.38 Special, pre 10 or 36 model? Who Knows?

Welcome to the forum.
I can't comment on Value but I do like the looks of your handgun. With proper training on your part it will serve you well. Give us a range report if you decide to take it out and shoot it.
 
Thanks to all who have offered information and advise. My first experience with this forum has been wonderful. I appreciate your help.
 
Being someone who, as a child, rode with Roy Rodgers, the Lone Ranger and many other TV cowboys, let me just say that those grips are outstanding.


Thank you, LedFowl. I think the gun has an overall good look. Since you bring it up, the gun reminds me of a shorter version of a TV cowboy pistol.
 
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The black lower sideplate screw is probably the one that goes under the magna grips. Another sign that the gun was aftermarket nickel plated.
Maybe if the screws were in the right positions, you could draw the sideplate flush. It does not look badly rounded off as from a bumper chrome job.
 
If those grips are ivory, they're likely worth more than the revolver.

I did a hot needle test on the inside of one of the grips. If it were ivory, the needle wouldn't penetrate. The grips are probably polyurethane or bakelite, since the needle created a small hole.
 
The black lower sideplate screw is probably the one that goes under the magna grips. Another sign that the gun was aftermarket nickel plated.
Maybe if the screws were in the right positions, you could draw the sideplate flush. It does not look badly rounded off as from a bumper chrome job.

Thank you, Jim. I appreciate your help. Good catch, I changed that screw and the plate does fit nicer.
 
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Welcome to the forum. NO, the letters T and W are merely fitters marks and have no significance outside the factory. The letters and numbers in the yoke area are assembly numbers and were used back in the day when certain parts were hand fitted to the gun. This includes the side plate. That same yoke number will appear on the back of the side plate if original to the gun. These numbers were needed to get these fitted parts back together after the gun was disassembled for finishing. Once the gun was finished, either blue or nickel, the numbers helped get these fitted parts back on the gun.

Guns can be refinished without overly disturbing the words and numbers by a quality re-finisher. These letters and words can also be re-cut, so this is not necessarily a good way to judge a refinish.

As my learned colleagues have advised above, poor fitting side plates or ones with rounded edges at the seam, plated hammers and triggers, platted extractors or flattened round pins are some of the others things we look for.

There are many guns out there that were done in the style of your gun with steer head stocks and bright nickel finish and as someone stated, these guns are referred to as barbecue guns. Merely having the steer head stocks would raise a flag to me that the gun might be a refinish.

It's a cool gun and may have some LEO history but remember you are buying the gun and not the story. Unless a very famous person once owned it or it was at the OK corral, there is no added value.


Thank you, Jim. I think I'll be showing this revolver off at my next barbeque. I appreciate the reiteration. I'm convinced it has been refinished and now know that the steer head grips are polyurethane, bakelite or a similar substance. Again, thank you for weighing in.
 
Was he an Officer in the Southwest? Texas. New Mexico. Arizona? The gun would certainly fit that area and era. Anything to go with it? Holster, badge, newspaper clippings even his obituary would make it a nice, and fitting, package.
 
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