Does Sticky work?

[wileybelch]

Let's see if the instructions given by Sticky for the identification of a S&W revolver work.
I have a suspected S&W Hand Ejector: here is the data
caliber: .38 Special
cylinder: swing out to left
crane: no model number, just assy number (says Sticky)
barrel length: 5"
S/N: 273410

After someone identifies this revolver, can anyone tell me what grips probably came with this revolver from the factory? This is not a collector, so I don't need to be a purist; just want to make it an authentic shooter. Should I look elsewhere for a discussion of the I, J, K frame differences?

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I'll go back and read the sticky again, but my recollection is it says we need a lot more information than what you provided. However, I'll take a deep breath and go out on a limb to say you likely have a .38 Military & Police, 6 shot revolver AKA the Model 1905, 4th Change. It was made between 1915 but before WWI. What grips it came with depends on if it is a round or square butt gun (information missing). Round butts usually wore hard rubber grips and square butts walnut service grips with a gold medallion. If you will post a picture, perhaps we can tell you more.

 

[s&wchad]

Welcome aboard!

Wiregrassguy is correct about it being a .38 M&P.
The I frame wasn't offered in .38 Special.
The J frame was offered in .38 Special, but it has a 5 shot cylinder and wasn't produced with a 5" barrel.
Your serial number is too high for it to be a 38/44 HD or Outdoorsman (N frame's), so that rules out everything but the K frame.

 

[wileybelch]

For wiregrassguy
Yes, Sticky does require more info to do a model search, but many of them disappear at a fork in the road. He states a decision point and if your revolver says go left, many other ID issues are moot. Anyway, the issue of the butt...mine has a round butt so I guess it came with a set of rubber grips.
When did the terms Hand Ejector and Military & Police become synonomous? I thought they were separate families.
WWI began in 1914, why do you say between 1915 and WWI?

 

[s&wchad]

When did the terms Hand Ejector and Military & Police become synonomous? I thought they were separate families.

Hand Ejector was the name S&W gave to their family of revolvers with a swing-out cylinder and ejector rod. They were available in various frame sizes.

The Military and Police line was built on the K frame and generally had fixed sights, although target versions were available. All M&P revolvers are Hand Ejectors, but not all Hand Ejectors are M&P revolvers.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

WWI began in 1914, why do you say between 1915 and WWI?

TO help you understand time frames, For Europe WWI began in 1914 and WWII began in 1939. For the United States they began in 1917 and 1941. These are the time frames when the Manufacturing went into Wartime production (and peacetime operations for things like the custom shop halted). Since S&W is an American Company, That is why these dates apply.

BTW, Welcome to The Forum!

Ivan

 

[handejector]

AKA the Model 1905, 4th Change. It was made between 1915 but before WWI.

WWI began in 1914, why do you say between 1915 and WWI?

A typo.
Guy meant to say between 1915 and WW II
1915 is the year the 1905-4th change began.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Don't mean to argue with the big gorilla, but I think Guy meant between 1915 and the U.S.'s entry in WWI.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Don't mean to argue with the big gorilla, but I think Guy meant between 1915 and the U.S.'s entry in WWI.

That's correct. I should have said between 1915 and 1917.

Guy

 

[rct269]

And to help nail down the time frame a bit----------------

#238778 shipped March 5, 1915.

#264678 shipped March 1, 1917.

#354467 shipped November 16, 1920.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Texas Star]

Couple of things here...

First, round butt guns sometimes did have walnut grips, not always hard rubber.

Secondly, at least one J frame gun has had a five-inch barrel, a Chief Special stainless (M-60) with adjustable sights. I doubt if many were made, and it may not still be in the line. I'm almost sure that it was a five-inch barrel,, which looks out of place on that small frame.

Obviously, the OP's gun is much earlier, and I agree it's an M&P.
But photos would have helped.

The term "hand ejector" was to distinguish the guns from S&W's earlier ones, which were top-break, auto ejectors.

 

[wileybelch]

I am using Jim Supica & Richard Nahas "Standard Catalaog of Smith & Wesson", 3d ed., 2006, as my first reference to ID S&W handguns. It doesn't always resolve problems with early 20th century details, and there are a lot of details to resolve in these revolvers.
Thanks, everyone.

 

[Hondo44]

What more problems are there to resolve regarding the model identity you seek than in the ".38 M&P Model of 1905" entry with serial range 241704 to 1000000 on page 139 of the SCSW, 3rd ed.?

Once you knew the model, actual photos of the two possible stocks described in the above, begin on page 20.

"I, J, K frame differences" are in their specific sections according to caliber.