Can Anyone Help Me Identify These Old .38S&W

[llopez00]

My father inherited these old guns. They are both chambered .38 S&W and the black one is stamped with a Smith and Wesson Logo but the little one does not. The black has a 6inch barrel and the serial number is 733837. The small one only has a 2inch barrel and its serial number is 158145 and is stamped on the top of the barrel "The American Double Action". The small one is a 5shooter and the drum does not slide out. Can anyone help me identify them and maybe from what years they were made and if they might be worth anything. The black one is in great condition with only a little wear on the front of the barrel where as the little one had quite a bit of rust. Here are some pics and any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[llopez00]

My father inherited these old guns. They are both chambered .38 S&W and the black one is stamped with a Smith and Wesson Logo but the little one does not. The black has a 6inch barrel and the serial number is 733837. The small one only has a 2inch barrel and its serial number is 158145 and is stamped on the top of the barrel "The American Double Action". The small one is a 5shooter and the drum does not slide out. Can anyone help me identify them and maybe from what years they were made and if they might be worth anything. The black one is in great condition with only a little wear on the front of the barrel where as the little one had quite a bit of rust. Here are some pics and any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[opoefc]

The first gun is a Smith & Wesson, and assuming you don't have a "V" stamped in front of the serial number on the butt, it's a commercial model 1905, 4th change, made in the late 1930s - Now, if there's a "V" there, it's a WW2 Victory model shipped to the British, however there are some anomalies present - it should have a 5 in. barrel for a Britih shipped gun in .38S&W caliber, so check to see what serial numer is on the barrel, if any. The barrel may be a replacement, but it's not impossible the gun was shipped originally with a 6 in. barrel, but unusual. The smooth grips are of the WW2 style shipped with US and British guns. Check the inside of the right grip panel for a number. If they are original to your gun, the number would match the serial number on the Butt. Value is around $200- $275, if it is in good mechanical condition. Your 2nd revolver may have been made by Iver Johnson and should have their stamp on the barrel rib, if not there were copies made by several other makers in the US and Europe and just marked "American Bulldog" Value is $75 to $125 for these guns. The serial number you report is not a number that would have been used by Iver Johnson, so it is probably one of the numerous cheap copies. Hope that helps. Ed.

 

[llopez00]

It does not have a V on the serial number... just the 6 digit number i posted earlier. And all 3 serial numbers match from the bottom of the grip to the drum to the bottom of the barrel. and i measured the barrel from the very front all the way to where it meets up with the drum. Thanks for all your info... it is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Jim Watson]

The little nickel plated gun is a Harrington & Richardson with the trade name of The American Double Action. It is .38 S&W CALIBER, not a Smith and Wesson made revolver. They cost $6.95 in 1939 when the real S&W was $33.00.

By the way, a Thompson Submachinegun has a "drum", a revolver has a cylinder.

 

[opoefc]

Jim Watson is correct. My apologies, I was just looking at a collection of Iver Johnsons, marked American Bulldog, and forgot your post was for an American Double Action, which is a H&R made revolver. Value estimate would still be the same. Smith & Wesson is in the family tree, however, H&R descended from Wesson & Harrigton, which descended from Frank Wesson Arms. Frank was D.B.Wesson's younger brother who learned his gun making skills from D.B. and Edwin Wesson. Ed.

 

[llopez00]

Cool thanks guys... Ill remember the cylinder thing

 

[WILDCATT]

darn you JIm beat me to it.I think I read where the first shipments were comercial til they got the new set up.