S&W 38 Special CTG Age?

Hi, I'm new to the forum and recently inherited a S&W 38 Special CTG revolver and am trying to determine it's age. Family members say its from around 1920 which seems to be consistent with some of the research I've done.

Would any of you be able to confirm if this is correct. The serial number is 352152 with no letters and on the butt. From my understanding, that dates it pre WWII but I'm not certain.

I hope the pictures help. I tried to capture every possible identifying mark/stamp.

I appreciate the input!!

Welcome to the greatest gun forum on the web. There are people here that live and breath Pre War 38's. Some of them will help you out. But your revolver is very nice one. it's always good to respect the oldies!

Ivan

Welcome to the forum. That revolver is what I would call a round butted M&P short for Military and Police.

Someone with more knowledge will be along to fill in the gaps.

Kevin

The S&W Standard Catalog shows 241704-700000 were from 1915 to 1942. Yours is in the bottom 1/4 of those so somewhere in the 1920 is a good estimate. You could send for a letter and find out when and where it was shipped. You could also become a member of the S&W Collectors Assy and Dr Jinks will provide you with a ship date. For information about a letter of joining the SWCA go here Smith & Wesson Collectors Association – The Collectors Resource for Historic Smith & Wesson Firearms

Hi FemGemini and welcome to the S&W Forum.

Whoever told you it was from around 1920 was right on the money. It could have shipped the next year, but 1920 is a pretty good guess.

It is a rather cool piece to inherit. By the 1920s, the round butt M&P was becoming less common than the square butt, so we don't see these as often. The nickel finish appears to be original and the hard rubber stocks were standard on the round butt units.

Enjoy that old revolver; it should be fun to shoot.

Welcome to the Forum. You might want to keep this attachment with your revolver since it is from a 1919 S&W Catalog and shows the round butt and square butt K frame revolver with details. They sold for around $30.00 back then. Just to note the reference to "CTG" on the barrel is not part of a model name, but rather just an abbreviation for "Cartridge". There has been much discussion and disagreement about the official name of that round butt revolver, but it is safe to simply call it a 38 Military & Police.

Forgot to mention that the hard rubber stocks may not be original to the gun, since it is thought that they were all walnut. Catalogs of the era only list walnut stocks for both round and square butt revolvers. Check for a serial number on the inside of the right stock. It can be pencil, scratched in, or stamped.

Welcome to the S&W Forum, FemGemini. You did a fine job of illustrating your family heirloom and you’ve gotten a pretty good start here on learning the identity of your revolver. Let me add a couple of cautions. First, since it pre-dates the time in WW II when the improved hammer block safety was developed, it is somewhat possible to drop the loaded gun in such a way as to hit the hammer and have an accidental discharge… not too likely, but possible. Some people even go so far as to carry these revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer.

On a more common concern, your choice of ammunition is important for that old centenarian. Look for the mildest ammo you can find, preferably that listed as “target” ammo specifically loaded with a mild charge. While a few rounds of the newest factory 38 Special cartridges (CTG) probably won’t destroy the gun, they would put undue strain on it. If, on the other hand you obtain some lead bullet, standard velocity loads, you’ll be able to pass the gun on to your grandchildren.

Congratulations on finding a neat part of your family history. Drop in here often and visit, we’re a very friendly group and will be able to help out with all sorts of information.

Regards,
Green Frog

I have nothing to add to what has been said about your revolver other than welcome to our forum, and congrats on being part of a family who treasures heirlooms like that enough to pass them down to the next generation......Ben

FemGemini:

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here.

Ivan the Butcher said:

Welcome to the greatest gun forum on the web. There are people here that live and breath Pre War 38's. Some of them will help you out. But your revolver is very nice one. it's always good to respect the oldies!

Ivan

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Thank you, Ivan! I've enjoyed researching the revolver and am grateful for all the assistance!

StrawHat said:

Welcome to the forum. That revolver is what I would call a round butted M&P short for Military and Police.

Someone with more knowledge will be along to fill in the gaps.

Kevin

Click to expand...

Thank you, Strawhat! Glad to be here!

steelslaver said:

The S&W Standard Catalog shows 241704-700000 were from 1915 to 1942. Yours is in the bottom 1/4 of those so somewhere in the 1920 is a good estimate. You could send for a letter and find out when and where it was shipped. You could also become a member of the S&W Collectors Assy and Dr Jinks will provide you with a ship date. For information about a letter of joining the SWCA go here Smith & Wesson Collectors Association – The Collectors Resource for Historic Smith & Wesson Firearms

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Thank you, Jack! I will check out the S&W Association and hopefully get more info.

StrawHat said:

Welcome to the forum. That revolver is what I would call a round butted M&P short for Military and Police.

Someone with more knowledge will be along to fill in the gaps.

Kevin

Click to expand...

Thank you, Kevin! "Round butt" is more than I knew so you've been a help already!

Green Frog said:

Welcome to the S&W Forum, FemGemini. You did a fine job of illustrating your family heirloom and you’ve gotten a pretty good start here on learning the identity of your revolver. Let me add a couple of cautions. First, since it pre-dates the time in WW II when the improved hammer block safety was developed, it is somewhat possible to drop the loaded gun in such a way as to hit the hammer and have an accidental discharge… not too likely, but possible. Some people even go so far as to carry these revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer.

On a more common concern, your choice of ammunition is important for that old centenarian. Look for the mildest ammo you can find, preferably that listed as “target” ammo specifically loaded with a mild charge. While a few rounds of the newest factory 38 Special cartridges (CTG) probably won’t destroy the gun, they would put undue strain on it. If, on the other hand you obtain some lead bullet, standard velocity loads, you’ll be able to pass the gun on to your grandchildren.

Congratulations on finding a neat part of your family history. Drop in here often and visit, we’re a very friendly group and will be able to help out with all sorts of information.

Regards,
Green Frog

Click to expand...

Thank you, Green Frog! I certainly appreciate the advise...Can't be too careful! Also appreciate the tip on the ammo... I definitely don't want to ruin it! A FFL friend of mine will be checking it out to make sure its safe to shoot before it gets taken out for target practice.

glowe said:

Welcome to the Forum. You might want to keep this attachment with your revolver since it is from a 1919 S&W Catalog and shows the round butt and square butt K frame revolver with details. They sold for around $30.00 back then. Just to note the reference to "CTG" on the barrel is not part of a model name, but rather just an abbreviation for "Cartridge". There has been much discussion and disagreement about the official name of that round butt revolver, but it is safe to simply call it a 38 Military & Police.

Forgot to mention that the hard rubber stocks may not be original to the gun, since it is thought that they were all walnut. Catalogs of the era only list walnut stocks for both round and square butt revolvers. Check for a serial number on the inside of the right stock. It can be pencil, scratched in, or stamped.

Click to expand...

Thank you, Gary! Excited about the image and have saved it!! I think you may be right about the stocks. From the research and the images I've seen, show a walnut stock.

Truckman said:

I have nothing to add to what has been said about your revolver other than welcome to our forum, and congrats on being part of a family who treasures heirlooms like that enough to pass them down to the next generation......Ben

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Thank you, Ben! Glad to be here. I'm honored that my passing relative entrusted me with its care and a few more guns. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought his children would get them (he left me some others too).

RKmesa said:

FemGemini:

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here.

Click to expand...

Thank you, Richard! Glad to be here!

FemGemini said:

I thought his children would get them (he left me some others too).

Click to expand...

You could always hop over to the "Other Firearms" forum and tell us about those, too ... Unless they're Smith's, then they can go wherever appropriate. You can never have enough guns to talk about.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/

Welcome aboard.

FemGemini said:

Thank you, Ben! Glad to be here. I'm honored that my passing relative entrusted me with its care and a few more guns. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought his children would get them (he left me some others too).

Click to expand...

I thought I'd pass this along about inheritances...Many family members elsewhere are known to believe they are entitled to receive the results of a lifetime of work upon the death of a direct relative...Fortunately mine is not the case...I'm divorced with no children, and when I was in the hospital with Covid 19 earlier this year (I recovered completely, thank God), I had time to think about what would happen to my worldly possessions when I finally shed this mortal coil...

My closest relatives are my two nephews, sons of my late brother...They were the sole beneficiaries of my previous will, both being fine, honest men, successful in their own right, but with different firearm-related interests than my own...While hospitalized I talked to both of them and confirmed that if they were left with my guns, they would likely be sold and the proceeds divided between them...They both knew that the remainder of my possessions would have more monetary value than my guns, and agreed with the intent of my new plan...

I have an old friend, a police officer and gun nut just like me, who constantly checked on me when I was sick, urging me daily to see a doctor before it was too late...When I finally agreed, he got me into his patrol car, lit up the lights and drove my stubborn self to the ER in minutes, effectively saving my life...His own gun collection reflects a more diversified interest than my more narrow focus on S&W, but since his first duty gun (which he still owns) was a Smith revolver, he likes to go to gun shows with me and learn what he can...

To make this short I rewrote my will, with the approval of my nephews, to leave my entire gun collection to him knowing it would remain intact and appreciated after my death by someone who looks at it as other than a source of money...He was at first shocked, and protested my idea strongly until he realized my true intent, and that my nephews agreed, and that they were well provided for anyway...

All this to say that you, or anyone else might have reason to consider strongly what you wish done with your own possessions when you are no longer able to enjoy them...There is another thread posted in the Lounge Forum which I'm too lazy to find which may provide other ideas as well......Ben

FemGemini, I would add this to what Truckman said. Family heirlooms without explanation become trivial. The history that goes with the gun adds immeasurably to the gun’s family value. I would suggest that for each of the guns involved you write down whatever you can find about how and when it came into the family, who used it and how, and any other items of family interest. In this way, the likelihood will increase that the gun will be regarded as a family heirloom rather than just an ATM.

I personally became the custodian of some of my father’s family’s guns that go back four or more generations with only oral traditions to support their provenance. I am currently researching and reconstructing their history the best I can to make it possible for the succeeding generations to know and appreciate what they are inheriting. It can be an interesting pursuit for you and should prove extremely valuable to your family in the future... if you express their family value, they will be more likely to appreciate them.

Regards,
Green Frog