Another Hand Ejection38 for identification.

[Levi V]

Hello and happy holidays to all,

I'm trying to get identification, some information, and as closely as possible an appraisal on a 5-screw hand ejection .38 S&W Special ctg., serial #684781 with a 4" barrel, and fixed sights.

I'm pretty sure it has been re-blued, and maybe not a super quality job at that.

Here's some pictures.

You can see in this picture that the S&W logo is barely discernible. I take it that is from the re-bluing job, right?

There is also a "K" stamped on the inside of both grip handles. Is that factory? If so, what does it mean?

 

[Levi V]

A couple more pictures.

Here's some more pictures of it.

Here you can see the jeweling on the hammer.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. Your revolver is best known as 38 Military & Police, 4th Change, shipped in 1940. The stocks are much later than the gun would have shipped with originally and it has been reblued. The rebluing job is better than many I have seen, but it appears they reblued the trigger, which should be case colored like the hammer (minus the jeweling).

Value is relatively low on this model, since so many were made and most are still in service today. I would say $250 to $300, since there is no collector value in its current state.

 

[Levi V]

Thanks Garry.

Thanks Gary, that is very helpful.

And you are correct they blued the trigger also.

Levi.

 

[DWalt]

Others with very nearby SNs shipped in May 1940, so it's likely your M&P did also. Some commercial civilian M&Ps were being made and sold at that time, as wartime production for the British had not yet gone into high gear - that was a few months into the future. I'd agree yours has been refinished and the stocks are not original. But I'd think it would bring $300 or so in a private sale.

 

[Levi V]

Thanks Dwalt

Thanks for the helpful information Dwalt.