I did a little research on this for my 1933 Regulation Police. Anything you might add would be appreciated.
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PAT JUNE 5, 1917 Grip Stamp
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Very appropriate for my study...I just acquired another RP from the earlier era this weekend...The perfectly fitted grips (with patent date) have the S/N penciled on the inside of the right panel indicating they are original...My poor eyes misread the S/N initially due to the older font used on the stamps of that era...I read two 3's as 5's causing me to get the wrong ship date from Mr. Jinks...I have asked him for a corrected date, and I'm awaiting his answer...
...Ben
...Ben
OP
Very appropriate for my study...I just acquired another RP from the earlier era this weekend...The perfectly fitted grips (with patent date) have the S/N penciled on the inside of the right panel indicating they are original...My poor eyes misread the S/N initially due to the older font used on the stamps of that era...I read two 3's as 5's causing me to get the wrong ship date from Mr. Jinks...I have asked him for a corrected date, and I'm awaiting his answer...
Ha ha I had the same problem. The font on my frame serial number can be read right side up or upside down. Somebody used China pencil which actually made it harder to read. My grip had it clearly penciled in kind of a fancy handwriting.
Here's a picture of my grip serial number marking. The grip snaps into place - what a great fitting job they did.
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That’s a great web page but it would be helpful to clarify that it’s not accurate to what S&W actually produced.
Once the rd grip frame is converted at the factory for use with the sq butt grips by machining the rebate in the lower half of the back strap, and although the rd butt grips can be installed there’s a huge space between the grips on the bottom half of the back strap where the rebate is. A dealer or S&W would not sell a gun like that.
The patent drawings you included illustrate the issue perfectly. The patent language protected S&W’s option that they may have had the intention of making the round butt grips with a filler for the rebated back strap like the sq butt grips, but they never did make them that way. This is not uncommon with patent applications.
Once the rd grip frame is converted at the factory for use with the sq butt grips by machining the rebate in the lower half of the back strap, and although the rd butt grips can be installed there’s a huge space between the grips on the bottom half of the back strap where the rebate is. A dealer or S&W would not sell a gun like that.
The patent drawings you included illustrate the issue perfectly. The patent language protected S&W’s option that they may have had the intention of making the round butt grips with a filler for the rebated back strap like the sq butt grips, but they never did make them that way. This is not uncommon with patent applications.
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Do you have a ship date from Roy or a letter? Reason I ask is that those stocks are usually found on 1920s guns, but 38 RPs are odd ducks. I believe they languished in inventory and were slow sellers, so maybe your revolver was manufactured in the 1920s and not sold until 1933?? Examples as late as 37,000 shipped in the late 1920s, so not close to serial number order.
I'm not sure whether you were asking me or the OP, Gary...Roy already made a high speed, low level pass today but apparently didn't see my message...
...Ben
I'm not sure whether you were asking me or the OP, Gary...Roy already made a high speed, low level pass today but apparently didn't see my message...
Nope, asking the OP.
OP
Interesting, that's good to know. The year was told to me by the seller. My guess is you are right that the gun is earlier. I've requested a letter through SWCA. I don't know who Roy is but I would appreciate him looking these up. I've joined SWCA and the Historic as well but they are having computer problems and I don't yet have access to the databases.
I also have another one, Regulation Police .32 long six shots, unfired in the box, that I picked up from a different source. It has a different serial number sequence, 40400X with the same stamp, 4 1/4" barrel. I'm going to request a letter on this one too.
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Roy Jinks was the factory Historian (among other titles, including Handgun Product Manager) for many years, followed by being the Chairman (now Emeritus) of the S & W Historical Foundation. Don Mundell is the current author of letters of authenticity but Roy still does Ship Date Requests, now moved to theswca.org.
Have a look for the books Smith & Wesson 1857-1945 and History of Smith & Wesson, among others.
His SWCA member number is...1.
