.38M&P(Model of 1905 4th Change)

[wvmanchu]

Can anyone give me an approximate date of manufacture? I've had this gun for about 15 years, it was given to me by my wife's boss who was cleaning out her deceased mother's house and found it in a make-up drawer loaded and coated with various substances. I cleaned it up and replaced the apparently homemade grips with some Hogues that made it shootable but never really shot it until recently. Found the stocks its wearing now in a local gun shop. Serial# is 543xxx
and matches on both the extractor and the cylinder. Also can someone post and example of the proper stocks. This is the only picture I could get to upload. May try more later if needed

 

[scha]

Others wil have more specific information, but I would place this in the mid 1920s.

Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. I will venture an estimate of the late 1920s, maybe around 1927. Does the revolver have a MADE IN USE stamping on the right side of the frame? That stamping was added in 1922.

The proper stocks would be diamond wood-round top, with no medallion. Those were the standard stocks issues on K frame Model 1905s from 1920 through 1929. These stocks come up quite regularly on ebay.

 

[wvmanchu]

Thanks, It does have MADE IN USA on the right side. Any idea of the value?

 

[DWalt]

To some extent, it would depend whether the nickel plating was original or not. I can't tell from the picture if the hammer and trigger are plated. If so, plating is NOT original-S&W did not plate those parts. In any event I'd guess RETAIL to be around $300 to $350, but no gun dealer would pay that much for it.

 

[Alk8944]

From my lists SNs in this range were shipped mostly in the 1926-7 time frame.

 

[wvmanchu]

Alk8944 when were you with the 7th, I was with 1st Bde from 81-85. Dwalt as far as the plating goes it is original but not in good shape. some discoloration on both sides above the stocks. Bore is sharp and shiny and it's a great shooter. Thanks for the info everybody.