Help identifying an older S&W 38 Special

[Chuckgga]

Picked this one up recently via a family member... I have several S&W revolvers, but not as familiar with this one or the variations of the 38 special.

Franzite grips (i personally dislike them) but any chance they may have come on the gun new? I've seen several guns w/ these in my searches.

I'll load pictures - any help in identifying the model / age is appreciated.

When cylinder is open there is either a "0" or a "D" then what looks like a "Y"...
Below it is a 4550

Then serial # wise it is C 1799xx

 

[Chuckgga]

38

Another picture

 

[murphydog]

It's a .38 Military & Police from between 1949 and '57. The stocks are definitely aftermarket, not factory.

If you can provide the numbers after the letter C from the flat bottom of the grip frame someone can give you the year, and possibly the month, it left the factory.

 

[Chuckgga]

Flat grip area

It has a C then a space and then the 179924
Those numbers are repeated under the barrel also

 

[Lee Barner]

probably 1951 but someone with a data base will be along with a more precise date. is there an N on the flat under the barrel? that will indicate a factory original nickle finish. nice old revolver. lee

 

[Chuckgga]

Yes... When cylinder is open so you can see bottom of barrel - it is CN 179924

 

[Chuckgga]

Picture

Another picture

 

[jmace57]

That CN serial number is a new one for me... Guess they got the N inside of the C XXXXXX serial number

 

[jhnttrpp]

This appears to be a Pre 10 M&P shipped between 1948 and 1951. I am just learning to use my Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson so some one will follow up with a more definitive answer.

I just saw the photos with the "N" after the C. I think I will look in my book a little more.

 

[Targets Guy]

I have a M&P 4" barrel s/n C113082 that shipped in Sept 1950. I also have a M&P 4" barrel s/n C155209 that shipped in May 1950.

Gotta love Smith and Wesson and their consistency.

 

[KEN L]

Picked this one up recently via a family member... I have several S&W revolvers, but not as familiar with this one or the variations of the 38 special.

Franzite grips (i personally dislike them) but any chance they may have come on the gun new? I've seen several guns w/ these in my searches.

I'll load pictures - any help in identifying the model / age is appreciated.

When cylinder is open there is either a "0" or a "D" then what looks like a "Y"...
Below it is a 4550

Then serial # wise it is C 1799xx

Probably Jun-Aug time frame 1951.

 

[Chuckgga]

Thanks

Thank you all for the insight and assistance- very helpful!!

 

[JP@AK]

I have a M&P 4" barrel s/n C113082 that shipped in Sept 1950. I also have a M&P 4" barrel s/n C155209 that shipped in May 1950.

That is very interesting. I have C152420 and it shipped in February, 1951. And C218272 shipped in September, 1952. But C226xxx shipped in April, 1953. That is why you cannot extrapolate the average number that shipped each year, check nearby numbers and state that a particular gun shipped in a certain month or even a two month bracket. All you are doing there is making a WAG (emphasis on the first two words!). Shipping dates are often all over the map. There simply is no way of knowing when C179924 shipped without having Don or Roy check the shipping records. We can say it probably shipped in the 1951-1952 period. Anything more than that is a guess.

As for the "CN" I think Jim Mace has it right. The N is the nickel finish indicator and someone inadvertently put it between the C and the rest of the serial number. There was no CN prefix.