As the pictures show it is a hand ejector. There is no model number anywhere on it.
The serial number on the butt is 324852.
Barrel says 38 special on right hand side. Length is 4".
Sights are Hand Ejector Fixed rear, rounded blade in front.
There is a strain screw on the front grip strap.
There are 5 frame screws.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Attached Images

	s&w 1.jpg (83.4 KB, 169 views)
	s&w 2.jpg (126.5 KB, 142 views)

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

You have a .38 Military & Police Round Butt revolver from about 1920. Everything appears to be original but in pretty rough condition.

Model numbers didn't appear until 1958.

One question: "love to date it" - is your wife okay with that?

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Shhh!!! Don't tell her!
Thanks!

Pls. dont refinish the old girl. Just clean and enjoy. Buffing removes all the family history. Best.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

This revolver could have shipped as early as 1919. We know #316648 came off the assembly line in September, 1919, and your number is not too much higher.

The stocks on your gun are of a style that went out of production in 1919, but inventory allowed use for a year or so beyond that. We know from factory letters that some revolvers with the recessed gold medallion shipped in 1920. So I think I'll stick with my 1920 estimate of your revolver's shipping date. The only way to be sure is to request a SWHF Letter of Authenticity. But I don't think this revolver can sustain the $75 price tag for such a letter.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Great response! Thanks so much for the info. We'll leave the family history on it. My daughter has already fallen in love with it. I'll just gift it to her, rather than making her wait to inherit.

as it is a family gun... you might still think about getting the factory letter, it will show where it was originally shipped.... If this was something picked up in trade, I'd forgo the letter... but since it is a family piece... I'd sure be wondering if it was shipped to your family's home or to a city. Only you know whether it would be worth the cost.

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be safe,enjoylife,journey well

If that gun has been in the family all these years, some family members sure have used it a lot, haven't they? I'm fairly certain it takes a good bit of use to wear down the checkering on grips like that.

I love old guns like that one. Give it a good cleaning and keep it that way. Don't let it deteriorate any further. As someone else mentions, don't even think about refinishing it.

I'd definitely letter it. I don't think the interest here is in the monetary value of the gun, but in the actual history of it. I'd sure want to know where it shipped to first and other definite information.

So what if the letter costs $75? A day or two after you write the check, you won't even miss the money. As the years roll by, that letter will continue to add to the family interest in the old gun.

I have done research on my serial number as well and I would say urs is early 20's there is a site u can get a request form from saw which will give u all u want to know on ur gun. Hey !! Does anyone know websites for aftermarket hammers for a 1905 4th change .38?

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Try eBay. The Victory hammers should work.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Whenever I see this heading I always want to answer, try dating a woman first but I don't want to come off as a wise guy. I see you guys were thinking it anyway.

Welcome to the forum.

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James Redfield
LM #497