Help Identifing Hand Ejector Please

[Chipman]

New member here, looking for help identifying a revolver I just pick up.

1) Hand Ejector

2) serial # is ️21959

3) This is "tricky" as the cylinder is 38 spl, the barrel looks to be from a different gun and is 38 s&w.

4) Barrel length is 5"

5) Has an adjustable rear sight.

Additionally, the marking inside the yoke is e626, only marked on the frame side. 6 shot. 4 Screws.

 

[Truckman]

Looks like a .38 M&P Model of 1902 that was rebarreled from a British K200...The star prefix indicates a factory rework I believe...And from the S/N probably an early 1902 production...

Welcome to you......Ben

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the cotton and peanut covered plains of the Wiregrass! I agree with Ben. I couldn't see the left side of the grip frame well enough to see if there is a service date there. Could you post a better lighted picture of the left grip frame at the toe?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hey Chip, need top pic of rear sight. Looks like a garage put-together?
But could shoot OK.

 

[Chipman]

Wow, thank you all for the quick replies. Here are some more photos as requested


Sorry for the picture quality, my phone is older.

Only markings on the left side of the frame are both under the grip. Towards the top of the grip there is a 0 and a 6 or 9 not sure how it's read/oriented. And towards the bottom there is the letter B stamped in a diamond.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Chipman]

Side view of sight

 

[Chipman]

Top view of sight.

 

[Truckman]

I think a diamond B means it was reblued at the factory...We still need pics of the markings on the left side of the grip frame with the grips removed......Ben

 

[Chipman]

Barrel pictures

 

[Chipman]

One more picture

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Well, there is no service date stamp that I can see. If you remove the rear sight leaf, there will likely be a serial number stamped on the under side. If that matches the gun's serial, the factory probably did the work along with the reblue. I believe the barrel was replaced outside the factory. It could also have been an original .38 M&P target which later got a replacement barrel.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

Does the serial number on the rear face of the cylinder match the butt SN?

 

[Truckman]

Maybe the lighting is playing tricks...Are those markings on the front part of the left grip frame?...It could just be mill marks, but I can't be sure with that pic...Any markings on the bottom of the rear sight leaf would also help......Ben

 

[Chipman]

The serial number on the cylinder does match the one on the butt of the frame.

I removed the rear sight, on the bottom side of the sight it has 3346 stamped in it. Nothing on the frame underneath the sight.

And the only marking on the left side of the grip frame were the 0 and 9 or 6 at the top left of the left side and the b in the diamond on the lower right corner of the left side of the frame. No other marking on any part of the left side of the gun.

Thanks again for all the wisdom. Does anyone see any issues shooting it with what could be the "mismatched barrel". No issues with pressure differences between the 2 cartridges?

 

[handejector]

Is there a serial number on the bottom of the barrel?
When you removed the rear sight, was the channel blued or in the white?
Please show a pic of the front end of the rear sight.

The gun was built about 1902-03.
The rear sight is the type used in the 1930s and is numbered to a different gun with a partial serial number.
The star and diamond B indicate an early Factory reblue.
The barrel is from a WW II BSR.

 

[handejector]

Never mind the pic of the front of the rear sight- I see one now. The sight was not polished on that frame.

Also, it appears to have been reblued a second time outside the Factory, but before that barrel was added.

 

[Chipman]

No numbers on the bottom of the barrel.

The rear sight channel was blued as well.

You guys are a wealth of knowledge! Even being pieced together and reblued, I can't believe this is 120 year old gun. Thanks again for all your input.

 

[Hondo44]

Since the barrel does not have a serial #, it's probably a WWII era surplus barrel never previously installed on a gun. You'll notice how rough the surface is. Military guns of that era are not polished and finished like a commercial blue finish. Since it's for the different cartridge, .38 S&W (instead of .38 Special), the bore is slightly oversize for the .38 Spl bullets. It will shoot safely but wouldn't be peak accuracy like it could be with a .38 Spl barrel.

It should still be fun to shoot. Although not too difficult to find a .38 Spl barrel already with a blue finish to swap out.

 

[Chipman]

Thanks Hondo, I did contemplate picking up a different barrel as well. Know that I have some history on it, I'll figure out what to do with it.....it was just too cheap to pass up.

 

[handejector]

Although not too difficult to find a .38 Spl barrel already with a blue finish to swap out.

That depends.............
The 1902 has a smaller barrel shank than later models. So, on this gun, they had to either enlarge the barrel socket in the frame, or they had to reduce the size of the shank on the barrel it currently wears. If they did that, the shank on a new barrel will most likely have to also be reduced in size.