38 hammerless revolver looking for value
- Thread starter Cliffman
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Welcome! It appears to be a .38 Safety Hammerless in average condition. It may look better with cleaning and rust removal but as pictured perhaps a $150 gun. Hope this is helpful.
Welcome to the Forum. If you copy the numbers stamped on the bottom of the butt, let us know what they are. The members here can give you much more accurate information than the company. With the retirement of Roy Jinks as company historian, the company lacks the resources and information to give you much info.
There were several models of the 38 Safety revolver and depending on the serial number range, we can provide a lot of information for you.
There were several models of the 38 Safety revolver and depending on the serial number range, we can provide a lot of information for you.
Jim Watson
Member
Flayderman says
Patent dates say first through fourth model, T latch says fourth or fifth model. Looks like a fourth model 1898-1907.
Strangely, the lack of an 1890 patent date indicates it was made later than one with 1890.
SN under about 119000 made before 1899.
Complete but rusty condition dollar value is not high, this is a common gun, 104000 made.
Patent dates say first through fourth model, T latch says fourth or fifth model. Looks like a fourth model 1898-1907.
Strangely, the lack of an 1890 patent date indicates it was made later than one with 1890.
SN under about 119000 made before 1899.
Complete but rusty condition dollar value is not high, this is a common gun, 104000 made.
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By the SN, this is a later "4th model", from about 1905 (Gary will correct me if I am off on the date).
As noted above, about 104,000 of this variant made between 1898 and 1907, the most common type of the over 260,000 made of this model from 1880 to 1940.
As noted above, about 104,000 of this variant made between 1898 and 1907, the most common type of the over 260,000 made of this model from 1880 to 1940.
It looks most likely that the gun was shipped in 1909. That, of course, makes it a modern firearm according to BATF. As Alan states, it is a 4th Model. There was some guessing done on when the 5th Model came out and 4th Models with serial numbers below 220,XXX have been seen. Since the 5th Model has a forged front sight and yours has a pinned front sight, it fits the 4th Model configuration.
Blacklion66
Member
Before you try cleaning the rust off, I would recommend just using a cloth, gun oil and elbow grease
I've been known to buy old Smiths on auctions, Ones that show buff marks I most often pass on
