Help ID this .38 S&W Special

But since this isn't a Victory, the grips are not correct? Should I sell them to get the right ones? Is the gun still in the 5-600 range?
I think they are the right shape but it would have come with checkered stocks, and the victory stocks were smooth.

The gun looks really good - the stocks would be serial numbered to the frame on the inside.

I have an almost identical gun made in 1940 - the ejector rod is not blued but I don't know if that is a sometimes thing with early S&Ws. I have a 1927 Bekhart Special but right now I can't recall if the ejector rod is blued or not.

Riposte
 
Good to know that. Pretty sure the other gun I bought has those grips on it. I'll find out later today and let you know.
Two type of collectors, one goes for the genuine factory look, correct grips et cetera. Others go with what looks good and switching the grips for that purpose.

I bet the two revolvers had the grips switched by the previous owner.
 
Exactly...This holster is an obvious reproduction, and probably made in India or maybe China... The black paint on the "click the dot" snap is not flaked off and too shiny. The stamp is identical to Ebay $35 reproductions, and the general holster condition is too new.

As you said, antiquing leather is very hard to do to actually make it look and smell correct.
In the 1990s a copy made in Mexico was making the rounds in the Gun Show circuit.

What I was told back then, the trick was to soak the holster in animal urine and let it dry completely. People would not expect that and take it for granted that it must be an original leather holster.
 
In the 1990s a copy made in Mexico was making the rounds in the Gun Show circuit.

What I was told back then, the trick was to soak the holster in animal urine and let it dry completely. People would not expect that and take it for granted that it must be an original leather holster.
That makes sense, but I hate to ask an obviously dumb question, but where and how would you gain enough animal urine to soak the holster? I used to have cattle, so I can possibly see getting a larger amount that way, although the mechanics of doing that would be interesting.
 
"Fair" is whatever leaves both the buyer and the seller happy...Worrying over finances is fruitless and just gives a third party the opportunity to slip in and snatch it away from you... :unsure:...Ben
yessir, but gotta start somewhere. And if it's on this venue, the bidding process is out. Mostly just looking for comps.
 
Beautiful revolver.

I doubt the holster is original. You can find these all over Ebay and Amazon selling for about $20.
 
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