Help-ID early 19xx Hand Ejector

[Mac123]

Hello to all- my FFL ran into a early HE and asked to see if we can help ID this gun and value. I'm more knowledgeable on the N frames, hoping someone knowledgeable on these will chime in. Thx!

1. Hand Ejector
2. 387457
3. 38 long Colt
4. 6 or 6.5in (guessing from pic)
5. Fixed sights

Pic attached-

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

That is a 5" .38 Military & Police with a round butt. It should be chambered in .38 special. Can you post close-up pictures of both sides of the barrel? I think it would date to the 1920s. One of our experts will be along soon to narrow down the date.

The grips are replacements. They look like Franzites from the '50s or '60s. Wood or hard rubber would have been factory.

 

[DWalt]

Why do you say the caliber is .38 Long Colt? S&W did not stamp their revolvers with that caliber. The .38 Long Colt cartridge is now obsolete, but could have been fired in any .38 Special chamber. Yours is chambered for the .38 Special.

In any event SN 387457 suggests it left the factory around mid-1921. Its value is relatively minimal as its condition is not high and the grips are not original. Perhaps around $300-$350 at a typical gun show.

 

[Mac123]

Why do you say the caliber is .38 Long Colt? S&W did not stamp their revolvers with that caliber. The .38 Long Colt cartridge is now obsolete, but could have been fired in any .38 Special chamber. Yours is chambered for the .38 Special.

In any event SN 387457 suggests it left the factory around mid-1921. Its value is relatively minimal as its condition is not high and the grips are not original. Perhaps around $300-$350 at a typical gun show.

Thanks guys for the info! I'm helping my FFL who is also a gunsmith for late model guns, he said it was a 38 LC so that is what I am going on from him. I too thought 38 lc probably a 38 special, thanks again guys I'll pass along the info. Is it a 200-400 dollar gun?

 

[DWalt]

$200-$400 would cover all possibilities, but many reading this would not be very interested at the higher end of that range. Any M&P in solid shooting condition and not badly abused can usually find a buyer at around $300 in most parts of the country.

 

[JSR III]

I agree with DWalt. Condition is fair and stocks are replacements. No collector value. Shooter value is $200-$300. With over 7,000,000 M&P's and their successors made over the years, not rare by any stretch.

 

[Hondo44]

What does the barrel caliber roll mark read exactly?

I'll bet it's "38 S&W Special CTG", so I don't know where your gunsmith is coming from. But all versions of this revolver would shoot both; like 38 and 357 in the same cyl.

Ten to 20 years earlier models of this gun are found with a dual marking:

38 S&W Special CTG & US Service CTG (meaning 38 Long Colt).