.38 found in Grandpa closet

[TexasBoy832]

This was buried in a closet along with two other pistols. One pistol, RG 14LR, rusted all the way through. The other, a nickel finished Smith and Wesson with Gold accents, was also found. I imagine he placed it in a closet 60 years ago and possibly forgot it even existed as he was disgusted at the though of guns. Not sure what it is but i wonder if it will still go bang.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Unfortunately I can't read the serial # off the butt. If it matches the one under the barrel and the one on the rear of the cylinder that means the gun is pretty much original. A lot can be told from the general configuration but if you could post the serial number (or if somebody better than me can read it off the photos) somebody here will be able to tell you pretty closely to when it was made. If you get real curious you could order a letter from the S&W Historical Society and they can tell you to who it was shipped and when. It appears from what I can see to be in quite decent shape. Unless there is something wrong with it that is not obvious it should be safe to shoot with modern .38 special (not +P) ammunition.

 

[Gun Relics]

This was buried in a closet along with two other pistols. One pistol, RG 14LR, rusted all the way through. The other, a nickel finished Smith and Wesson with Gold accents, was also found. I imagine he placed it in a closet 60 years ago and possibly forgot it even existed as he was disgusted at the though of guns. Not sure what it is but i wonder if it will still go bang.

This is the Military and Police model .38. It's been refinished and was possibly blue originally. If that's the case, it has no collector value. Before shooting I would have a local gunsmith look at it, but more than likely it's going to be fine to shoot.

 

[Jimbo41]

@robertrwalsh Serial is 999386

OP, Got pics of the other revolver?

 

[Gun Relics]

@robertrwalsh Serial is 999386

OP, Got pics of the other revolver?

That would date it to approximately 1945.

 

[stansdds]

It's definitely been refinished, so no collector value in that one. If the cylinder play is within spec, the lock work functions correctly, and if the chambers and/or bore are not rusted, I expect it would be a good shooter. Given it's date of manufacture, as in it was made before S&W went the model number system, I would not shoot a lot of +P ammo through it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! You have a WWII Pre-Victory Military & Police hand ejector. Made in 1942 just before the V series Victories were introduced. As others have noted, it has been refinished in nickel. These .38 M&P's are robust and are fully capable of handling any commercial pressure ammo, including +P because when this gun was made, +P was standard pressure.

 

[DWalt]

It is highly unlikely to have been factory plated. The SN suggests it is from mid-1942.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

I don't see a "B" serial number prefix stamped under the barrel. The lack of a "B" on a pre WW II revolver generally indicates it shipped with a nickel finish, though could have changed this late in the early 1940s production.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Gil, this gun was likely made as a military gun. It would not have been blued.

 

[Muley Gil]

Gil, this gun was likely made as a military gun. It would not have been blued.

I don't see a filled lanyard loop hole. It may have been one of the last civilian market revolvers. Only a letter can confirm this.

I qualified my response about the "B" because of the wartime changes.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum, TexasBoy832! Although the wartime .38 M&P that you inherited from your Grandpa is not rare and may not have much collector value, it does have some value. Probably ~$300. It should be a reliable shooter if it's OK mechanically.

BTW: The RG 14 you also received is a German-made (Rohm) "Saturday Night Special". One of these revolvers was used by Hinckley to try to assassinate Pres. Ronald Reagan. These cheap little .22 revolvers were made in Germany prior to 1968, and later manufactured by Rohm in Miami, FL. We inherited a nickel 3" bbl. RG-14 (ca. 1978) years ago from my wife's grandfather and then passed it along to our young nephew. It was an OK shooter and a good beginner revolver. They have little value.

 

[AudieMurphy]

Welcome to the Forum.

I don't see a "B" serial number prefix stamped under the barrel. The lack of a "B" on a pre WW II revolver generally indicates it shipped with a nickel finish, though could have changed this late in the early 1940s production.

excellent observation!

 

[TexasBoy832]

The serial 999386 is the same under barrel as under the handle.

@robertrwalsh Serial is 999386

OP, Got pics of the other revolver?

 

[TexasBoy832]

@robertrwalsh Serial is 999386

OP, Got pics of the other revolver?

 

[TexasBoy832]

So, should I get a letter? Seems a bit divided rather this is refinished.

 

[Jimbo41]

I thought there was a third revolver, that Rohm is a mess.

One thing not yet discussed about your .38 M&P is the gold finish on the trigger and hammer. I would have expected those to be case colored even on a nickel-finished gun. Presentation guns were sometimes tarted up at the factory, only a letter would confirm if this was original or afftermarket.

As a shooter-grade gun someone above suggested a value of $300. As a gun that originally shipped with a Ni and gold finish I have no idea what it might be worth. Probably not a great economic decision to letter it, but sometimes a guy just wants to know.

 

[Major 2]

Aside from the Trigger & Hammer, No one has mentioned the gold wash in the cylinder flutes.
I too think it was a presentation gun of some sort.
Perhaps, retirement or Fraternal Order service award

As and edit ...
"I too think it was a presentation gun of some sort." not necessarily done by S&W ...

 

[Muley Gil]

I rather doubt the gold wash was done by S&W. I have seen several revolvers done this way, especially the trigger & hammer. It was done aftermarket by previous owners that wanted a flashy handgun.

 

[Truckman]

I rather doubt the gold wash was done by S&W. I have seen several revolvers done this way, especially the trigger & hammer. It was done aftermarket by previous owners that wanted a flashy handgun.

I'm vaguely familiar with that idea......Ben

 

[Buford57]

All the outdoor and gun magazines used to advertise DIY "gold" plating kits in the 60s and 70s. I'd bet the next round of coffee a former owner added that touch. One of these days I'll take acetone and a bristle brush to the markings on my Model 15.

 

[TexasBoy832]

I'm vaguely familiar with that idea......Ben

That letter suggest that maybe i should save the money on the letter and maybe even use that money to refinish it once again...??

 

[stansdds]

That letter suggest that maybe i should save the money on the letter and maybe even use that money to refinish it once again...??

A properly refinished revolver is not an inexpensive procedure. Removing nickel plating adds quite a bit of extra cost. You might want to consider leaving it as-is and enjoy it for what it is.