Help Idenitifying Pistol

[holeysocks]

Hello All:
I have a pistol I am having trouble figuring out what it is, Serial # is 619076 Star? (hard to read 1st number) 6 shot, , 5 screw, strain screw, 2" pinned barrel,38 S&W SPC CTG caliber, fixed sights, 74330 stamped inside wooded grip
Thanks
David

 

[torpedoman]

picture needed for help

 

[MDM1911]

Do you have any pictures? Based on the serial number I would say you have a Model of 1905 4th change pre war snub nose.

 

[holeysocks]

 

[holeysocks]

 

[holeysocks]

 

[lamarw]

Reading between the lines a tad, I would say the star after the serial number is an indication the revolver has been returned to the factory for a refinish and/or a major component replacement. If I am correct then there should be numbers on the left side of the grip frame indicating the date of the factory work. As an example a 4 and then a 39 meaning April 1939. It is also possible, the difference in the serial number and the number inside the grip indicates the grips are not original to the revolver.

As I stated, I could be misreading your post.

 

[holeysocks]

lamarw.. Thank You!! there is in fact a 1.45 stamped on the left side of the grip frame in the bottom right corner under the grip!!
1905 4th Change would be about what year?

 

[murphydog]

If you see the same number (619076) stamped on the barrel flat near the ejector rod, this is a fairly uncommon pre-WW II 2" Military & Police. This may have shipped anytime from the mid-1930s until just after the war (1946). The stocks are factory but from a later era.

 

[JSR III]

Welcome to the forum. As others have stated, this is a 4th change from somewhere in the 1930's. The stocks are from a post 1968 gun as there is no diamond around the screw. I have one in the 800,000 range that shipped in July 1941, so unless it is one of the S&W serial number flukes, mid to late 30's is a safe bet.

Nice find, my 2" M&P is a postwar shipped in August 1949 and has the later "C" prefix.

 

[DCWilson]

The two-inch K-frame .38s were produced in small numbers before and during WWII; production increased after the war in the 1940s and '50s as shorter barrels came into increasing demand. When your gun was originally shipped (I'm guessing 1934-35 based on the serial number, but it could have left the factory later), its stocks would have looked like this. The lump with a screw through it is a prewar grip adapter; those could have been installed on a snubnose M&P, but I don't think I have ever seen one that was so equipped.

If you are interested in returning the gun to its original configuration, this is the grip design you should look for. They are called silver medallion service stocks. Note the pointy corners to the checking field; that's an indicator of prewar manufacture. By 1945, when your gun was reworked, it might have been returned with magna stocks that have the same profile as the ones on your gun now, but they would have had diamonds around the screw escutcheons. Most people think the magna stocks are more comfortable than the prewar service stocks.

I imagine forum member Pace40 will be along to say a little more about this model in general and maybe even this gun in particular. He knows them better than just about anybody else.

That's a great piece with high collector value. Congratulations on having it in your collection.

 

[JP@AK]

Looking at post #4 I see polishing gaps on the sideplate. Does this look like a factory refinish to you guys? I'm asking, not to criticize, but to learn.
Clearly the star and date stamp indicate a return for factory service. But I'm wondering if the gun was refinished again later. The sideplate fit is what makes me want to conclude that. Any comments, guys?

 

[DWalt]

It is difficult to pin down a factory shipping date during the early 1930s based upon a serial number alone. At that time, the Great Depression was underway, and like everything else, gun sales dropped precipitously. S&Ws practice was to ship guns randomly from inventory, and they probably had a fairly large inventory built up. About all that can be said is that serial numbers around yours were shipped from 1930-34. As your gun in that barrel length is unusual for that period, and desirable, it is highly recommended you obtain a factory letter ($50) to establish exactly when it was shipped, and other basic information. And you should try to find a very nice pair of stocks from the 1930s period. They will not be inexpensive.

See: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/185369-factory-letter-request-form.html

The Model of 1905, 4th Change is purely collector terminology as applied to your revolver. S&W called it a Military and Police (M&P) Model at this time.

 

[holeysocks]

Stamped on the Yoke and behind the yoke(39687), the 619076 is also stamped on the cylinder
Thanks Everyone for the help

 

[MDM1911]

These are really cool and by far my favorite. I agree with DWalt as a factory letter is in order. Some of these were shipped to millitary as well as police departments. Great find!

 

[DWalt]

The numbers seen in the yoke area are simply assembly numbers which were used to keep match-fitted parts together during manufacture. They have no other significance. Not likely yours saw any official military service. If you look down through a chamber to the inside of the yoke, you should see another SN stamped there. You may need a flashlight. There will also be another inside the extractor star.

 

[murphydog]

Does the barrel have the matching SN or any other stampings (a star or diamond)? If so, it may be original or the factory may have replaced it when they placed the rework star. If it is a replacement they may have stamped it with the gun's SN; the factory letter would be the only way to be sure it shipped as a 2", but it is certainly in the SN range of known examples.

I also think the sideplate seam appears wider than normal in the photo, and may indicate a non-factory refinish.

 

[handejector]

Before you rush off to get a letter, it would be a good idea to show us a pic of the bottom of the barrel with the cyl open.
There is a little flat there.
I suspect the gun might have been rebarreled in Jan 45.

I agree that the refinish is non-factory.

 

[holeysocks]

Wait until Y'all see the Other Hand Ejector I have,, It will really make you put your thinking cap on!!

 

[JSR III]

Wait until Y'all see the Other Hand Ejector I have,, It will really make you put your thinking cap on!!

Bring it on!! Otherwise we have no other choice but to go look at porn on the interweb. GunBroker.com, GunAuction.com, GunsAmeruca.com etc.