Help Identifying Year and Value

[twolson]

I just purchased a S&W 38 special from auction and was wondering if anyone could help me identify the approx year or was made and maybe a value if you could. I believe it's a M&P model of 1905, 4th change.

Images attached.

4 inch barrel
Top of barrel READS 1st line "SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA"
2nd line "PATENTED FEB 6 06 SEPT 14 09 DEC 29 14"

One side of barrel says "SMITH & WESSON" other side says "38 S&W SPECIAL CTG"

On bottom of side faceplate it reads "MADE IN USA". Same side on faceplate has a large S&W trademark logo.

Grips are squared with a raised diamond and circle in it. Silver S&W madalions at top of grip on both sides.

Serial number 664350 marked on bottom of grip, flat spot on bottom of barrel when you pop out the cylinder, and on the face of the cylinder itself.

Also with the cylinder popped out, there is a number that says 5257 on the frame on the inside.

4 screws on side faceplate with an additional screw in front of the trigger guard.

Rounded raised front sight with a square notched rear sight.

On the backstrap of the gun, it's extremely faint, but it either says "H.P.D. - 100" or "R.P.D - 100". I bought this gun at a Pennsylvania auction so I want to believe it's RPD which I think would be Reading Police Department circa 1931.

Also on the right grip on the inside it has a different number that I can't make out. It isn't the same as the serial though. Almost looks like 664197. There's a leaf spring in the grip. At least that's what I think they call it.

I'll post pics but it only let's me choose 5.

 

[twolson]

More pictures!

Adding more pics.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! It's a .38 Military & Police hand ejector that was likely shipped in 1939.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Welcome to the Forum! Wiregrassguy has correctly identified the model and approx. year of manufacture of your .38 M&P revolver. The M&Ps (and later Model 10s) were extremely popular revolvers, and there were millions manufactured over the decades...so they are not particularly rare or valuable. The grip's backstrap markings indicate that yours was a police department issue revolver, so that adds interest and value to many collectors. However, not to be a Negative Nelly, but from the very nice condition of the blued finish and some dishing around screw holes and lettering, I'm thinking that your revolver was polished and re-blued at some point back in the day. But if so, it's a nice job! Your .38 M&P should be a fun and accurate shooter. There should be some Forum experts chiming in soon with more info. Enjoy!

 

[lestert357]

If it’s a PD gun it may have been part of a multiple gun order. Grips on PD guns are often exchanged between guns by the local PD armorer and likely explains why your grip serial number is different, but close, to the serial number on the gun.

 

[twolson]

Appreciate all your feedback! I thought it looked too good to have not been reblued. The only other question I have about it is what caliber it takes. Is it just a regular 38 Special or a 38 S&W Special? Definitely plan on shooting it more since it isn't as collectable. It really is a nice little revolver.

 

[JP@AK]

The only other question I have about it is what caliber it takes. Is it just a regular 38 Special or a 38 S&W Special?

There is no difference whatsoever between those two. The .38 Special was introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1899. It was called the .38 S&W Special, and it still is.

But it became such a common cartridge that folks just began to refer to it as the .38 Special. Same cartridge.

 

[cleger]

".38 Special" and ".38 S&W Special" are the same thing.

 

[twolson]

It seemed to me that the calibers were different... I have a box of Fiocchi Cowboy Action 38 S&W Short 145 grain and they seemed pretty tight going in the cylinder. The other box of regular 38 Special went it good and they were longer.

 

[erikpolcrack]

It seemed to me that the calibers were different... I have a box of Fiocchi Cowboy Action 38 S&W Short 145 grain and they seemed pretty tight going in the cylinder. The other box of regular 38 Special went it good and they were longer.

38 S&W is an older, shorter cartridge that is slightly larger in diameter than the later 38 Special/38 S&W Special. It is not interchangeable with the newer cartridge.

 

[JP@AK]

I have a box of Fiocchi Cowboy Action 38 S&W Short 145 grain and they seemed pretty tight going in the cylinder.

The "38 S&W Short" is a misnomer - this is actually a reference to the .38 S&W cartridge. Even the bullet diameter is different; in addition to the cartridge case being shorter and fatter.

As far as I know, only foreign manufacturers label it as the .38 S&W Short.