5- screw revolver ID

[ltj9296]

Hello,
Right off the bat I am a older s&w revolver novice. Yesterday at a LGS, I came across something I have never seen before. It was a s&w 5 screw with a 3" barrel. It had s&w 38 special ctg markings on the barrel and a 3 digit number that you could see when you opened the cylinder. I can not remember the #, but may have started with a 7. The bluing was gone, but no rust or pitting. The lock up was not as tight as I prefer, and trigger pull a little stiff, but smooth. The salesman said based on the serial #, he thought it was made in the 1930's. The price was $400, I did not buy it because they also had some nice 64 trade-ins. I bought the 64, but have been real curious about the 5-screw. Any more information about what it is? thanks

 

[steelslaver]

Not an expert but to get a decent answer there are some questions:

5 shot or 6 shot
Round or sq butt
description of grips
fixed or adj sights
A close look at muzzle and front sight, to see if it has been cut down. Are the roll-marks centered, Any markings on top of the barrel?
How many digits and any letter before the numbers of serial # (plus as many of the first few as possible)
Do the numbers on the rear of cylinder itself, under the barrel, grip frame etc match? One in the yoke cutout is an assy number, not serial number.

Unless it is something fairly rare $400 is a bit high for a most 38 specials of that time that have little or no bluing left.

 

[Muley Gil]

The number stamped on the frame, behind the yoke, is an assembly number. Once the revolver is completed, the assembly number is meaningless. The number on the butt is the serial number. It may include letters like "K", "C", "D" and "S". This letter prefix may be well to the left of the digits. Other letter prefixes are used with different sized frames.

Generally, 3" barrels were not available from the factory on K frame revolvers before WW II.

More information, and pictures, would be helpful.

 

[H Richard]

Is this possibly a Pre Mod 36 with a 3" barrel? Or, is the ejector rod sticking out all by itself, indicating probably a cut down Victory?

 

[Absalom]

Well, probably should just wait until the OP provides some of the info from steelslayer's excellent list, but what fun would that be?

H Richard's pre-Model 36 suggestion is the only factory-original 3" barreled one I can think of that would not have a model number in the yoke. But then again, when was the last time you saw a J-frame "with the bluing all gone"? And since the OP is conversant with the Model 64, I'd think he'd have noted if it was a substantially smaller frame.

Assuming that the 3" barrel was measured correctly, the ejector can't stick out by itself. So it's likely not a converted Victory; most of these were ex-BSR's anyway, and the OP mentioned the 38 Special on the barrel.

My vote would be for a cut-down pre-model M&P of indeterminate vintage. Additional info about the sights could expand that, but a cut-own K-38 would be odd.

So, let's settle back and wait to be embarrassed by additional info that may change everything .

 

[ltj9296]

Thanks everyone, it was a six shot, fixed sight with some old imitation stag grips, that was cracked. I think it was a round butt, and the grips were oversized a little. I wished I had looked at the serial #, but I did not. The salesman and I both thought it was a 3", but we didn't measure. It was definitely less than 4, and more than a 2". One thing that kind of struck me was how small or thin the barrel was for a .38, but maybe that is normal for a revolver for that time? I will try to get by the LGS sometime next week, and if they still have it will try to get the serial #. I have never been a old revolver collector, but can see why someone would enjoy it. Thanks again!

 

[BUFF]

Just a thought you are probably already aware of, but make sure that the serial number the shop owner is thinking and talking about is the number on the bottom of the grip frame.

 

[Absalom]

Uh oh. Now those imitation stag grips, the thin-looking barrel and the fact that you're not sure it was 3" does make a converted ex-BSR a tempting possibility, if it weren't for that .38 SPECIAL CTG on the barrel you mentioned.

Looking forward to the complete butt serial. On a K-frame, that usually explains it all.