Help identify this police service revolver

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This is a late 1927 - early 1928 .38 Military & Police, Model of 1905. It looks like a
5" barrel, measuring from the front face of the cylinder to the end of the barrel.
The grips are probably numbered to the frame, on the right grip panel, probably
with pencil. Sometimes you need a bright light, to see it.

Mike Priwer
 
Incredible, are you sitting next to me holding it?
Yes, the barrel is 5" and the matching serial number is written faintly in pencil on the inside of the grip.

Thank you for the info.
 
Pretty good chance the owner was right handed and carried that rascal a bunch.

It's worth hanging onto and that's a fact.
 
Pretty good chance the owner was right handed and carried that rascal a bunch.

It's worth hanging onto and that's a fact.

Grandpa walked a Philadelphia beat from 1932 till he died in 1967. The woodgrips are worn half through on the right. I figure it is from his arm swinging against it with every step he took. The holster is pretty rough too.
 
Great looking old piece and worth hanging on to. My old service revolver had a worn spot on the left grip panel from my left arm (I'm a lefty) covering the gun when others were too close for comfort.

I retired in '97 after 30 years and that old S&W is long gone. I still have my first off-duty gun, a Colt Cobra from 1968. That is a keeper & will be a family heirloom someday, but I do plan on hanging around a good long time to collect that pension check!
 
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Great looking M&P. What makes it special is the revolver has been in your family.
Congrats
Howard
 
Dating my S&W model 28-2 (Highway Patrolman)

Hi guys,
I am brand new to the S&W forum and not even sure I am in the right room for my question but I noticed your posts looked like they were from pretty savvy individuals.......maybe you can help.
I have a Smith & Wesson model 28-2 serial number S307xxx, can anyone tell me when it was made?

Thanks,

Casetrader
 
Hi guys,
I am brand new to the S&W forum and not even sure I am in the right room for my question but I noticed your posts looked like they were from pretty savvy individuals.......maybe you can help.
I have a Smith & Wesson model 28-2 serial number S307xxx, can anyone tell me when it was made?

Thanks,

Casetrader

Hi casetrader,

Welcome to the forum.

Other guns with serial numbers near yours were being shipped in the late 1967 to early 1968 time frame. But be careful with S&Ws, because they had no policy that forced them to ship in serial number order. Often a gun could sit on the shelf for months or even years before it was shipped.

Except in rare cases, it is hard to know a gun's manufacture date. S&W just put them together and stashed them, and the serial numbers were not systematically recorded until they were taken out of inventory and shipped.
 
Casetrader:

David is pointing out that manufacturing dates are not known. All that is known, from
the various records, is the shipping date of the gun.

Mike Priwer
 
The only thing we like better than pictures is the gun in our hands. :)

My brothers and I took it to my club after a quick cleaning and shot between 90 and 100 rounds. It shot like a dream. If you hold it tight, your groups are tight. Seems to shoot a bit to the left but I am not used to the sights yet. The recoil is less than my Ruger 9mm.

I got some video of my brothers shooting the .38 and my 1959 H&R .22lr 6" revolver side by side. They may look similar but the .38 sure has a bigger BOOM :)
 
Treat it right, it will be in your family longer than you will be. I would avoid +P ammo or anything hotter. Enjoy it, its earned its retirement, but, can still go out and hold its own.
 
Treat it right, it will be in your family longer than you will be. I would avoid +P ammo or anything hotter. Enjoy it, its earned its retirement, but, can still go out and hold its own.

It has spent the last 40 years "retired" at the bottom of my Mom's hope chest. I think it wants to more than just hold its own.

My brothers and Dad are going to have to decide if we want to get this refinished by the factory. I am torn. Although it would look great with the surface rust blasted off and a new high gloss blued finish, I also know that surface rust corresponds to where his hands rested when he held it. The worn off blue matches how he slid it in and out of his holster. I think that may be priceless.
 
I have an old M &P ser# 140XXX , in 32-20 with 6 inch barrell, anyone have an idea about its age?
 
I also know that surface rust corresponds to where his hands rested when he held it. The worn off blue matches how he slid it in and out of his holster. I think that may be priceless.

A friend once showed me an antique cameo ring she was wearing. It was worn on one side to the point that the carving was almost worn away. She said what she liked about it was that someone had loved it enough to wear it everyday for many years. I feel the same way about honest wear on guns.
 

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