
5) fixed rear sights

The gun has five screws. It was a nickel plated gun originally but has fallen on hard times and is in pretty rough shape, with rust (particularly under the grips) and the nickel plating is quite worn.

I'd love to know exactly what it is, when it was manufactured, and whether it would be worth spending some money to have it refinished, either to re-plate it, or to take it down to metal and perhaps blue it.

[scha]

Pictures would help, but it sounds like a Military and Police Revolver from the mid to late 1930s. Unless it is in very poor condition, refinishing usually is not worth the cost as this removes all of the original finish and destroys any collector value.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[glowe]

I believe you are describing a 38 Military & Police, 4th Change revolver. It would have shipped from the factory in 1926. Too bad it is in poor cosmetic condition, but it may still be a good shooter. There were literally over a million of these made from 1902 to 1957, when model numbers were established. The Model 10, which is what your revolver ultimately became, will add many more guns made.

This is a very common gun and values are low for most examples. Good quality shooters would be worth $250-$300. Very nice examples with high percentage of original finish would sell for maybe $450$500. After you put over $200 in a good quality refinish, you could maybe sell it for $350. You have to make the call on whether you want it refinished, but I would clean it up and shoot it.

[DWalt]

I'll agree in the 1926 dating, and also the value, assuming the grips are original and not badly worn. If not, somewhat less than $350, maybe $250-300. They should have no S&W medallions. But if it is shootable, it would be a good shooter.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by glowe

There were literally over a million of these made from 1902 to 1957

Hey Gary!
How about "literally over two million?" You kinda left out the Victory variant . . . same gun, different customer.

[THD]

Thanks, all. I was heading towards mid-thirties for the age, then saw a couple of things that led me to believe it might be older.

I didn't post pictures because it was in pieces at the time; the grips are original and in good shape, no medallions. I was aware there were a zillion others out there, most (probably) in better shape than this one.

If I do decide to just clean it up and shoot it, what does it like to eat? I'd guess nothing very high-powered, due to the age of the gun.

[murphydog]

Standard pressure 158 gr lead (round nose or SWC), or 148 gr WC.

[glowe]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

Hey Gary!
How about "literally over two million?" You kinda left out the Victory variant . . . same gun, different customer.

Well . . . isn't 2 million over 1 million??

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by THD

Thanks, all. I was heading towards mid-thirties for the age, then saw a couple of things that led me to believe it might be older.

I didn't post pictures because it was in pieces at the time; the grips are original and in good shape, no medallions. I was aware there were a zillion others out there, most (probably) in better shape than this one.

If I do decide to just clean it up and shoot it, what does it like to eat? I'd guess nothing very high-powered, due to the age of the gun.

Actually, it can safely handle using any ammunition that a more modern Model 10 will. However, it doesn't make much sense to use anything other than the typical standard velocity lead bullet loads.

Regarding numbers produced, from 1899 to 1957 the K-frame count is around 2.8 million (counting the K series and those in .32-20), but there were incremental design changes throughout this period.

[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by DWalt

Regarding numbers produced, from 1899 to 1957 the K-frame count is around 2.8 million (counting the K series and those in .32-20), but there were incremental design changes throughout this period.

You're right, of course. But the postwar K target guns are a divergent line, and the .32-20, although having exactly the same frame and innards, was serialized separately. So, in my mind at least, I tend to think of the .38 M&P (including the prewar target variant) as a single pedigree and the others as cousins. But it is all a matter of perspective.