Another What have I got here ?

[millrite]

Little 5 screw J frame size, says regulation Police on the barrel, takes .38 S&W cartridge, Sn#21XX on frame, barrel, and cylinder stocks fully enclose the bottom and are stamped "patented month and 1917", fellow I got it from said it is a beakhart??

 

[K9 Rex]

That's an I Frame .38 Regulation Police. That model was manufactured from 1917 to the start of WW 2. If yours is a 4 digit serial #, it's probably a first year of manufacture. Production resumed after the war, the strain screw was eliminated in 1953 when the mainspring was changed to a coil instead of a leaf. It became the Model 33 in 1957, it was changed to the J Frame in 1960 or 1961. These are neat little revolvers, I have several and enjoy shooting them.

 

[mikepriwer]

Its a 38 Regulation Police. It has the so-called rebated back strap,
and the lower rear of the grips fit into that rebated area. It is not
a Bekart - those were 22's on a 32 frame.

What you have is a relatively scarce gun.

Mike Priwer

 

[millrite]

Yes 4 digit serial, in mechanically great condition, w obvious bluing wear. Very comfortable in the hand.

 

[arc2x4]

An I frame Regulation police in .38 S&W not .38 special.
Pre 1920?? I don't see a S&W logo or made in the USA on it.

"Beakhart" referred to a 22/32 target model which had adjustible sights and was ordered by a sporting goods store in San Francisco.
So its not one of those.

 

[DCWilson]

Definitely first year production. The Regulation Police revolvers started shipping about April of 1917, and the specially designed stocks had no patent date on them -- because the patent had not yet been granted. After the patent was recorded on June 5, 1917, that date was stamped on the left panel of stocks designed to fit the rebated frame. So the dated stocks on yours make me think it did not ship until summer of 1917 at the earliest. Later that year the company was dedicated exclusively to production of the US Army Model of 1917, so that kind of brackets possible production dates for your gun.

 

[millrite]

Here is a picture of the bottom of the grip, it says "patented june 5 1917". The Hammer also has some type of patent stamped on it.

 

[Art Doc]

"...says regulation Police on the barrel..."

Hmmm... If we only had some clue...