Help identify my pistol

[rworthingtonkirsch]

I inheried this pistol from my father-in-law. It is a chrome colored hand-ejctor 5 round pistol with walnut grips. The grips have a gold colored metal medallion, but I cannot figure out what the medallion means.

The barrel is 2inches

The right side of the frame reads
MADE IN U.S.A.
MARCAS REGISTRADAS
SMITH & WESSON
SPRINGFIELD, MASS

On the right side of ther barrel it reads
AIRWEIGHT
38 SPL.CTG.

On the left side of the frame ther is a stamped Smith & Wesson trademark/logo just below the cylinder release button

On the left side of the barrel it reads
SMITH&WESSON

There is no model number on the yoke, only the manufacturing tracking numbers

The serial number is on the bottom of the grip and is J916010

I think that is all the info you need.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum.

That serial is from 1982. The frame, behind the yoke, should be stamped MOD 37. The model name is .38 Chiefs Special Airweight.

 

[DWalt]

The model 37 is an Airweight because the frame is made of an aluminum alloy, not steel. The barrel and cylinder are steel. You should open the cylinder and inspect the frame on the bottom where the barrel screws into it to be sure the frame does not have a visible longitudinal crack in it. Infrequent but it sometimes happens.

 

[StrawHat]

If they are factory stocks, the medallions are the intertwined initials of the company's name, S and W.

Photographs would help us a lot.

Kevin

 

[rworthingtonkirsch]

I found the Model number stamp. Now that I know what they should be the medallions are indeed an intertwined S and W. No crack. Now I need to pick up some speedloaders and take it to the range. I think that this will become my regular carry piece.

 

[biku324]

Do avoid +P ammo in favor of standard velocity ammo - the frame's limitations should be respected.

 

[DWalt]

Do avoid +P ammo in favor of standard velocity ammo - the frame's limitations should be respected.

I intended to say that earlier but forgot. No point in putting extra stress on the alloy frame by using +P loads.

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM from Michigan! You can learn a lot from good and knowledgeable members! Bob