38 Special CTG info

[Tnrafter]

I have a family pistol and need info on it if possible
38 S&W special CTG
#361649☆
5 screw
5in barrel
square handle
fixed sights

 

[robertrwalsh]

A lot more info would be nice, and photos if possible. It is fairly likely it is a basic Military and Police model, which is probably the most produced handgun ever made and has been in continuous production since the late 19th century. Things like barrel length (measured from the front of the cylinder), sights (fixed or adjustable), butt configuration (square or round) and other details will be helpful. Also any letters that may be part of the serial number can be important.

 

[rct269]

And given it's an M&P, it was shipped late nineteen teens---early twenties---and the star on the butt along side the serial number is a factory service mark-----it's been back to the factory for one thing or another---and there may be a date code on the left side of the grip frame. If it was in August, for example, it would be 8, followed by two digits indicating the year. And considering the fact there are "different strokes for different folks", it could look like so: 8XX, or 8 XX, or 8-XX, or 8/XX ----or nothing, because it was too early in the morning, or too late in the afternoon, or because he just didn't feel like it.

AND----IF the S&W Historical Foundation has Service data for whatever year it was, they may be able to tell you what the service was---and how much it cost---and the name of whoever sent it in---and where it came from---and who knows what else! You won't know until you ask, and it doesn't cost anything for the search---and chump change for copies of what they do find. The foundation has a section here on the forum, so you can contact them, and see what's what.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! As others have told you, you have a fairly common .38 M&P Hand Ejector revolver (aka Model of 1905 4th Change). It has a square butt grip frame and service sights. It did go back to the S&W factory for some type of work (reblue, mechanical repair, ?) as denoted by the star stamp with the s/n. These were very popular revolvers for decades and are collectable today. Difficult to date these revolvers using the "Standard Catalog of S&W 4th Ed." because it only lists the s/n's 271704-700000 as being manufactured from 1915-1942. My guess would be that yours was made in the early 1920s, but some of our Forum members that specialize in M&Ps probably have more accurate dates. Your M&P would have originally been shipped with walnut stocks with a diamond around the grip screw and with gold S&W monograms. However, the Mother of Pearl stocks that are on the revolver now appear to be in very nice condition and have some value, too. That's a nice family heirloom, and should be fun to shoot. Enjoy!

 

[handejector]

Your M&P would have originally been shipped with walnut stocks with a diamond around the grip screw and with gold S&W monograms. However, the Mother of Pearl stocks that are on the revolver now appear to be in very nice condition and have some value, too. That's a nice family heirloom, and should be fun to shoot. Enjoy!

This gun would have shipped in the early 20s with non-medallion grips.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. Likely shipped from the factory in 1920 or 1921. S&W added a MADE IN USA stamping to the right side of the frame in 1922. The MOP stocks are very thin, so an inexpensive set installed by distributors before being sold. Let us know when the revolver went back to the factory, but be careful when taking off the stocks. Original factory stocks would look like those below.