Any Value in a Regulation Police?

James K · Oct 2, 2022

Been looking at this auction item and it appears nice but just don't know much about a Regulation Police. Not real big on .38 S&W caliber. Still looks interesting for the right price. Low serial #825.

Description:

Lot Serial #825 (Circa 1917) - Matches Barrel, Frame, and Cylinder. This beautiful revolver appears to have been someone's sock drawer gun for many years. It features a 4" barrel, nickel finish 97%+, original checkered wood grips with S&W medallion, 5 shot cylinder, notch and half moon sight. Clean bore and smooth actions. Includes a vintage leather holster. This revolver appears to be in excellent condition for its age! (C&R accepted)

larryofcc · Oct 2, 2022

I have paid an average of $675 each with shipping for two mint revolvers, one being ser.# 108. The other, a 20's gun, and the last one, a PD marked gun to Chelsea, MA in 1930. I bought it as I was born there. it's about a 90%er.
All 3 are blue. # 108 remains unfired. All 3 have 100% matching numbers. Cute little revolvers. Fun to shoot if ammo available. Sorry, no pics. Big Larry

weatherby · Oct 2, 2022

I don't like aspects of it .
The trademark looks very weak.
Trigger looks plated?
Cylinder flutes look very smooth/soft.
I think it's refinished

cgt4570 · Oct 2, 2022

weatherby said:
I don't like aspects of it .
The trademark looks very weak.
Trigger looks plated?
Cylinder flutes look very smooth/soft.
I think it's refinished

I agree it's a heavily buffed aftermarket refinish. I would also be willing to bet it was originally blue.
It's just a shooter now.
I like the cartridge and have quite a few Smiths chambered for it.
Unfortunately some bidder will unknowingly pay too much for it believing the description. I wouldn't give more than $200.

Green Frog · Oct 2, 2022

Neat guns… but this one, as others say, is a shooter only. If the picture is accurate, it definitely has suffered a not-so-good refinish job. The grips show a smoothness in the cheering that indicates more wear than the nickel suggests. It might be worth $300 or so, but that’s the most I’d think of paying.

larryofcc · Oct 2, 2022

cgt4570 said:
I agree it's a heavily buffed aftermarket refinish. I would also be willing to bet it was originally blue.
It's just a shooter now.
I like the cartridge and have quite a few Smiths chambered for it.
Unfortunately some bidder will unknowingly pay too much for it believing the description. I wouldn't give more than $200.

I have to agree. Bad description and appears to be a redo. I don't buy guns like that, so I am in the dark as to value. Big Larry

.38SuperMan · Oct 2, 2022

How does the Regulation Police differ from the M&P of the same era? Cartridge or size or both? I have a very clean factory nickel M&P from 1920-22 in 38 special but really like the 38s&w cartridge for fun shooting and wouldn’t pass one up if the right price and condition.

Mbrgr1 · Oct 2, 2022

I just sold a

1936 nickel RP 4" on GB for a penny start and it squeaked out $300, it was in considerably better shape than that one.

two-bit cowboy · Oct 2, 2022

.38SuperMan said:
How does the Regulation Police differ from the M&P of the same era? Cartridge or size or both?

Yes.

.38 Regulation Police is built on the little I-frame. Cartridge is .38 S&W.

.38 Military & Police is built on the K-frame. Cartridge is .38 Special.

Rodan · Oct 2, 2022

larryofcc said:
I have paid an average of $675 each with shipping for two mint revolvers, one being ser.# 108. The other, a 20's gun, and the last one, a PD marked gun to Chelsea, MA in 1930. I bought it as I was born there. it's about a 90%er.
All 3 are blue. # 108 remains unfired. All 3 have 100% matching numbers. Cute little revolvers. Fun to shoot if ammo available. Sorry, no pics. Big Larry

I paid a little more than that for my early RP, #1875, bought earlier this year, and only paid the price for the condition and early production.

The gun in the OP is a very early gun, but unfortunately with a poor refinish, as already noted.

I have seen RPs bring ~$1k on GB, but the realistic high end is probably more like $800-900 for really nice guns.

gmborkovic · Oct 2, 2022

So, the RP is a long barreled Terrier? With a rebated grip?
Im not a revolver scholar, Im just trying to put this in some kind of
perspective.

James K · Oct 2, 2022

larryofcc said:
I have to agree. Bad description and appears to be a redo. I don't buy guns like that, so I am in the dark as to value. Big Larry

Thanks, and I was thinking the same based on the logo looking so worn or filled in. Still sharp looking but not nearly as nice as others above.

cgt4570 · Oct 2, 2022

gmborkovic said:
So, the RP is a long barreled Terrier? With a rebated grip?
Im not a revolver scholar, Im just trying to put this in some kind of
perspective.

YES

It was also produced in .32 S&W Long, although the .32 doesn't actually have Regulation Police stamped on the barrel.

I believe the majority have 4-1/4" barrels. They were available with longer or shorter barrels.
A small number of each was produced with target sights.

gmborkovic · Oct 2, 2022

Thanks Chris. What was the purpose of the re-bated grip?

delcrossv · Oct 2, 2022

cgt4570 said:
YES

It was also produced in .32 S&W Long, although the .32 doesn't actually have Regulation Police stamped on the barrel.

I believe the majority have 4-1/4" barrels. They were available with longer or shorter barrels.
A small number of each was produced with target sights.

All known Regulation Police Targets are .32's
Here are a couple from 1917 and 1919

tjpopkin · Oct 2, 2022

I have a mint Postwar, Model of 1953, Regulation Police (Pre-31) with a 4" barrel (rarer....most 4 1/4")
Since most of my .32s are gone (I had 85 varieties), I might sell this one.
LNIB

Rodan · Oct 2, 2022

gmborkovic said:
Thanks Chris. What was the purpose of the re-bated grip?

I can't really speak to the intended purpose, other than putting a square butt stock on a round butt gun, but this is what it looks like:

gmborkovic · Oct 2, 2022

Rodan, thanks for great pic. I can see with the fit of the grip at the top of the grip, the screw and butt pin and re-bate, really stabilizes the grip
to the frame. I guess it was there for control due to recoil?

tjpopkin · Oct 3, 2022

that may be in-fact the reason, but the recoil of the .32Long is so anemic that control was likely less an issue than a better, more natural, grip on the stocks, especially in the target versions. In the many years of collecting these .32s, Target .32 HE was more difficult to find than the Reg. Police version. However, they both exist.

Any Value in a Regulation Police?

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