CTG Revolver Help

[supertones31]

US Service CTG .38 special Serial Number E994 on the frame where the cylinder comes out
22993 on the bottom of the handle


The only history I have is that it was owned by a Chicago cop "back in the day.' It also comes w/ a leather holster that is stamped VL&A Chicago 205 DB

If anyone could give me some more history and price info, that'd be great.
Thanks!

 

[murphydog]

Welcome to the Forum. The barrel stamping you describe are unique to an early .38 Military & Police (later known as the model 10), from about 1902.

Value is dependent upon its mechanical and metal/finish, so if you have them photos would be a great help to determine this. Click on Post Reply under the last message in the thread, then Manage Attachments. A smaller window will open with an empty text box. Click on Browse to search your hard drive for the location of the photos, then Upload. They should appear in the text when you post the message. Hope this is helpful.

 

[s&wchad]

Von Lengerke & Antoinne

Yes, it's an early .38 Special Military and police revolver. Von Lengerke and Antoinne was a well known Chicago sporting goods retailer. I believe the holster was manufactured and branded for them by someone else, possibly Heiser. Photos would be nice! How to post photos: Attachments and Images

 

[supertones31]

Pics

Pics of the revolver

 

[supertones31]

One last pic

 

[s&wchad]

Nice early gun, I doubt I'll look that good when I'm 110! How about a couple shots of the holster (front and back)?

 

[supertones31]

Am taking some pics of holster now.
Is there anything I should take into consideration besides a thoroughly cleansing before attempting to fire it? I was told it hasn't been shot in 30+ years. I am going to go get some low grain .38 and hope for the best this weekend.

Anyone have an estimated value w/ it's current condition?

 

[supertones31]

Some pics of the holster. Couldn't upload this pic, but posted it on imageshack

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4066/photo5yys.jpg
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4066/photo5yys.jpg

 

[Dpris]

To discuss it intelligently, you should know that it's not a CTG, which is an abbreviation for cartridge.

To help others judge condition better, use straight-on profile shots, not the angled ones you're doing.

It would be advisable to have it checked by a qualified gunsmith before firing, since it kinda sounds like you're not familiar enough to check it out yourself.

What do you mean by "low grain .38"?
If it dates back to around 1902, that was well before S&W started their heat treating processes, and if you shoot it stay with very mild loads.

It's not likely to blow up, but higher pressures can stress it & no parts have been made for that gun for many years.

.38 Special wadcutters would be preferable, or standard 158-grain lead round nose loads.
Jacketed bullets will wear the rifling more than lead will, too.

Denis

 

[Oyeboteb]

Hi supertones31,


I have one of the same Model not far from yours Serial Number wise, and, it has always been one of my very favorite S&Ws.

As others have mentioned, it is considered best to use .38 Wadcutter Target Ammunition in these, as it is slightly downloaded from the usual, and, also, uses nice soft friendly Lead Bullets.

Stay with those, keep it well Oiled, and you can have all the Plinking fun you like, with no worries of hurting the old thing.

Make sure to Oil it up inside by dripping a good grade Gun Oil in from various places, and Oil up the Cylinder Axel and ejector parts and so on, then just wipe down well with a soft cloth...since, it is likely no one has Oiled it in who knows how long, decades even.


The Holster is no where near as old as the Revolver...even though it is a nice enough older Holster.

 

[old bear]

Does it look to anyone else as if the charging holes, shown in photo #4, appear to have been reassessed ? If so I assume this would have been done to allow the use of 38 special ammo.

supertones31, if your revolver will chamber 38 special ammo it may not be SAFE to use in your revolver.

 

[lebomm]

A better photo will help us reassess those charge holes, but if you mean "recessed", I don't think so. This revolver is chambered (and I bet marked) for ".38 S&W Special & US Service Cartridges", meaning .38 Special & .38 Long Colt, the US Service revolver cartridge up to the time of the Philippine Insurrection, but that's another story. The Colt cartridge is an acceptable sub-load for the S&W chamber. Be careful when buying ammo for this gun - don't buy any +P stuff or the 130 gr. FMJ. Only plain lead or Lubaloy bullets at 158 grains or Target Wadcutters at 148 grains. Either of those will be correct. Not too likely you'll find any 150 gr lead or Lubaloy .38 Long Colt, but they'll be alright, too.

Larry

 

[murphydog]

Agree with 148 gr wadcutters for shooting. A good, mechanically solid but finish-worn gun like yours would probably bring $2-300, but why sell it?

 

[Texas Star]

Round butt, hard rubber stocks, usually called the Model of 1902. The five-inch barrel was pretty common on those.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have one of these that was probably shipped a little after yours. It belonged to my paternal grandfather, and he gave it hard use. A couple of notes of caution. I'd fire only low-power wadcutter target ammo in it, and realize that the hammer block on these was primitive. You can test this for yourself by pressing forward on the hammer of the unloaded gun with your thumb; you will see the firing pin protrude through the recoil shield. If you have a round under the hammer and drop the gun, it could easily fall on the hammer and go off.

Here's a picture of my grandfather's gun.

John

 

[PALADIN85020]

Does it look to anyone else as if the charging holes, shown in photo #4, appear to have been reassessed ? If so I assume this would have been done to allow the use of 38 special ammo.

supertones31, if your revolver will chamber 38 special ammo it may not be SAFE to use in your revolver.

The cylinders on the Model 1902 (I have one) are definitely not recessed. The photo makes it look that way, but I think that was due to camera shake when it was taken.

John