32 & 38 Regulation Police

ccnv

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I have a 38 S&W marked Regulation Police # 4270, and a 32 S&W that looks exactly the same # 287580. The 32 is not marked Regulation Police. Is the 32 still considered a Regulation Police? I think the 38 was made 1917, the 32 probably much later.
 
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When did they start heat treating the cylinders on these I think my 38 was 1917 from the low number, the 32 much later in the high 200 thousands.
 
Both have the extended wood grips with gold medallions. Neither have a trademark stamp on the frame.
 
S&W suspended stamping the trademark for WWI and didn't resume until 1920.

How does a S&W factory refinish affect the value of these?
Any refinish tends to lower the value. IIRC, at one time, the Standard Catalog of S&W stated a factory refinished gun's condition should not be valued over Very Good. I haven't looked lately to see if that guidance is in the 5th Edition. It's subjective and I think the rarer the gun, the less a factory refinish affects value. That being said, the RP's aren't particularly rare and are not a high $$ gun to begin with.
 
I picked up a .32 S&W RP a few years ago at a local pawn shop. This was before dealers began catching on to the rising popularity of .32 revolvers, and I got it for $350. Its condition was almost as-new, despite being over 100 years old. When I got home, I checked my SCSW4th for a value, and it was listed at $1000. The 5th edition has it around $1200. Great deals like that are getting harder and harder to find.
 
I have been shooting mine. Fun guns, very small, but pleasant to shoot with the extended grip and 4 1/4" barrel. They have the cuteness factor.

When did they stop putting the recessed gold medallion in the grip? Neither of mine say made in USA
 
How does a S&W factory refinish affect the value of these?
I personally won’t devalue a factory refinished gun. However beware. Just because the gun is stamped with factory refinish codes and the date, verify by examining it that it hasn’t been non-factory refinished after it was factory refinished.
 
Refinish date is Jan 1960. I think it had an easy life, it would rate 98% if you ignored the refinish point. It's a quality refinish, lettering sharp, no gouges , scratches etc. Looks original. I think I'll keep it, it's pretty if nothing else.
 

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