.38 Special U.S. Service date quest

[Willybill77]

Hi all, new member here from Montana. I inherited a hand ejector S&W .38 special U.S. Service with a 4" barrel with fixed sights. I am looking to date it. I believe it is likely made before 1920 but can't seem to dial it in. There is no model number behind the yolk. The serial number on the butt has no letter with the number. The number is a 5-digit number (928xx) There is a Strain Screw in the front gripstrap. I believe it is a 5 screw, one perhaps hidden behind the square butt grip someone replaced the round butt grip with. The last Pat. Date on barrel is July 7 '03. Thanks in advance for any replies.Photos at OneDrive link below
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvG1mVkaP6_PgYlLFuW-fm9AyWhSRw?e=mUMiLI

 

[JP@AK]

Hi and welcome to the S&W Forum.

It is a .38 Military & Police revolver from about 1907. At the time, it would have been advertised by the company as a Model of 1902.

The caliber stamp indicates it was chambered for the .38 S&W Special cartridge but could also chamber the .38 Long Colt, which was, at that time, the official U.S. military cartridge for revolvers.

The stocks are much later, dating from the 1953-1967 period.

 

[Willybill77]

Jack, thank you very much for the extensive information. I will be sure to buy non-+P ammo for it.

 

[DETROIT]

If you want to keep those N frame grips on it, and make it more comfortable to shoot. Apply some renaissance wax to the gun, then get a hot glue gun and run a bead down the front strap.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Hi Willybill, welcome to the forums! The original grips were likely black hard rubber, although walnut with a flat top without a medallion were optional. Modern round butt K frame or round to square butt conversion stocks will fit. I don't recommend using hot glue as a filler. Also, you don't need to be concerned about +P since the gun was designed to shoot .38 Special with pressures equal to or greater than modern +P.

 

[alwslate]

Hi Willybill, welcome to the forums! The original grips were likely black hard rubber, although walnut with a flat top without a medallion were optional. Modern round butt K frame or round to square butt conversion stocks will fit. I don't recommend using hot glue as a filler. Also, you don't need to be concerned about +P since the gun was designed to shoot .38 Special with pressures equal to or greater than modern +P.

Wrong. Same old story, different day. Original factory ammo, post black powder, had a 158 gr lead nose bullet at a real velocity of about 850 fps from a 6 or 6.5" barrel. NOT a 20,000 psi load. A recent article about .38 SPL loads in old S&W revolvers in Handloader magazine should have put this myth to rest but obviously not.