The barrel is marked 38 S&W Special.CTG as you described. It’s also not marked US Property.
Mechanically, the gun is like new.. cosmetically the gun had some pretty bad rust areas on it but no pitting. I may have screwed up by cleaning up the rust but something had to be done or pitting was just around the corner.
Being a history buff at heart, these old guns fascinate me and I wish they could talk.
Since I only paid 125.00 for it I’m going to send off for a letter just because I want to know.
Thank you for your information, it’s much appreciated.
You sir have inspired me. Now I have to dig thru my safe and check out one of mine. I was gifted it by a family member decades ago. When I got it, I was surprised because it was loaded, with 38 Special, 38 Long Colt and I think, 38 S and W, all three in the gun. Now, I have to check and see about that second ring inside, for the 38 SW round. It possibly could have been 38 Short Colt for that third set, not sure. I just recall it being loaded with 3 different rounds and quite a mystery for me at the time. The owner was 93 years old and carried it around with him and about $50,000 in cash because he did not trust banks. He was a bit, unique.
I do reload 38 Short Colt just because they tell the grand daughter they are low recoil ammo for her 38 Special handgun.
This gun has the same early markings and had been back to SW to be nickel plated at some point in time, as evidenced by the "R" stamp on the gun. The last patent on this one was 1917 and we think it was produced shortly after that, making it well over 100 years in the field, some field, somewhere. Like you, the history is worth as much as the gun. Give us some follow up when you get the letter.
As to the rust, absolutely, gotta stop that. I am a big fan of Flex Hones and similar 800 grit size abrasives which can often kill the rust and get down to a level that can be blended to where it does not show. And then protective stuff can protect the finish. I like Ren wax but any will do.
I just find yours fascinating. Who knows what holster that one rode in and what stories it could tell. I have carried issue guns on foreign soil that have their own story. Unfortunately, the government gives and takes away, so those stories are long gone. Sometimes guns are like favorite dogs, they become companions. Am I nuts? Prolly so. Most, like Glocks do not matter, you lose one, buy another tomorrow, they have no personality.....Anyway, thanks for the interesting post.
