Any info on this old S&W revolver, 38 spl with 6" BBL

[Serviceable]

What I have is an S&W .38 spl revolver with a 6" bbl, fixed sights and a serial number starting with C 28xxx. I bought it used back in the 80's from a friend who owned a small sporting goods store in Santa Clara, CA. It has an L on the yoke cutout above the assembly numbers. I don't seem to be able to find any info on that letter. I remember sometime in the 90's I contacted someone from S&W by email and got info on the serial number, but that computer crashed before I had the presence of mind to print it. All I think I remember was it was a NYPD issue. I thought the email stated it was from 1935, but when I checked the serial online it seems to be more like 1953. It has holster wear and also looks like someone tried to file the trigger guard off with little success. If someone has any info on the letter and/or any other info on the revolver I'd really appreciate it. I love the gun, it's a good shooter and I'd never sell it.

 

[murphydog]

Welcome! You are describing a .38 Military & Police revolver from about 1948 per the C 28,000 serial number.

The standard NYPD authorized revolver barrel length was 4” but anything is possible. A letter of authenticity from the S & W Historical Foundation would give you the exact ship (sales) date and destination.

We like photos! Hope this is helpful.

 

[Art Doc]

The C serial prefix began in 1948 and as many as they were making yours would certainly be in the first year or two.

I think a 6" NYPD gun would be highly unlikely.

The L is part of the assembly number and meaningless once it leaves the factory.

Bummer about the trigger guard.

 

[k22fan]

The simple info is the C prefix superseded the S prefix in the spring of 1948. That is enough to rule out it being a pre-WW II revolver. While NYPD famously used tens of thousands of S&W .38 K frames this is the first I've heard of them using barrels longer than 4". However, they might have. While 4" Model 10s were the most common Seattle PD gun I used to see Seattle motorcycle officers carrying 6" revolvers. They could hang down without contacting the vehicle seat. A few writers advocated partially cutting away the right side of the front of the trigger guard to quicken the draw. Smarter folks habitually keep their trigger finger out of trigger guards until the muzzle starts coming up to horizontal.

 

[Absalom]

Sometimes trigger guard degradation on old police guns is due to use of the Audley safety holster with metal retaining plug, but a 1948 gun is a bit too late for that.

I agree with Art Doc that a 6” barrel would be highly unlikely to be NYPD for that time period; the department was purchasing the M&P and Colt OP, both with 4” barrels, as the standard weapons for sale to officers by that time.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I thought the Nu Yawk PD had NYPD stamped on the backstrap of their guns.

 

[Absalom]

... I thought the Nu Yawk PD had NYPD stamped on the backstrap of their guns.

Not since the the late 1890s and the days of Commissioner Roosevelt and his famous order of the Colt New Police.

NYPD officers had to buy their revolvers, so they are not “issued”, although they had to be off an approved list and were mostly bought through the department.

Until the 1950s, there was a requirement (not consistently enforced) to stamp your gun with your shield number. That faded away during that decade.

 

[model17]

NYPD SW mp .38 special in 4 in.variety "C" prefix ser. #